SOR4D Programme

The SOR4D programme is being implemented in the “Decade of Action” that is accelerating efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda). Transformations are urgent, new ways of thinking and innovative forms of social practice are necessary. While the rethinking of the role of science, finance and policy alike are fundamental to these efforts, the interaction between science and research, practice and policy are of particular importance.

The overarching goal of the SOR4D programme is to produce better knowledge, solutions and innovation by needs-driven, transdisciplinary research that opens up new ways for advancing sustainable development and reducing poverty in the least developed, low and lower-middle-income countries. It will contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda by fostering partnerships, co-creation of knowledge and innovation.

The SOR4D programme has three objectives:

• Researchers and development actors will jointly generate in their respective geographical contexts needs-based, solution-oriented knowledge that contributes to sustainable development and poverty reduction in the Global South and East. This includes validation in those contexts.

• Project partnerships and networks will test and disseminate research results with potential for innovation (pilot testing, valorisation). This will include different forms of upscaling.

• Researchers and development actors will enhance their competencies (skills and know-how) in conducting solution-oriented transdisciplinary research in partnership for addressing systemic and complex development challenges. This includes sharing their findings with other academics and practitioners.

Eligibility:

The minimum requirements for an eligible consortium are:

• One responsible applicant research partner holding a position at a Swiss higher education or research institution;

• At least one co-applicant research partner holding a position at a higher education or research institution located in a least developed, low and lower middle income country;

• At least one co-applicant development actor of a practitioner organisation located in the country/countries where the transdisciplinary research is being conducted.

The responsible applicant is a faculty member or senior teaching and research staff employed for the entire duration of the project at a Swiss higher education or research institution, as defined in Articles 4 and 5 of the Federal Act on the Promotion of Research and Innovation (RIPA). Development actors and researchers based in one of the least developed, low and lower middle income countries act as co-applicants. If well-justified, additional researchers based at a Swiss research institution and development actors based in a practitioner organisation in the Global North can be part of the applying team as co-applicants and project partners respectively.

Funding:

The SOR4D programme will operate from 2022 to 2026 with an overall budget of 19.3 million Swiss Francs. The SOR4D programme is structured around two main calls, announced in February 2022 and in November 2022. Selected research projects will be funded for a period of three years. Projects with high potential for scaling-up, application and transformation can be funded for additional 12 months with Transformation Accelerating Grants (TAG): in 2024 and in 2025 two TAG calls will be exclusively open for funded SOR4D projects.

Application process:

Pre-proposals and full proposals must be submitted to the SNSF electronically via the mySNF online portal (www.mysnf.ch) by the responsible applicant. Applicants need to register as mySNF users before they can submit an application

For guidelines and detailed information on the call, please click here.