The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) on Wednesday called for research and policy-development project proposals within its R34-million ‘green’ research and development initiative.
The parties, through the newly formed Green Fund, aimed to advance green economy research and policy development to support South Africa’s transition to a greener economy. It also hoped to fund, promote and develop high-quality, high-impact green projects that could not have been implemented without such support.
Universities, government-affiliated institutions, private companies, nongovernmental organisations and others were encouraged to submit proposals investigating sector-specific challenges under the banner of the Green Fund.
These included green cities and towns, the low-carbon economy and environmental and natural resource management.
The fund would also consider innovative technological, institutional or financial products, instruments or legislative, policy and planning frameworks to progress the green economy.
“Applicants to this request for proposals (RFPs) will be required to demonstrate, through applied policy research, how their research projects will advance the green agenda,” DEA director-general and Green Fund management committee chairperson Nosipho Ngcaba said.
Last month, the DBSA called for proposals for a panel of experts to provide technical, strategic and specialist support to the Green Fund, as it selects prospective green projects.
In 2012, the Green Fund received 590 project development applications when it made the first call for proposals.
The RFPs would close on March 28.