NEXT CALL FOR APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN IN APRIL 2023.

 

If you need support for accessibility or translations of the call and documents, please contact us at projects@astro4dev.org so we may try to make suitable arrangements.

Kindly read through all the information presented here before proceeding to the application form. You can download this page as a PDF.

This call for proposals is for projects to be implemented in 2023. The COVID-19 global pandemic will likely continue to affect all of us for the time being. Please bear this in mind when proposing your project, and build in mitigation strategies for impacts of COVID.

• INTRODUCTION
• WHAT IS ASTRONOMY FOR DEVELOPMENT ?
• BEFORE YOU APPLY
• APPLICATION
• SELECTION
• TIMELINE
• APPLY ONLINE
• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION

The global Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) is a joint partnership between the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) with the support of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). The mission of the OAD is to further the use of astronomy, in all its aspects, as a tool for development.

One of the primary ways the OAD implements its mission is through the Call for Proposals, which have been conducted annually since 2012. Every year, the OAD invites proposals for projects that use astronomy as a tool to address one or more challenges related to sustainable development. The call for proposals is open to anyone from anywhere in the world.  The OAD Call for Proposals is conducted in two stages, where only a limited number of proposals from Stage 1 will be invited to submit a Stage 2 proposal.

WHAT IS ASTRONOMY FOR DEVELOPMENT ?

At the OAD, we work towards development through astronomy-based interventions executed as IAU-OAD funded projects. Our development goals are framed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a set of globally adopted priorities to end poverty, preserve the planet and promote peace and prosperity for all. Astronomy for Development or Astro4Dev, thus, has different objectives than the sole development or advancement of the field of astronomy itself.

Astronomy for Development, as the name implies, involves the fields of both astronomy and development. Thus, due consideration needs to be given to the guidance and involvement of experts in development and related fields. This is especially critical in our current time with the complex impacts of COVID-19.

“Astronomy for Development is about PEOPLE, not the STARS”

The OAD does not fund astronomy or astrophysics research or activities whose primary aim is to promote the field of astronomy. If you are interested in such activities, we encourage you to visit the websites of the relevant IAU structures.

• International Astronomical Union (IAU): Astronomy, astrophysics, and related scientific activities, https://www.iau.org/Funding for scientific symposia: https://www.iau.org/science/meetings/rules/
• IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO): astronomy outreach, public engagement, and astronomy communication, https://www.iau.org/public/oao/Outreach grants for National Outreach Coordinators: https://www.iau.org/public/oao/nocs_funding/
• IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE): astronomy education at school level, https://www.astro4edu.org/Teacher training grants for National Astronomy Education Coordinators: https://www.astro4edu.org/ttp/
• IAU Office for Young Astronomers (OYA): astronomy training at university level, https://www.iau.org/training/office_for_young_astronomers/International School for Young Astronomers: https://www.iau.org/training/school_for_young_astronomers/
• IAU Hands-on Workshops: Grants to train young scientists in developing countries in accessing, analysing and using data for research projects. https://www.iau.org/training/iau-hands-on-workshops/

The OAD works closely with our sister IAU Offices mentioned above – OAO, OAE, and OYA. But the OAD itself is primarily concerned with development and not education, research or outreach. For the OAD call for proposals, we are specifically looking for projects that will have a positive impact on sustainable development. Please note that projects may still utilize astronomy outreach or education based activities as long as they are in pursuit of development. Proposals for education or outreach activities without a compelling case for development are not funded through this call.

BEFORE YOU APPLY

Courses & Resources

Before you apply, please visit the “Getting Started” section that provides the background on Astronomy for Development, resources and links to assist you with project design, monitoring, evidence and evaluation etc. You can take the free online course on Astronomy for Development designed to provide a helping hand to anyone who intends to submit a proposal. We have also published a short course on ‘’Introduction to Development Economics’’ for those who are interested in gaining a deeper understanding.

