The European Commission Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive agency (ECEA) recently announced a call for proposals for its EU Aid Volunteers initiative Deployment.

The call is designed to fund the deployment of volunteers to target countries, in order to:

…provide needs-based humanitarian aid aimed at strengthening the capacity and resilience of vulnerable and disaster-affected communities in third countries by focusing on disaster preparedness, disaster risk reduction and enhancing the link between relief, rehabilitation and development (LRRD). In addition, these projects may also strengthen the capacities of implementing sending and hosting organisations participating or intending to participate in the EU Aid Volunteers initiative, including in tools and methods of early warning for disasters.

There are two rounds of funding, with deadlines for proposals on 17 May and 1 September.

For further information see the call document or contact your funding team representative :

ELS, CSE – Stephen Parkinson, s.d.parkinson@salford.ac.uk, ext. 52265

SAM, SHS, SBS – Dr Deborah Woodman, d.woodman@salford.ac.uk, ext. 55876

NMSWSS – Dr Chris Coey, c.coey@salford.ac.uk, ext. 55385

SoBE – Stephen Parkinson or Dr Chris Coey

Please see here the link to a Secure Societies Network information and networking day which will take place in Brussels on 5-6 April. The event will focus on the recently announced (15 March) H2020 calls on Secure Societies – Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens. Topics that will be covered include:

• Critical Infrastructure Protection
• Disaster Resilience: Safeguarding and securing society
• Fight Against Crime and Terrorism
• Border Security and External Security
• General Matters on Security
• Digital Security

If you are interested in attending please register on the site. Attendance is free.

Calls for projects designed to explore the contribution of ecosystem services to poverty alleviation have been published by the ESRC and NERC.

Interdisciplinary projects in the region of £50,ooo to £200,000, with a duration of up to 12 months, are sought.

The deadline for applications is 17 May.

The ESRC has announced a Call for Science Learning+ Partnership Grants, to be undertaken in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust and the NSF.

Grants of up to £1.5m for up to 5 years will be awarded to project partnerships between researchers in the US and the UK/Ireland which address the folllwing priorities:

• understanding learning
• engagement in STEM
• skills development
• equity
• diversity
• access to informal learning settings
• and measurement of outcomes

The deadline for applications for is 14 June 2016.

Full details of the call can be found on the NSF website here, along with examples of previously awarded grants.

Please contact your Funding Team representative for further information and advice.