Call for Proposals to Present Explained

The Cracking the Nut Advisory Committee invites interested persons to submit proposals to present at the Cracking the Nut: Promoting Agricultural Technology Adoption and Resilience conference. This conference’s core themes for the breakout sessions are:

1. Introducing Technologies in Support of Climate Resilience: What technologies and approaches can help to mitigate the negative impacts and adapt to climate changes while maintaining or improving productivity? What steps are involved in introducing and scaling use of new technologies to smallholders? How can technology be used to reduce food waste, minimize use of water and chemicals, and attract youth to agribusiness? What public and private sector investments in climate change have resulted in cost savings and improved performance? 
2. Promoting Sustainable Natural Resource Use and Poverty Reduction: How can we balance concerns for environmental protection with poverty reduction? What actions promote climate resilience while contributing to productivity and mitigation of greenhouse gases? What can we do to promote the recovery of degraded lands and the protection of water resources and ecosystems? What types of aquaculture and fisheries offer reasonable cost protein needed for food security? How can we reduce food waste and promote healthy nutrition? What roles have school feeding programs and public private partnerships had in reducing childhood stunting?
3. Using Digital Platforms to Facilitate Agricultural Knowledge & Finance: How can we forge and strengthen links between rural smallholders and their access to agricultural knowledge and financial services? How can technology be used to facilitate climate resilient actions? How can community-based investment funds be linked to the formal financial system to expand financial inclusion to rural and vulnerable populations? What innovative technologies are being implemented to promote productivity and climate resilience? What technology aspects are particularly appealing to women and youth?

Part 1: Instructions and Guidance to Presenters

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

• All proposals should be completed using the Call for Proposals (CFP) form provided in adherence to the instructions outlined in this CFP.  Alternative or noncompliant proposals will not be considered.
• All proposal submissions should be emailed to [email protected] by Thursday, November 30, 2017 with “Cracking the Nut 2018: Proposal to Present” in the subject line.
• All proposals must align with at least one of the conference themes. Presenters may submit more than one proposal to present, but only one presentation per theme will be considered.
• All proposed presenters must have agreed to participate at the time of submission. Participation from female presenters is encouraged.
• Proposals must be written in English or Spanish.

EVALUATION AND AWARD

• To ensure full and fair consideration, proposals will be evaluated and selected by the Conference Advisory Committee.
• Selection decisions will be made, and all who submitted proposals will be notified of decisions by no later than December 22, 2017.
• Any proposal received in response to this CFP will be reviewed strictly as submitted.
• If selected, you will receive instructions regarding the submission of your presentation materials.
• Selected presentations will be given complimentary conference admission for up to two (2) presenters.

GUIDANCE ON PRESENTATION FORMAT AND DESIGN

• All sessions are 90 minutes in length and should include at least 30 minutes for discussion.
• The conference is designed to be an interactive event. We encourage the use of creative and collaborative techniques and formats that engage the audience and promote a participatory learning environment.
• The conference objective is to share and disseminate best practices (including lessons learned and remaining challenges), which are backed by examples and related to one or more of the conference's themes. We encourage proposals to include lessons learned not only through success stories but challenges and difficulties faced as well.
• While designing the session’s presentation, please keep the following question in mind: "What do you want your peers to get out of the session? How does your session contribute to agricultural or aquaculture development, access to finance, food security or resilience?"
• All rooms will be arranged classroom style with capacity for approximately 100 people and will be equipped with the following: microphones, flip chart with markers, projector screen, LCD projector, laptop, and a volunteer assistant who will provide backroom/logistical support.

The form to submit a proposal to present at Cracking the Nut 2018 is attached, along with these instructions. For additional information regarding conference proposals, please contact us at [email protected].