START promotes research-driven capacity building to advance knowledge on global environmental change in Africa and Asia-Pacific. Our work focuses on climate variability and change, disaster risk reduction, land-use/land-cover change, biodiversity conservation, urban development, human health, water resources management, agriculture and food security, and regional climate modeling and climate services. START’s actions target science, as well as the interface of science, policy and practice, and inform actions towards fostering more resilient and adaptable development.
Since the inception meeting of FRACTAL, START has been involved with the Decision-Making Cluster and the City Learning Cluster, in addition to managing the Small Opportunity Grants and GEC Grants. START is a cluster co-chair for the Decision-Making Cluster, helping to plan and lead monthly phone calls, draft notes, shepherd the cluster through work planning, coordinate with cluster members, and report back to the Joint Working Group and FRACTAL Project Coordinator. START participates in City Learning calls and sits on the monitoring, evaluation, and learning working group. START has just released a call for GEC Grant proposals and is working with local university partners on their proposal submissions. START will also issue a call for Small Opportunity Grant proposals in the next week or two to inspire thought on opportunities for increasing cross-city learning and exchange, relationship building, and producing non-academic communications products. START will manage the SOGs over the next 2-3 years and the GEC Grant program over the next year.
