GCP Travel Grants – Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I apply for a GCP Travel Grant?
2. What happens if I miss the deadline for applications?
3. What happens if my country is not in the “GCP Priority Farming Systems – corresponding countries” list?
4. Can I apply to obtain support for my participation in a training course/symposium/conference?
5. I do not collaborate with a GCP project at the moment. Do I have a chance to be awarded with a Travel Grant?
6. Will I definitely receive the US$5,000 grant regardless of the duration of my travel?
7. Can I receive more than US$5,000?
8. Can I use the grant to pay for part of my PhD studies?
9. I would like to stay longer at the host country after my hands-on training period. Can I use part of my Travel Grant funds for this?
10. What do I need to do prior to receiving the Travel Grant funds?
11. Where will the Travel Grant money be deposited?
12. I need a visa to travel to my host country. Would GCP help me with my visa application, in case I need additional documents?
13. I have signed and submitted my contract to GCP. I will not be able to travel on the dates indicated in it. Will GCP cancel my Travel Grant?
14. Can I still make changes on my budget after starting my training period?
15. What happens if I cannot complete my training for any reason?
1. How can I apply for a GCP Travel Grant?
First of all, you must take into account that this call targets crop science researchers from:
- a developing country research institution (NARS or Academia) in any of the GCP Priority Farming Systems (as seen on the call for applications)
- institutions in the GCP Consortium, or collaborating with a GCP Consortium Institution.
The process and necessary documents for apply for a Travel Grant are described in detail in the call for applications.
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2. What happens if I miss the deadline for applications?
If you miss the deadline you will need to wait until a new call for applications is opened. Normally, this may take up to one year. Therefore, it is recommended that you prepare and submit your documents well in advance of the deadline.
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3. What happens if my country is not in the “GCP Priority Farming Systems – corresponding countries” list?
If your home country (where you are working/based at the time of application) is not listed, unfortunately your application cannot be considered. The reason for this is that the GCP previously identified priority areas (countries in the priority Farming Systems) to determine the main target of some of the programmes offered to developing country scientists. All applicants must also be citizens of a developing country.
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4. Can I apply to obtain support for my participation in a training course/symposium/conference?
No. The grant only applies for a visit a GCP Consortium Institution, a collaborating institution, or an independent advanced research institution for hands-on training experience in concepts and/or techniques useful or necessary for the advancement of the GCP research. The grants are therefore not intended for courses, symposia, or conferences.
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5. I do not collaborate with a GCP project at the moment. Do I have a chance to be awarded with a Travel Grant?
Yes. Whilst collaborating with ongoing GCP-related research is a desirable condition, it is not mandatory.
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6. Will I definitely receive the US$5,000 grant regardless of the duration of my travel?
No. The budget must be calculated according to the duration of the training and the living costs of the host country (which differ drastically from country-to-country), cost of air tickets, accommodation, etc.
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7. Can I receive more than US$5,000?
No. The maximum award of US$5,000 is absolute and the budget estimation cannot exceed this limit under any circumstances.
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8. Can I use the grant to pay for part of my PhD studies?
No, unless your PhD studies are within an ongoing GCP project.
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9. I would like to stay longer at the host country after my hands-on training period. Can I use part of my Travel Grant funds for this?
No. Under no circumstances can the Travel Grant funds be used for any purpose other than those outlined in this document and related Travel Grant application documents. Any activities unrelated to the grant are your own responsibility, and will not be covered by GCP.
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10. What do I need to do prior to receiving the Travel Grant funds?
The first payment will be made upon receipt of a signed contract and the final payment will be made upon submission and approval of technical and financial reports, together with a duly filled Appendix A.
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11. Where will the Travel Grant money be deposited?
It is the responsibility of theTravel Grant winner to open a personal account, be it in the host country or another chosen location, and to ensure that there will be no constraints to access the funds.
Please note that no funds can be transferred to an account that is not under the winner’s name.
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12. I need a visa to travel to my host country. Would GCP help me with my visa application, in case I need additional documents?
Yes. Although the Award Letter given to all travel grant winners is usually sufficient documentation for the visa application process, GCP can also provide, on request, a letter of confirmation of the award with a brief description of the programme, the selection process and the training period.
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13. I have signed and submitted my contract to GCP. I will not be able to travel on the dates indicated in it. Will GCP cancel my Travel Grant?
The eventuality of a request for postponing travel must be very well justified in order not to lose your award. Only in rare cases will GCP authroise a new, postponed travel date. Under no circumstances, however, will a travel start date beyond October 31st be authorised. Unless there is a sound reason for the change, if you have already received the first installment of your grant you will have to refund GCP as soon as possible.
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14. Can I still make changes on my budget after starting my training period?
In very few cases, the budget allocated to a specific item is not sufficient, while other budget allocations are occasionally overestimated. This is a non-desirable situation and we strongly encourage you to maintain frequent communication with the host scientist when making budget provisions in a bid to avoid changes. However, up to 10% change may be acceptable, but only in consultation with GCP.
15. What happens if I cannot complete my training for any reason?
You must inform GCP about the situation immediately. Any unspent funds must be returned to GCP, and a financial report detailing all funds spent must be submitted.
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Full details on the 2008 Travel Grants can be found in the Call for proposals