SSRP Funding

SSRP Funds

The Sussex Sustainability Research Programme (SSRP) funds University of Sussex and Institute of Development Studies (IDS) interdisciplinary research projects focused on identifying trade-offs and synergies among the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

We are delighted to announce commencement of SSRP Fund # 8 ‘Research at the Mid-point of SDG Implementation’ with the aim to strengthen partnerships with impact, with particular emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, cross and trans-School cooperation. Our SSRP seed funding opportunities are now also open to colleagues on teaching and scholarship contracts.

The SSRP Impact Fund is currently open and accessible to existing or previously funded SSRP projects. The fund aims to accelerate impact and further engagement with these projects.

Earlier this year we also re-launched our Visiting Fellowship Fund, designed to build collaborations with partner organisations and strengthen the international research network of SSRP and the University. Awards for this fund are limited to £5,000 and applications are particularly encouraged from those not yet involved in SSRP activities, and those from DAC listed countries.

SSRP Fund # 8: Research at the mid-point of SDG implementation

We are again re-launching our annual small grants funding opportunity for interdisciplinary projects to help Sussex researchers tackle global and local sustainability challenges in local, national and international locations.

Projects up to £20k will be funded and applications from researchers across the University who have not previously led or engaged in previous SSRP funding rounds are particularly encouraged.

2023 marks a pivotal year as we approach the mid-point in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With increasing evidence of climate impacts, widening conflict, economic disruption, and the after-effects of the coronavirus pandemic, many compounding challenges threaten to derail efforts and research is needed now more than ever on how to achieve these global goals. Delivering action on implementation and progress of the SDGs to fully leverage and advance cutting-edge sustainability research.

This particular SSRP funding round ‘Research at the Mid-point of SDG Implementation’ aims to strengthen partnerships with impact, with particular emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, cross and trans-School cooperation.

As in previous years, a range of projects will be supported that advance one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and related issues, alongside our five core themes of:

Ecosystems, rights and justice;
Planetary health;
South Coast sustainability;
Sustainable climate and food systems;
and Sustainability frontiers.

Scope

SSRP is delighted to be even more inclusive in providing seed funding opportunities for colleagues across all Schools by allowing application from those on Teaching and Scholarship Contracts - i.e. Education and Scholarship (E&S) and Education and Research (E&R) - with approval from their School. In addition, members of faculty on fixed-term contracts may apply if they will be employed during the proposed funded project period. Given the number of requests from colleagues on contracts, we have revised our guidelines for our SSRP funding round no. 8 to increase eligibility and hope to welcome even more new members to the SSRP community.

Bids for projects up to £20k are welcome. Carry-over of funds into the next financial year (after 31st July 2024) will not be permitted, however alternative financial arrangements may be possible depending on the duration and scope of the project proposal submission.

Consistent with SSRP policy, grants can support either ongoing or new sustainability research projects and activities. An aim of this call is to support a mix of both. New applicants are encouraged to apply.

Projects in all geographic regions will be considered, and at all scales. However, special consideration will be given to projects that advance two or more SDGs, are interdisciplinary in nature, and involve two or more Schools. We also note that achievement of the SDGs is a particular challenge to people in the Global South.

Please see the SSRP Project Spotlight for an overview of the type of projects supported most recently covering topics from integrating public health and conservation initiatives; creating sustainable land use systems in the South Downs; protecting the Rights of Nature; and exploring the relationships between biodiversity trends, subsistence poaching and socio-economic factors to pushing the boundaries in the area of menstrual health through inclusive environmenstrual action.

How to apply

Further information can be taken from the SSRP Fund 8 Call for Proposals Guidance [PDF 278.43KB] which contains all the details regarding the call and its scope, along with the SSRP Fund 8 Application Form [DOCX 325.04KB].

The deadline for proposals is 12:00 Noon, Wednesday 27 September 2023, to be submitted electronically to Katie Hiscock, SSRP Programme Manager, at k.hiscock@sussex.ac.uk.

If you have any questions or would like to give an early indication of intention to apply, please do get in touch.

Key dates

Call issued	Deadline	Panel meeting	Decision to applicants	Project expenditure
Fri, 16 June 2023	Wed, 27 September 2023	October 2023 (tbc)	October 2023 (tbc)	Carry-over of funds into the next financial year (after 31 July 2024) will not be permitted, however alternative financial arrangements may be possible depending on the duration and scope of the project proposal submission. (Project start dates may depend on what due diligence and contracts partners require)

Call issued

Deadline

Panel meeting

Decision to applicants

Project expenditure

Fri, 16 June 2023

Wed, 27 September 2023

October 2023 (tbc)

Carry-over of funds into the next financial year (after 31 July 2024) will not be permitted, however alternative financial arrangements may be possible depending on the duration and scope of the project proposal submission.

