Aligning the Food System 2020: RFP and Application

Request for Proposals Will Be Announced Later This Year

In 2019, the World Food Center sought innovative submissions for its Aligning the Food System series, which provided funding, communications, and logistics support for collaborative workshops, conferences, and other events hosted by UC Davis entities. Check back here for the announcement of the 2020 RFP.

The Aligning the Food System series fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to address grand challenges in global food systems. The platform brings together key stakeholders in academia, private industry, and the public sector to assess present and future challenges, identify best practices, and provide comprehensive recommendations for research and policy solutions. Events hosted through the Aligning the Food System platform may include workshops, conferences, webinars, distinguished speakers, and more.

Questions may be directed to Andrea Thompson via aehthompson@ucdavis.edu.

Eligibility & Requirements

Departments, centers, institutes, graduate groups, and similar entities based at UC Davis are eligible to apply to host an Aligning the Food System event. Candidates must:

Partner and apply with at least one other entity based at UC Davis, with whom you will collaboratively lead and design your event. Additional partnerships with university-based or external groups are encouraged.
Ensure attendance from a wide range of stakeholders, including private industry representatives and subject-matter experts from other universities. Events targeting large or global audiences are preferred.
Produce at least one tangible or written outcome from the event that continues the conversation, e.g. a white paper, collaborative grant proposal, policy brief, or video series.

Applicants are encouraged to think creatively in their submissions while providing a clear pathway to a tangible outcome from the proposed event.

What We Provide

The World Food Center will provide comprehensive support for Aligning the Food System events, including:

Up to $25,000 in seed funding, dependent on the needs identified in the proposal; prior Aligning the Food System events have received awards ranging from $5,000-$25,000.
Preparation of communications materials and assistance with distribution via the World Food Center's global network.
Coordination of all event logistics, including travel arrangements for speakers and guests, attendance tracking, venue reservations, catering, and more.

Events selected to be hosted through Aligning the Food System will be held in partnership with the World Food Center, with frequent communication throughout the planning and execution process. The World Food Center will work directly with each event to ensure cohesive branding and programmatic success.

FAQ

What types of events does the World Food Center sponsor through this series?
Events in the Aligning the Food System series address grand challenges facing global food systems. Our criteria is flexible to allow for innovative, interdisciplinary engagement. Prior Aligning the Food System events have included large, multi-day conferences and small, targeted workshops, and they have encompassed topics ranging from vegetable production, to nutrition, to food supply chains, and more.
What commitments do I have to make to receive funding?
Each event hosted in this series is different, and specific planning criteria will vary. Team leaders can expect to take responsibility for agenda development, speaker identification, and other event design tasks. The World Food Center will provide communications and logistics support as needed. It is important to note that the World Food Center will be an active partner throughout the planning process, and it is expected that each selected event will communicate frequently with our team and work together to plan and execute the event.
How does the partnership component of the application criteria work?
Each proposal must be submitted by at least two UC Davis-based entities, such as departments, centers, institutes, offices, and graduate research groups. These two entities must collaborate to develop their proposal and agree to co-lead the event from design to execution and evaluation. In addition to the two leading groups, proposed events are encouraged to involve additional partners from UC Davis and/or external academic, industrial, and nonprofit institutions. This series prioritizes interdisciplinary engagement, and applicants should consider this when selecting their partners.
How can I ensure success of my application?
We are seeking innovative events that will directly address and contribute to solving grand challenges in global food systems. Applicants are encouraged to propose bold ideas that will attract large, global audiences and deliver a tangible outcome that will have a lasting impact on the area of study proposed in your submission.
What if my proposed event exceeds the $25,000 maximum award?
While the World Food Center is not able provide more than $25,000 to a single event, applicants are encouraged to seek additional funding to cover any costs in excess of the award amount requested in your submission. On multiple occasions, we have partnered with internal and external sponsors on Aligning the Food System events and are able to co-brand and collaborate as needed. Applicants planning an event with over $25,000 of expected expenses should explain how they plan to seek additional funding in their submission and detail the total cost (not just the World Food Center's commitment) in their budget.
How do I submit my proposal?
All proposals should be submitted through our online application, hosted via Qualtrics. The application includes questions about your event concept and desired outcomes, as well as space to expand upon ideas through narrative responses. Please note that the budget component of the application is required to complete your submission and must be emailed separately.
Do I need to submit a budget?
Yes. The budget template is available here and must be emailed to kgdamico@ucdavis.edu by Friday, November 1, 2019.