You can also search through the past projects funded by the OAD to learn about the work done around the world, to check if your idea has been tried by anyone before, and to find resources developed by other projects which could potentially be used for your project. List of all funded projects (A-Z)

Getting Started with an OAD Proposal

Learn More

Course on Astro4dev Project Design

Learn More

Course on Introduction to Development Economics for non social scientists

Learn More

Support to proposers:

Although our calls for proposals are open to anyone, we understand that not everyone has training or experience in writing proposals. A potential applicant can request

1. Proposal writing support: Applicants will be matched up with an astronomer or other expert with experience in writing proposals. The expert will guide and advise the applicant on the proposal structure and language. This form of support is NOT meant to help the applicant improve their proposal concept but only to communicate it better.
2. Translation support: We welcome proposals from people in different countries but due to practical constraints, we only accept applications in English. If that is not your first language or if you do not feel comfortable writing a proposal in English, you can contact us to request translation support. In this case, your proposal will be translated to English exactly as you have written it in your language.

We depend on volunteers to provide the above forms of support. Hence, we cannot guarantee these services (it will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis). Nor can we provide assurance of selection if we provide you this support.

More information

Eligibility:

Please verify that you agree to/abide by the following before beginning your application. Contact us at projects@astro4dev.org in case of queries.

• The proposed project should address a problem or challenge related to development and the project should use Astronomy (or Basic Sciences) as a tool to address this problem.
• Previously funded and completed projects or previous grant holders should have completed all reporting requirements, where applicable.
• One or more project deliverables should be ready by the end of the implementation year (given the evolving nature of the current global pandemic, this requirement may be reviewed and updated); proposals are welcome for projects that run over several years (max of 3 years), although funds will only be released annually according to the proposed budget per year and subject to a review of progress.
• All distributable project resources, materials, etc. should be released to the public under an appropriate license (e.g.Creative Commons) allowing free use and adaptation, unless otherwise agreed with the OAD.
• Proposers should be able to provide a verified bank account through which funds can be paid if the project is selected for funding.
• All projects should adhere to the Principle of Universality of Science as defined by the International Science Council (previously ICSU), of which the IAU is a member.
• Projects should also adhere to the IAU Code of Conduct which includes policies on ethics and anti-harassment best practices. The code of conduct should be made available to participants of all IAU funded activities.
• All project team members listed in the proposal should have discussed the proposal and committed to executing the project. The project team should be prepared to provide verification of qualifications and/or reference letters if requested by the OAD.
• The proposers should obtain all necessary permissions and authorizations, as required by their national and local laws, to carry out their work, such as written parental consent when working with minors, permission to use copyrighted material, permission for gatherings during COVID times etc.
• The project team should support the detailed evaluation of the impact of their project by the OAD (if such an evaluation is feasible and if the project is selected for evaluation)
• Proposals should ideally be submitted via the online Application Form. All proposals received will be acknowledged by email. Contact us at projects@astro4dev.org if you do not receive an email confirmation of your application. If you are unable to submit the proposal online for any reason, you may contact us at projects@astro4dev.org at least a week before the deadline to arrange for an alternative submission method. This includes anyone with visual or other impairments who may require assistance.
• If you require assistance in translating your application, please contact us at projects@astro4dev.org immediately and at least 2 weeks before the deadline so we may try to make suitable arrangements
• Application forms should be complete and received at the OAD before the deadline.

APPLICATION

Two Stage Application:

The Call for Proposals is divided into two stages of application. The first stage is open to everyone while only selected proposals from Stage 1 will be invited to Stage 2. Detailed information is provided below for the Stage 1 process; more information for Stage 2 will be provided after the end of Stage 1 in August 2022.

Stage 1:

The Stage 1 call for proposals is open to proposers from anywhere* in the world. Projects can be proposed by a single person or by a team of people (given the real-world nature of projects, interdisciplinary teams are encouraged with relevant social scientists). Proposers submit a brief, online application with the key aspects of their project or idea. Proposals will be scored by the OAD review panel based on a set of defined criteria (see below).

Around 30 proposals will be selected from the Stage 1 applications and the proposers invited to submit a Stage 2 proposal. In addition, each of the eleven IAU Regional and Language Offices will nominate any one proposal from their region to be invited to Stage 2. All proposals will receive brief feedback from the reviewers.