(Project start dates may depend on what due diligence and contracts partners require)

SSRP Impact Fund

The Sussex Sustainability Research Programme (SSRP) Impact Fund is designed to provide short-turnaround funds for SSRP-funded faculty to generate additional impact from their SSRP funded research. The fund is open to PIs, Co-Is and postdocs associated with SSRP-funded projects.

The fund will support impact and engagement activities that build and strengthen relationships and seek to accelerate the impact being generated from SSRP-funded research projects. Funding could be used for a range of activities, including but not limited to:

developing policy recommendations/documents with external partners
collaborative meetings overseas (noting that the visiting fellowship scheme will cover financing colleagues from overseas to visit Sussex)
research-based training for external partners
Short-term employment of research assistant to enhance impact
special Journal Issues
costs of organising special sessions on an SSRP topic at a national or international conference; cost of attending a conference to present SSRP results
costs of visits to key stakeholders and presenting SSRP results.

Funding

We envisage grants will be in the region of £1,000-2,000 for a period of up to 6 months. The upper limit of funding applications is £5,000 in exceptional circumstances (e.g. for unanticipated Special Journal Issue costs).

Ineligible costs

conference attendance
impact and engagement activities costs requested in the original SSRP funding application
hosting of overseas visiting fellows at Sussex (to be covered by SSRP Fellowship Fund).

Application process

Requests for funds may be submitted at any time using the SSRP Impact Fund Application Form [DOCX 478.88KB]. The Director of SSRP may also invite applications. Applications will be reviewed by the SSRP Secretariat and Directorate and if applicable, members of the SSRP Programme Management Group. These funds are available for SSRP-associated projects only.

Review criteria

evidence of need by project partners
evidence of how the proposed activity fits within a planned, sustained and strategic approach to engagement
demonstration of additionality to previous SSRP-funded activities.

Reporting requirements

Successful applicants will be expected to submit a very brief report on progress and outcomes to date. Reports will be expected after six months or at the end of the funding period.

SSRP Visiting Fellowship Fund

We have also re-launched our Visiting Fellowship Fund, designed to build collaborations with partner organisations and strengthen the international research network of SSRP and the University. Applications are encouraged from those not yet involved in SSRP activities, those from DAC listed countries and those working on collaborative research activities that specifically address research to help achieve the global sustainability goals for humanity and the environment.

Overseas colleagues are invited to Sussex to work on outputs from joint research activities. Possible outputs may include, but are not limited to:

research proposals;
journal articles or other academic outputs;
policy briefs or other policy-relevant outputs;
and a lecture or seminar.

Proposed SSRP Visiting Fellows should be nominated by a Sussex applicant. The applicant is expected to have developed a clear plan for collaborative research outputs with the nominee, and the nominee should have agreed arrangements to cover their absence from their home institution.

Funding

Awards for this fund are limited to £5,000 and carry-over of funds into the next financial year (after 31st July 2023) will not be permitted. Funding under this scheme will cover the following for the Visiting Fellow:

Travel
Accommodation
Visa
Insurance
Subsistence (in line with the University’s set rates)

Ineligible costs

Because this fund is intended to foster substantive research collaboration, unfortunately it cannot be used to underwrite Visiting Fellows’ conference participation or their independent fieldwork. This fund will not pay:

Salary costs;
Consumables;
Equipment for the Visiting Fellow.

Further information can be found in the SSRP Visiting Fellowship Fund 2023 Guidance Document [DOCX 313.74KB].

Application process

Please complete the SSRP Visiting Fellowship Fund Application Form [DOCX 478.23KB] and return to k.hiscock@sussex.ac.uk.

Applications submitted after the deadline and incomplete applications will not be considered for this round of funding. Applications will be reviewed by the SSRP Directorate.

Review criteria

rationale for collaboration between the applicant and nominee
appropriateness and likelihood of expected outcomes
importance of research questions underpinning the collaboration
value for money
importance of fellowship for the host School

Further information

If you would like to discuss your applications, give an early indication of intention to apply or have any further questions, please contact Katie Hiscock, SSRP Programme Manager, at k.hiscock@sussex.ac.uk.