IFS, Int Foundation for Science 2022-2024 IFS, Int Foundation for Science 2022-2024 Sida har gett stöd till the International Foundation for Science (IFS) i nästan 50 år. IFS ger ut forskningsanslag till yngre forskare inom biologi (specifikt vattenresurser, agronomi och livsmedelstrygghet).

Denna beredning gäller ett utfasningsstöd 2022-2024. Det övergripande målet för IFS (från IFS Strategi 2021-2030) är 'Enhance capacity of early career scientists in LLMICs to conduct relevant research, influence research agendas at local, regional and global levels, and increase science literacy'. Detta är också det övergripande syftet med insatsen.
De tre tematiska områden som täcks av IFS är mycket relevanta för fattigdomsbekämpning och hållbar utveckling:

1) Biologiska resurser i terrestra system. Detta inkluderar forskning om biologisk mångfald, skogsbruk, djurproduktion, växtodling, underutnyttjade arter, naturprodukter, förnybar energi och klimatförändringar.

2) Vatten och vattenresurser. Detta inkluderar forskning om tillgången på vattenresurser och deras bevarande och användning; sötvatten, bräckta och marina vattenlevande organismer och deras miljöer.

3) Livsmedelstrygghet, varierad kost och hälsosamma försörjningsmöjligheter.
Stödet till IFS är relevant inom ramen för Sveriges nuvarande strategi för forskningssamarbete (2015-2021) och förväntas vara relevant inom kommande strategi.

Ett evenemang planeras i november 2022 då IFS kommer att fira vad de har åstadkommit under 50 år av stöd till forskare i tidigt i karriären.

Under 2019 beslutades att Sida antingen skulle ge långsiktigt stöd till IFS så att de skulle kunna implementera sin strategi (2021-2030), eller fasa ut stödet till IFS. Under 2020 och 2021 har diskussioner hållit med IFS, internt på Sida och två gånger med Sidas Vetenskapliga Råd (SVR). De olika scenarierna (långsiktigt stöd eller stöd för utfasning) diskuterades på FORSKs enhetskommittémöte och med SVR. Rekommendationerna från både enhetskommittén och SVR var utfasningsalternativet, och det var också det som beslutades i och med detta stöd som är ett avslutande stöd till IFS. Några av anledningarna till utfasning av Sidas stöd till IFS är:
- IFS har höga administrativa kostnader.
- IFS har svårt att få in andra givare. Sida har stått för ungefär 65% av kostnaderna för IFS under nuvarande fas.
- IFS sekretariat ligger i Stockholm. Enligt utvärderingen av IFS (2018) kan det vara en förklaring till att det är svårt att få in andra givare. IFS ses som en svensk organisation, snarare än en internationell organisation som ligger i Stockholm. Enligt utvärderingen skulle en decentralisering av vissa aktiviteter till det globala syd positionera IFS fördelaktigt som en global organisation. IFS have supported early career researchers in low- and lower-middle income countries by giving out research grants and conducting capacity enhancing activities for almost 50 years.
The overall goal for IFS (from IFS Strategy 2021-2030) is 'Enhance capacity of early career scientists in LLMICs to conduct relevant research, influence research agendas at local, regional and global levels, and increase science literacy'. This is also the overall purpose of the contribution. 
The three thematic areas covered by IFS are very relevant for poverty reduction and sustainable development: 

1) Biological resources in terrestrial systems. This includes research on biodiversity, forestry, animal production, crop production, underutilized species, natural products, renewable energy and climate change.
 
2) Water and water resources. This includes research on the availability of water resources and their conservation and use; freshwater, brackish and marine aquatic organisms and their environments. 

3) Food security, varied diet and healthy livelihoods. 

The support for IFS is relevant within the framework of Sweden's current strategy for research collaboration (2015-2021) and is expected to be relevant in the coming strategy. 
An event is planned for November 2022 when IFS will celebrate what they have achieved over 50 years of support for early career researchers. 

In 2019 it was decided that Sida should either commit long-term funding to support the implementation of IFS's new strategy, or provide phase-out support, depending on how successful IFS is in attracting funding. Extensive discussions were held internally at Sida during 2020 and 2021 and the matter was discussed at the Sida Scientific Advisory Board (SSAB) in October and December 2020. After these discussions Sida decided that phase-out support for IFS should be prepared. The low cost efficiency achieved by IFS and the lack of other funders were deciding factors. 
During the phase-out IFS will fulfill commitments to previous and current grantees and close their operations in Stockholm in a controlled and responsible way. The overall objective of the IFS programme (from IFS Strategy 2021-2030) is to 'Enhance capacity of early career scientists in LLMICs to conduct relevant research, influence research agendas at local, regional and global levels, and increase science literacy.' This is also the overall objective of the intervention.

