Call IRD 2025 - Structural Training Projects (PSF)

The Structural Training Project (PSF) Programme is a training support scheme co-lead by IRD research units or associated IRD research units and foreign partners. It is part of a long-term strategy. To set up a PSF you must work with a researcher from an IRD supervised research unit. The objectives of the PSF scheme are to :

1. to contribute to the training of students, teacher-researchers, researchers, engineers, technicians and administrative staff from partner countries;
2. to strengthen the training component of IRD research projects or partnership research schemes (in particular ARTS, JEAI, LMI, IRN or PEPR);
3. to strengthen university site policies and their mutual links.

Selected FSPs will receive technical and financial support (€10,000/year) for a period of 3 years.

The “PSF” scheme has two components:

• Strand 1: support for Higher Education and Research partner institutions. Under this first strand, projects must associate one or more universities in partner countries with one or more French or European universities, in line with the site policies in which the IRD is involved. Examples: master's degrees (creation or reinforcement of courses or modules), schools and doctoral courses.
• Strand 2: support for research teams and groups. Under this second strand, projects may take place in France or Europe. However, they must closely involve academic and scientific partners in both their design and implementation. Examples: structured training courses in subject-specific skills, digital resources, cross-disciplinary skills training workshops).

The projects submitted must address major global issues and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Annual application campaign:

The PSF campaigns open in May-June as part of the DAM (Demande d'allocation de moyens de l'IRD) and close in September.

Please find below the arbitrary calendar:

• Applications must be submitted to the IRD unit directors. The complete application must be sent only in electronic form to the unit director of the IRD laboratory co-applicant. In order for the application to be properly examined by the unit director, it is important to send it as early as possible, ideally before 31 August.
• Submission of applications via the DAM online tool: until mid-September of year N
• Collection of opinions from representatives: September/October of year N
• Instructions from the Training and Capacity Building Department (DFRC): October of year N
• Meeting of the project selection committee: November of year N
• Announcement of results: December 2023 of year N
• Implementation of funds: from January/February of year N+1

Application documents for 2025 to come:

• Terms of Reference (TOR)
• Application form
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• DFRC Evaluation Grid