* We may unfortunately be unable to send money to some countries under international sanctions. Please contact us at projects@astro4dev.org if you are not sure about your country.

Stage 2:

Selected proposals will be invited to Stage 2 during which the proposers will work with the OAD on their application. As a first step, the proposers will be asked to submit a draft Stage 2 application, accessible to the OAD team, the Regional Offices, and invited external experts, all of whom will help refine the proposal. The draft application will not be available to the review panel, who will eventually evaluate the applications.

The Regional Offices will be able to suggest ways of improving a proposal to be locally relevant, thus ensuring support from possible local collaborators who could strengthen the project. The OAD, alongside the Regional Offices, will check whether the projects are truly innovative (checking previously funded OAD projects and other initiatives addressing similar concerns) and/or whether the project idea is supported by current evidence. The OAD and Regional Offices may suggest potential collaborators if applicable. External experts, consulted by the OAD where necessary, would provide useful additional guidance on the assessment of projects, including a perspective on which projects are most likely to make an impact on development.

Based on the discussions with OAD and the Regional Offices, proposers modify their Stage 2 applications and submit them online by the final deadline. An independent review panel then scores these modified Stage 2 proposals and makes the recommendations on the projects to be funded and the funding amounts for each project. Upon approval by the OAD Steering Committee, all applicants are notified of the results.

Grant Amount:

The IAU has earmarked a total amount of  €120,000 for this 2022 call for proposals. In the past, individual project grants have ranged from 1000 Euros to 15,000 Euros with an average grant of around 5000 Euros per project.

Project Duration:

Typically, OAD projects run for 1 year – beginning in January or February of the year following the call for proposals. For this call, selected projects are expected to start in January or February 2023 (the grant will be paid by that time) and complete by January or February 2024. Projects can request a no-cost extension if there are unavoidable circumstances that cause delays.

The OAD is also soliciting proposals for multi-year projects (up to 3 years). These are projects which, by design, need longer than a year for implementation. This does not apply to multiple implementations or replication of the same project idea in different years. For example, a project that plans to organize astronomy events or workshops cannot apply for a multi-year grant in order to host the same events in multiple years.

Multi-year proposals should address the entire duration of the project with a yearly breakdown of budget, timeline, and deliverables. Funds for these projects will be released on an annual basis subject to a performance review by the OAD. Annual reports will be requested for this purpose.

Themes

From the experience of funding 180 projects (and reviewing more than 1000 proposals) since 2013, and with input from the regional offices around the world, the OAD has identified Flagship projects that encapsulate the idea of astronomy for development, and which have the potential for global roll-out. Therefore, these Flagships are included as Themes in the call for proposals. Other themes cover gaps or issues relating to current global challenges, such as the current COVID pandemic.

The themes for this call are:

1. Sustainable, local socio-economic development through Astronomy 

This Flagship aims to use an astronomical facility, such as an observatory or planetarium, as a “hub” within a small town or village to stimulate various associated socio-economic benefits for the local community. Benefits could include job creation through astronomy-related tourism; community skills development; educational programmes; stimulation of local innovation; alternative activities for youth in order to keep away from negative/harmful activities; and infrastructure development. The establishment of such a facility in close collaboration with relevant government, industry, academic and development partners, including local and traditional leadership, will ensure the sustainability of the initiative.

More information

2. Science diplomacy through Astronomy: Celebrating our Common Humanity

Astronomy brings us a perspective of the beauty and scale of the universe. Most famously, Carl Sagan used this perspective to try to positively influence how people interact with their fellow human beings, and our planet, through his description of the earth as a “pale blue dot”. This project aims to take the inspiring potential of astronomy and use it to stimulate a sense of tolerance and common humanity in all parts of the world, which could also have a positive effect on mental health and well-being.

More information

3. Knowledge and Skills for Development

This flagship focuses on the use of skills such as data handling, data analysis and machine learning, as well as computing technologies/infrastructure widely used in astronomy, to tackle development challenges. This may be executed in the form of educational programmes,  hackathons, competitions or other original interventions that focus on skills and technology transfer.

