1. USAID Climate Change Resilient Development Project:
The High Mountain Glacial Watershed Program’s Climber-Scientist
Competitive Small Grants Solicitation
I. Background
Climber–Scientist Small Grants are an important component of USAID's new High Mountain
Glacial Watershed Program that focuses on remote, high altitude mountain ecosystems and
communities to develop innovative tools and practices for facilitating adaptation to climate
change. Particular focus is placed on the generation of new knowledge regarding the impacts of
climate change, interaction between highland and lowland communities, and methods for
protecting fragile alpine ecosystems. The Program is particularly interested in funding applied
research projects in the developing world that (a) encourage the systematic use of field work to
support and augment remote sensing technologies, (b) assist mountain communities in adapting to
climate change, and (c) enhance the development of the next generation of high mountain
physical and social scientists, including those with little climbing experience. Participatory
approaches that include local communities are strongly encouraged. Grants will be awarded in
July 2012.
“Climber-Scientist” refers to the tradition of climbers playing key roles in high mountain research
since the birth of modern day mountaineering and the mountain sciences some 300 years ago,
from the Swiss geologist Horace Bénédict de Saussure in the 1700s to the glaciologist Fritz
Müller in the 1950s. The Program is founded on the belief that solutions to many of the
challenges presented by climate change today will demand the systematic blending of the best of
modern day technologies with traditional, on-the-ground field methods, including the active
participation of local communities. No climbing experience is necessary, only a keen desire to
increase our knowledge of high altitude, remote mountain regions.
II. Priorities and Eligible Topics
Climber-Scientist Small Grants will support projects that provide information relating to global
climate change, adaptation, mitigation, and related development information. The initiative seeks
to create enabling conditions necessary for local communities, governments, and stakeholders
living in and/or dependent on high glacial watersheds to (a) build resilience to the impacts of
climate change, (b) advance scientific knowledge of high mountain systems and processes, and

2. (c) increase global awareness and support for the critical importance of high mountain glacial
environments. Proposals should be related to high mountain areas of countries where USAID
works (see http://www.usaid.gov/locations/), be community- or local stakeholder-oriented, and
contain a strong emphasis on remote area fieldwork. Priority research topics include:
 Integrated high mountain physical and social science projects that integrate stakeholder
knowledge, needs, and priorities in ways that enhance the science–practice interface,
 Climate change adaptation building methods, including risk and hazards identification,
mitigation, prevention, and resilience building,
 High mountain alpine and sub-alpine community-based ecosystem conservation projects,
 Highland-lowland interactive systems and ecosystem services studies,
 Cultural, art, writing, and filmmaking projects that increase global attention for the
importance of high mountain environments and people,
 New strategies for integrating climate change research (physical and social); leave no
trace (human and solid waste) practices; and conservation initiatives into climbing
expeditions, and
 New methods and strategies for strengthening governmental capacities to develop climate
change vulnerability reduction policies.
III. Grant Type and Anticipated Funding
All grants will be administered according to USAID grant regulations by the Climate Change
Resilient Development (CCRD) Project implementer, International Resources Group (IRG). IRG
anticipates issuing Simplified Grants under this grant program. Please note that funding advances
will not be issued. Allowable grant expenditures will be reimbursed monthly, based on Grantee’s
submission to CCRD of a financial report and actual receipts.
Pending the availability of funding provided for this purpose by USAID, CCRD anticipates
awarding up to $500,000 in grants to fund appropriate and eligible applications submitted in
response to this announcement. Two categories of grants are anticipated:
1. Category I: Eight (8) grants of up to $25,000 (or equivalent in local currency) to support
individual, Ph.D.-level graduate students or professionals for a period of up to 12 months
to perform priority field research on the topics described above. Activities and expenses
that are eligible for funding include travel to field research sites, attendance at meetings
and conferences, publications, rental of equipment, and purchase of equipment (costing
less than $5,000 per item). All expenses must be related to implementing the grant
activity. Please see below for a list of unallowable expenses. Only individuals who are
enrolled in a university PhD program and individual professionals who are affiliated with
a foundation, research institute, or other legally-organized association may apply. Both
US citizens and non-US citizens are encouraged to apply. Please see below for a list of
ineligible individuals.

