The Forestry Research Programme (FRP) operates under the Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy (RNRRS) of the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID). The FRP solicits proposals in the form of Concept Notes for problem-solving research on tropical and sub-tropical forestry to commence during the next financial year (FY 2005-6). The two topics are:
1. Socio-economic studies to complement FRP's project cluster on management of upper water catchments.
2. A desk study on the effective operation and regulation of chainsaw logging and milling.

The following pages contain an abbreviated description of DFID's Forestry Research Programme, instructions for preparing a Concept Note, the main criteria which will be used to evaluate individual Concept Notes, and DFID's explanation of logical frameworks.

Applications should address only the topics listed. FRP will not fund descriptive case studies on their own. The shortage of funds from DFID and the proximity to the end of the research period in March 2006 means that unsolicited concept notes cannot be considered by FRP.

Concept Notes should be sent to the FRP at NR International by the closing date of 4 February 2005. Applicants will be notified whether or not their proposals have been selected for a full application by 25 February 2005. Full funding applications, also in the prescribed format, will be required by 18 March 2005. Decisions on funding will be notified by 31 March 2005. There is a very short period for the concept note stage because FRP expects only a small number of institutions to be able to respond. The concept note is a brief document, about 3 pages of text, 1 page of logical framework and 1 page of budget. All research resulting from this call must be completed by 31 January 2006, because the FRP and other programmes in DFID's Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy are being closed on 31 March 2006. FRP regrets that DFID has not yet provided any relevant information about the nature, scope and organisation of research from April 2006.

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