The Call for Regional Research Promotion Programme in the Field of Social Sciences, Western Balkan

Deadline: 19 September 2011
Open to: Researchers and institutions from and residing in the Western Balkans
Grant: 75,000 CHF up to 150,000 CHF

Description

The Regional Research Promotion Programme (RRPP) Western Balkans, launched in 2007, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), is aimed at establishing and strengthening research capacities in the field of social sciences in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. The RRPP provides funding to researchers from the region conducting relevant research projects.
The RRPP Management, hosted at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, is launching a call for regional research project proposals; open to both researchers and institutions from and residing in the Western Balkans.
The research topics to be submitted should be relevant to transitional themes while addressing and analysing specific issues under investigation from a social science perspective. Furthermore, the proposals must fit into the regional umbrella topic, “Political, Social and Economic Change in the Western Balkans.” This includes the following priority areas:
1) Rule of Law and Democracy (democratization, decentralization and local governance, judicial reform, social inclusion, strengthening civil society and democratic law making, other);
2) Economic Development and Social Change (social inclusion, inclusive market and value chain development, youth employability, migration and remittances, human capital, other);
3) “Managing Diversity” (national, ethnic and religious identities, gender, youth, minorities incl. Roma)

Funding Scheme

1. Funding of up to 75’000 CHF for the initial 12-month period and up to 37’500 CHF for an additional 6 months during the following year may be granted for regional projects including research teams from at least two countries.
2. Funding of up to 100’000 CHF for the initial 12-month period and up to 50’000 CHF for an additional 6 months during the following year may be granted for regional projects including research teams from at least three countries.
3. Funding of up to 125’000 CHF for the initial 12-month period and up to 62’500 CHF for an additional 6 months during the following year may be granted for regional projects including research teams from at least four countries.
4. Funding of up to 150’000 CHF for the initial 12-month period and up to 75’000 CHF for an additional 6 months during the following year may be granted for regional projects including research teams from at least five and up to 6 countries.

The funding will contribute to cover costs for honoraria, equipment and field work, access to knowledge and international conferences, international and regional cooperation and networking, improvement of methods and training, mentoring by internationally recognised researchers, publishing and promotion.
Funding is provided for projects with a timeframe of at least 12 consecutive months, up to a total of 18 months. Initial funding is provided only for the first 12 months.
Submitting several applications is permissible; each application will be judged according to its individual merits.

How to apply?

The official application form must be used to submit research proposals by the deadline of Monday, 19 September 2011. The first page of this form must be signed and scanned. All documents (application form, CVs, annexes, etc.) need to be submitted as one PDF file to the RRPP Management to: office@rrpp-westernbalkans.net and jasmina.opardija@unifr.ch (for security reasons, please use both addresses). For any queries or additional information, please use the office e-mail: office@rrpp-westernbalkans.net.

In order to successfully apply for this grant, please download and fill in the application form found here. You need to fill in the Budget Application form as well (to download it, please click here)

Evaluation criteria:
– Scientific quality (elaboration of research question, methods and research plan are the most important components);
– Relevance and link to the RRPP research topics;
– Feasibility;
– Innovation;
– Regional dimension (cooperation and networking), alignment with relevant initiatives for changes (regional, European, other);
– Coherence of proposed topic with research already conducted at home institution;
– Scientific competence of the applicants (scientific record);
– Involvement of both young and female researchers;
– Sound financial management capacities and adherence to good governance principles (accountability, efficiency, non-discrimination, participation, transparency).

Selection timeframe
– 19 September 2011: Deadline to submit research proposals
– November 2011: Final decision of the Scientific and Steering Boards
– December 2011: Contracting and final negotiations
– January 2012: Start of approved research projects

Contacts