The USAID Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification at Kansas State University invites the submission of concept notes from US universities relative to an opportunity to compete to lead the Appropriate-Scale Mechanization Consortium as part of the Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab.  Concept notes will be reviewed and may lead to an invitation to submit a full proposal.

U.S. universities as defined under Section 296(d) of Title XII of the Foreign Assistance Act are eligible to apply as the lead institution for a period of 5 years.  Total funding (single award) is $5.0 million.  Collaboration or partnerships with relevant and appropriate host country organizations, other universities, the CGIAR system, and/or development community partners is required.  Target regions include Asia, West Africa, and East Africa and within these regions there will be an emphasis in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.

Appropriate-scale mechanization is in need of research and development investments to support sustainable intensification for small holder farming systems and an Appropriate-Scale Mechanization Consortium will be competitively selected based on review of invited proposals.

Concept notes are due January 23, 2015.  For complete information see: http://www.k-state.edu/siil/opportunities

The Kansas State University Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development under cooperative agreement AID-OOA-L-14-00006.