More information

4. COVID-19 and astronomy for development

Another theme is COVID-19 and astronomy for development. Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to significantly affect our everyday lives and development work globally. COVID-19 has already reversed years of progress towards the SDGs- it has deepened inequalities, increased extreme poverty, and stoked anti-globalism sentiments among other effects (see reference). Under this theme, we are seeking proposals that capitalize on the strengths of astronomy to specifically counteract one or more of the effects of COVID-19.

5.  Basic sciences for sustainable development

The United Nations has proclaimed 2022 as the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD). The IAU is one of the founding members of IYBSSD and serves on its steering committee. Recognising that basic sciences (such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, etc) are an essential part of astronomy, the OAD invites proposals for projects that use any field(s) of basic science(s) in the pursuit of one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

It is not a requirement that your project aligns with one of the above themes. However, should you choose to submit a project related to one of the above themes, then your project should be designed in such a way that it can serve as pilot or demonstrator for the theme (meaning the project concept and design has the potential to be scaled up and deployed globally). The OAD will be available to provide additional assistance or guidance in developing such a project further.

Proposals may also overlap with more than one theme but we request you to choose the primary or most significant theme. For more information and queries on the themes, please contact us at projects@astro4dev.org.

SELECTION

All applications submitted by the deadline will be anonymized by the OAD and sent to the independent review panel for evaluation.

Selection Criteria:

Selection Criterion	Corresponding questions in the application form (guideline only – information relating to a particular criterion may come from other questions also)	Scoring
1. Level of need for proposed activities in the region or project location and for the target audience	5. Which countries will your project target? 6. In which languages will your project be delivered and/or written? 7 a. Choose the primary target audience for your project 9 a. Project summary 10 a. Describe the developmental challenge you aim to address in this project. 13. Why should we fund your project?	How relevant is this challenge or problem in terms of needs in the target location? (1-10)
2. Relevance to Astronomy for Development and/or themes	8 c. Will your proposal be a pilot project  for one of the below Theme(s)? 9 a. Project summary 10 b. To which of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will your project respond ? Choose up to 3 SDGs. 10 c. How will you achieve these goals using Astronomy or Basic Sciences?	Does the proposal fit the OAD Themes and/or Is the project relevant to astronomy-for-development? (1-10)
3. Innovation and creativity, improving on what has been shown to work	8 a. Have you or any of your team members submitted this same idea in previous years? If Yes, what was the title of that proposal? 8 b. Are you building upon previous work, done either by you or others ? If Yes, please provide more details or a link to the project. 13. Why should we fund your project?	Has this project come up with some interesting new ideas or built upon existing ideas in a constructive way?  Has it improved upon any previous proposal?  (1-10)
4.  Project effectiveness	7 b. How will you ensure audience diversity (e.g. gender balance) for your project?  7 c. Comment on the qualifications, experience, and diversity of your team.  8 d. Are you applying for a multi-year project? 8 e. Please justify the need for a multi-year project. 9 a. Project summary 9 b. how will you implement your project if travel and/or social distancing restrictions are in place in 2023(or other COVID related impact) ? 11. What are the intended Deliverables of the project? 12 a. b. c. Budget 13. Why should we fund your project?	Does the proposed solution respond to the stated challenge?  Are the budget and deliverables reasonable and match the need in the region? Is a suitable project team in place?  Does it make sense to run it as a multi-year project?  (1-10)

 

Additional evaluation criteria for multi-year projects:

Any multi-year projects selected will be funded on an annual basis subject to a performance review by the OAD. These projects will be requested to submit the following information at the time of the annual performance review (at a minimum):

• summary of project activities in the preceding year
• list of team members and partners
• details of target audience 
• final deliverables for the year
• resources produced
• SDGs impacted (with justification)
• outcomes for the year
• external funding obtained
• changes in plans for the following year

If the annual performance review is not satisfactory, the OAD reserves the right to not continue funding a multi-year project. 

Multi-year projects will also be required to set up dedicated evaluation structures and protocols to track project outcomes and impact over several years. The OAD can help arrange support for such evaluation. More information will be requested in the Stage 2 application.