The British Council in Malaysia is inviting applications for the A.R.C. Malaysia Challenge Grant, which brings together stakeholders from the arts and creative industries, education, science and civil society sectors to collaborate on a common challenge in response to climate change and offer innovative and interdisciplinary solutions that create awareness and enhance resilience among youth. The A.R.C. Malaysia Challenge will be part of the cultural programme activities in the build up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), which the UK is hosting on 1 – 12 November 2021.

The opportunity is open for UK and Malaysian stakeholders across interdisciplinary sectors (education, arts and creative industries, science, civil society etc.) to respond to this open call. This includes university leadership, academics, researchers and students. Applications must include at least one partner from the UK and one partner from Malaysia.

The A.R.C. Challenge Malaysia Grant provides seed-funding for collaborations between stakeholders in the UK and Malaysia, which respond to a common challenge in the field of climate change through shared solutions that empower young people to take positive action which can cascade awareness and create greater resilience amongst others in their generation, as well as influence policy making.

The British Council Malaysia is offering 3 seed funding grants of up to £10,000 each to kick-start innovative, joint UK-Malaysia responses to a shared climate change challenge involving young people aged 18 – 35. We encourage cross-sectoral collaboration in our grant applications. Ideally, we would include projects which are from the arts and creative industries, education and science sectors in our final awards.

Successful grants will be announced during the first A.R.C. Challenge Malaysia Forum on 4 February 2020. Awardees will then have the opportunity to pitch their projects during the second A.R.C. Challenge Malaysia Forum on 25 March 2020 to an audience of diverse stakeholders including potential funders, policy makers, research, academic and youth organisations, in the hope that their project will spark further interest that may lead to scaling-up and sustainability.

Successful applicants will be awarded a grant of up to £10,000 and are expected to deliver their projects from 15 February 2021, complete all activities by 15 November 2021 and submit the project report to the British Council by 30 November 2021.

Eligible applicants are invited to complete and submit the accompanying application form via email by Friday 22 January 2021 (5pm Malaysia Time / 9am UK Time).

For further information on the grant, eligibility, application process and contact person, please download the Briefing Notes for Applicants and FAQs shared here or view details on the British Council Malaysia website.