More details available in the FBIP Framework document

  • Environmental sustainability:
    • Multi-taxa surveys, with the geographic area clearly identified on the basis of a large scale proposed development, or neglected areas for which no spatial plan exists for biodiversity, resulting in potentially poor decisions or management.
    • Surveys of the biodiversity of a particular habitat/biome that is neglected and important for ecosystem services, across a broad geographic area.
  • Agro-biodiversity and food security:
    • Crop Wild Relatives: taxonomy and distribution of crop wild relatives in South Africa.
    • Crop and livestock pests, parasites and disease vectors, with a focus on indigenous taxa.  
  • Human health and biocultural diversity:
    • Vectors of disease, parasites, pathogens, allergens. Documenting diversity.
    • Cultural significance of biodiversity.
  • Taxonomic revisions of priority South African taxa:
    • The purpose of this theme is to substantially shift the taxonomic knowledge of taxa that require large scale revision, and that have a large component of their diversity in South Africa/have high proportion of South African endemics and that include economically or ecologically important species.

Concept notes

  • Details about the methods/approach/budget not that important in the concept stage.
  • Most important is the outputs and outcome/impact…
    • the concept note must show that the project has the potential to make a real impact, at a large scale.
    • it must be feasible to complete the project in three (3) years, and there must be sufficient capacity to cover all the different aspects proposed.
    • ideally the users of the data (to be) generated should be involved in the development of the project.
  • Scale – should be big enough to justify a R6.3 million investment (including postgraduate bursaries).
Concept Notes Scorecard
Track record of PIPublications, students, leadership of large, multi-institutional projects 20%
Alignment to focus areas and FBIP Is there a clear aim and objectives that align to foundational biodiversity knowledge/information generation, co-ordination, dissemination and application?
Are the proposed activities in line with the objectives?
Is the project concept within one of the focus areas?
30%
FeasibilityIs the project achievable within a 3-year period relative to the team and resources (funds, facilities) available?
Is there a work plan with reasonable time frames for activities and with responsible team members identified?
Does the team/PI/applicant have the required capacity/experience to enable the achievement of the outputs?
Are all relevant researchers/institutions included in the work plan?
20%
Outputs & impactsWhat are the anticipated outputs?
Is the need for the data/outputs clearly evident with users of outputs stated?
What will the impacts of the outputs be on global change understanding and/or the bio-economy? 
Are the outputs and impacts realistic?
What is the scope and scale of the impacts (international/regional/national/local; narrow field/broad field; multi- or trans-disciplinary; what will the extent of financial benefits be; how many stakeholders will be impacted etc.)?
To what extent will the proposed project deliver outputs in line with the FBIP (i.e. taxonomic data, occurrence/population data, species information, DNA barcodes)?
30%

If you have specific questions please contact:

  • Dr Lita Pauw (L.Pauw@sanbi.org.za) or
  • Michelle Hamer (M.Hamer@sanbi.org.za)
  • We are working during national lockdown

Thanks for your interest.