Calls

Belgium hosts important natural history collections, libraries of global importance, well-equipped research facilities and well-trained scientific and curatorial staff. (More information)

To ensure that this rich taxonomic patrimony can also serve taxonomists from the developing world, the Belgian GTI NFP annually issues two types of grants.Countries that are eligible for this type of support are: Algeria, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, D.R. Congo, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Salvador, Senegal, South Africa, Suriname, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Eligible countries

GRANT TYPE 1 - Training in taxonomy and collection management & access to collections in Belgium

This type of grant funds taxonomists and parataxonomists from eligible developing countries for study visits to Belgium.

For beginning taxonomists these study visits involve an à la carte theoretical training of one week in the RBINS, coupled to a hands-on training of 2-6 weeks that focuses on traditional and/or molecular approaches to taxon identification and classification in a Belgian centre of taxonomic expertise.

For already professional taxonomists, for whom theoretical and taxon-specific training no longer is compulsory, study visits entail access to Belgium-based natural history collections, literature, infrastructure and expertise.

Projects that originate with staff of institutions with which the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences has past or ongoing collaboration, even if not funded via the Belgian National Focal Point to the GTI, receive priority. Projects from non-partner institutions will also be considered.

If you want to learn more about the type of projects we support, browse our ‘Grants awarded’ section.

If you want to apply go to our section ‘Grant seekers’

GRANT TYPE 2 - Support for taxonomy-based research and training projects (OPEN ONLY for taxonomists from the royal belgian institute of natural sciences)

This type of grant funds taxonomists from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences to carry out a taxonomic research project that has clear-cut poverty reduction components and that responds to clearly identified taxonomic or curatorial needs within a developing country.

Projects must at all times expedite taxonomic research by enhancing the standing taxonomic and curatorial capacity in the eligible developing country. As such, projects must include some training of recipient country personnel either within that country or in Belgium.

Projects that complement initiatives or programmes that are already operational (even if carried out by another institution or funded by another country or relevant organisation) are encouraged.

If you want to learn more about the type of projects we support, browse our ‘Grants awarded’ section.

If you want to apply go to our section ‘Grant seekers’.