For Applicants | Focus Areas | South Africa / Multiple Research Fields Applicant Resources Apply Application Process Eligibility Focus Areas Find a USG-Supported Partner Frequently Asked Questions Eligible Country: South Africa Additional Criteria for Applicants: Please see Section V of the Solicitation for General Eligibility requirements. USAID and South Africa Department of Science and Technology (DST) strongly encourage research proposals that include a PI or Co-PI from a Historically Disadvantaged Institution (HDI) in South Africa, or a proposal partnering a South African research institution with a co-PI from a research institution in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).  Co-PIs from the SADC must also be from PEER-eligible countries, including Angola, Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, or Zambia. As with all PEER proposals, applications submitted under this focus area require partnership with a scientist supported by a participating USG-supported science agency.   Objectives: USAID/Southern Africa and DST are pleased to announce they have partnered for the 2016 PEER call to support research proposals in the focus areas of Low Emissions Development (LED)/Green Growth and Water Security, Supply, and Sanitation. Additionally, USAID/Southern Africa is also interested in supporting research focusing on Countering Wildlife Crime (CWC). Low Emissions Development (LED)/Green Growth: projects will support innovative approaches to advancing low emissions development strategies in transport, waste, energy, energy efficiency and other sectors; support the development of smart cities and low emissions development at the municipal scale. Water Security, Supply and Sanitation: projects will expand access to sustainable water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, with a focus on low-cost technologies that are locally managed, energy-neutral, use renewable energy, and generate recyclable or environmentally benign waste streams; and/or promote water security that supports access to an appropriate quantity and quality of water to ensure human security, sustainable ecosystem goods and services, and sustainable management of water-related risks. Countering Wildlife Crime (CWC): projects will strengthen biological management, law enforcement, legal systems and prosecution capacity with the ultimate aim of promoting wildlife conservation and combating wildlife poaching and trafficking to preserve the region’s natural biodiversity. All research proposals should support the goals of USAID/Southern Africa as outlined in the Southern Africa Country Development Cooperation Strategy, relate to the Mission’s current environment portfolio, and support the goals of the South Africa National Development Plan and the National Water Resource Strategy focused specifically on WASH or LED/Green Growth. Additional relevant documents include: South Africa's Water Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Roadmap: 2015-2025 (available through www.wrc.co.za); USAID’s Water and Development Strategy: 2013-2018 (available through www.usaid.gov); and The U.S. National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking (available through www.whitehouse.gov).