Guidelines for requesting seed funding for working groups, training and other initiatives related to ocean observations
THE 2024 CALL will CLOSE ON 24 May
Background and Objectives
POGO will allocate, depending on its financial situation, part of its funds to support Working Groups, POGO-led Training Initiatives, and/or support for ocean observing-related initiatives. It is expected that Working Groups will take advantage of existing meetings and teleconferencing to conduct their business inter-sessionally. Other sources of funding should be used where possible to complement the POGO funds. The proposals should have a short, pre-determined life-span (e.g. 1-2 years).
The proposals should focus on identifying and filling gaps in ocean observations by providing a platform for the members to discuss and produce recommendations for addressing these issues. They may also focus on solutions for improving ocean observations, such as new technologies, novel partnerships and funding sources, and improving data access and visualisation. Proposals for joint Working Groups between POGO and its partner organisations are also welcome.
Procedure and Time Scales
A call for proposals is issued to the members and scientific community once or twice per year, including a template for applicants to complete and submit to the POGO Secretariat. Proposals must be submitted by members of POGO, although members of the Working Groups can be from other institutes if necessary. If a Working Group wishes to continue for a second year, a request for extension must be submitted, using the template provided, by the same deadline as the new proposals.
The timeline for 2023 proposals is as follows:
| Action | Time Frame | |
|---|---|---|
| Secretariat announces opportunity and deadline for proposals | 2024 | Mid April |
| Proponents inform Secretariat of intent to submit a proposal | 2024 | 10 May |
| Applications submitted | 2024 | 24 May |
| Decision by Evaluation Committee and proponents notified of outcome | 2024 | Mid July |
| Second call (if applicable) | 2024 | Sep |
| Funding /endorsement starts | 2024 | from 1 Sep |
| Interim report to POGO members | 2024 | 30 Nov |
| Request for 2nd year of funding (if required) | 2025 | Apr-May |
| Decision on renewal for 2nd year (if requested) by POGO members | 2025 | Mid July |
| 1-year WGs: Final report submitted 2-year WGs: Interim (18-month) report submitted | 2025 | 30 Nov |
| 2-year WGs: Final report submitted | 2026 | 30 Nov |
Associated Documents
Previously funded initiatives:
Evaluation Criteria
A sub-committee of POGO members (who do not have conflicts of interest) will review the proposals, according to a number of criteria, e.g. relevance to POGO’s Strategy and priority areas; timeliness of proposal; adequacy of proposed deliverables and milestones; adequacy of WG/project membership (including geographic and gender balance). For training initiatives, the expected impact of the training and proposed methods for evaluating success will also be taken into account.
Based on the Evaluation Committee’s recommendation, the Board of Trustees will then decide on the proposal(s) to take forward, depending on the available budget. The availability (or otherwise) of other funding sources should not be a determining factor in the selection process.
Reporting
The proposal leaders (or nominees) will be required to give presentations on progress at each POGO Annual Meeting. It is anticipated that the POGO Annual Meetings may also provide opportunities for the Working Groups to meet. Financial and interim reports will also need to be submitted by 30th November. A final written report will be required at the end of the period of activities. In addition, the leaders will be asked to provide short articles and images for the POGO newsletter, and material for a fact sheet/report card for public dissemination of the outcomes (to be loaded on POGO website).