In this proposed programme, IFS will work towards two specific objectives in its efforts to nurture and support early career LLMIC scientists during the three-year cooperation period:

Specific objective 1: Generation and dissemination of scientific knowledge by early career LLMIC scientists

The main activities under this objective are the research grants which are at the core of IFS's programme activities.

IFS will limit its programme activities to those early career scientists to whom they have obligations. During the phase-out period, there will not be an open call for new grant applicants. IFS will accept applications from:

-  Applicants who were invited to resubmit an improved version of their applications following submission of unsuccessful (but promising) proposals in earlier sessions

-  Grantees who recently fulfilled or are soon to fulfil their obligations towards IFS and who are eligible to apply for a renewal grant; i.e., grantees who received their 1st grant under the previous IFS Strategy 2010-2019 are entitled to apply for a 2nd grant.

Modifications in grant-related activities during the phase-out period:

-  No open calls for research applications

-  Inform grantees to be awarded a grant in 2021 that they will not be entitled to apply for a renewal grant

-  Reduce the maximum grant duration from 36 to 24 months for any grants awarded in 2022, and to 12 months for grants to be awarded in 2023 

-  Consider ceasing or reducing equipment purchasing services to all grantees in 2022-2023, presently made available throughout the lifetime of an IFS project to all grantees who wish to do so

-  Inform grantees to be awarded grants in 2021-2023 that they will not be eligible to apply for travel grants to attend in-person scientific meetings

-  So that current and future grantees can successfully conclude their projects by the end of 2024, place stronger emphasis on virtual workshops and other capacity-enhancing support, particularly to those grantees who will not be able to apply for a renewal application.

2022 grants

IFS plan is to give 93 basic grants at 15000 USD and 45 renewal grants at 12000 USD.

2023 grants

IFS plan to give 83 basic grants at 15,000 USD and 30 renewal grants at 12,000 USD. 

No Advanced grants (20,000 USD, instead of renewal grants under the new strategy) will be given.

Sida has questioned whether it is realistic to think that researchers will be able to do anything worthwhile in one year. IFS have responded that, although they understand the concern, they believe that many of the applicants will be able to design meaningful projects of a one-year duration and that results can be achieved. IFS have supported many one-year projects in the past that have given good results. The IFS Secretariat does not foresee any difficulties with timely reporting. However, they state that it is unrealistic to expect any scientific publications within this time, hence Project Completion Forms cannot be meaningfully done.

Specific objective 2: Enhanced capacity of early career LLMIC scientists to influence, lead, network, fundraise and put research into use

With the phase-out, most of the grantees from the period 2017-2020 will not benefit from continued support from IFS in the form of a second research grant or capacity building activities in connection with the application. To partially compensate for these missed opportunities, IFS plans to deliver a variety of virtual workshops for the current grantees and the most promising applicants throughout the phase-out period.  

An integral part of IFS's capacity-enhancing support has been the provision of workshops for grantees and potential applicants as well as facilitation of their participation in scientific meetings through travel grants. With all physical meetings banned during the COVID pandemic, IFS has gained considerable experience with the organisation of virtual workshops.

IFS plan to organise ten virtual workshops in each of 2022 and 2023 (with 30 people per workshop), potentially reaching a total of 600 participants and costed at 35,000 SEK per year. These workshops will be done together with alumni and strategic partners with IFS providing staff support. IFS will work with grantees already in their system, and their requests for workshops that will help them finalise their work.


Other activities:

50-year anniversary

An event is planned in November 2022 where IFS will commemorate all that they have accomplished over 50 years of support to early-career scientists. They will also think how to strategically further IFS's cause by attracting more support and raise the visibility of all that IFS has achieved. 

A budget of 500 000 kr has been allocated which will allow IFS to share their accomplishments and the impacts of their work. They plan to produce a publication that includes both qualitative examples of impact through stories, and quantitative measures such as numbers of grants and scientists, and hours of volunteer time of external reviewers and advisors. The event is to be held on World Science Day on 10 November 2022, either in-person or virtually depending on the COVID situation.

Documenting IFSs history and legacy

IFS plan to digitize and archive a large amount of printed material. Contacts will be established with Riksarkivet for guidance on regulations regarding archiving from non-public-administration entities. The expected budget is approximately 500,000 SEK based on preliminary cost estimates provided by two companies specializing in digitization.