3. 2. Category II: Three (3) grants of up to $100,000 (or equivalent in local currency) to
professional or nongovernmental organizations for a period of up to 12 months to support
fieldwork and research, policy development, and/or capacity building aligned with the
priorities of Climber-Scientist High Mountain Small Grants described in the “Priorities
and Eligible Topics” section above. These organizations will work with individuals from
the NGO, academic, and practitioner communities to pursue innovative projects in high
mountain regions of the world. Activities and expenses that are eligible for funding
include travel to field research sites, attendance at meetings and conferences,
publications, rental of equipment, and purchase of equipment (costing less than $5,000
per item). All expenses must be related to implementing the grant activity. Please see
below for a list of unallowable expenses. Organizations that apply must be legally
registered and recognized under their country’s laws. Both Non-US and US organizations
are encouraged to apply. Please see below for a list of ineligible organizations.
Organizations, Individuals, Activities and Costs that will NOT be Funded
Ineligible organizations and individuals include:
 Government entities and employees;
 Political parties, groupings, or institutions or their subsidiaries and affiliates;
 Organizations and individuals that advocate, espouse, or promote anti-democratic policies or
illegal activities;
 Faith-based organizations whose objectives are for discriminatory and religious purposes, and
whose main objective of the grant is of a religious nature;
 Any entity and individual whose name appears on the List of Parties Excluded from Federal
Procurement and Non-procurement Programs.
Ineligible activities and purchases include:
 Any purchases that are not necessary to execute the grant activity, including any grantee
headquarter expenses (for organizations) or living expenses (for individuals) that are not
directly linked to the implementation of the proposed project;
 Profit or fee;
 Indirect costs;
 Fine, penalties, previous obligations or bad debt;
 Activities that contribute to the destruction, deterioration, or the degradation of natural
resources and/or environment;
 Illegal activities as defined by the host country and/or USAID;
 Subsidies to organizations that are not legally recognized;
 Ceremonies, celebrations, parties, gifts or gratuities;
 Purchase of equipment costing more than $5,000 per item;

4.  Purchases of goods or services restricted or prohibited under U.S. Government source/origin
regulations,
 Military equipment, police equipment, surveillance equipment, abortion equipment and
services, gambling equipment, climate modifier equipment.
Restricted purchases subject to special approval include: agricultural products, motorized
vehicles, pharmaceutical products, used equipment, North American surplus equipment, and
fertilizer.
IV. Instructions for applicants
Please submit a completed Climber-Scientist Grant Application Form (Category I version or
Category II version, as appropriate) and required attachments to:
CCRD Grants Manager - CCRD@irgltd.com
Applications will be accepted through June 22, 2012 for grants anticipated to be awarded in
July 2012 .
V. Criteria for judging technical merits of proposals
 Scientific/Technical Merit of the Project (25%): Is the proposed technical approach sound?
This includes design, methodology, objectives, and feasibility of scientific approach to
adequately address the research question of produced deliverables of the project.
 Outputs and Impact (25%): Will the proposed activity generate tangible and useful outputs
(publications, handbooks, conference presentations, awareness building materials)? Will it
have a positive impact on affected communities and/or on the High Mountain Glacial
Watershed Program's Community of Practice?
 Demonstrated Performance by the Applicant (10%): Is the applicant capable of
successfully carrying out the project? This takes into account such factors as the applicant’s
(1) past performance in successfully completing projects similar in size, scope and relevance
to the proposed project, and (2) history of meeting reporting requirements on prior or current
assistance agreements and submitting acceptable final technical reports and applicable
closeout documentation.
 Appropriate Budget (5%): Is the proposed budget reasonable and appropriate for the level
of work proposed and with the expected benefits to be achieved?
 Stakeholder Involvement (15%): Are stakeholders from communities or the High Mountain
Glacial Watershed Program's Community of Practice involved in the proposed activities?
 Transferability (20%): Does the project provide for meaningful, effective information
transfer post-project to resource managers to support decisions, policy or actions that will
address a resource issue or threat?
VI. Questions concerning this grant opportunity

5. Any questions concerning this opportunity should be submitted by June 1, 2012 to the CCRD
Grants Manager, CCRD@irgltd.com.