Deadline: 15 September 2014
Open to: proposals from think tanks, policy research organizations, and advocacy groups from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine
Grant: vary from 5,000 to 25,000 US dollars
Description
The Open Society Foundation’s Think Tank Fund (TTF) invites proposals from think tanks, policy research organizations, and advocacy groups with in-house research capacity for projects on using data for policy relevant research and evidence-based advocacy. The purpose of this call is to promote technological advancement and data visualization across think tanks in the region. Since think tanks respond differently to the listed challenges and opportunities, they form a mixed community of practice. Differences in engaging with data, technology and visualizations offer an opportunity to share practices, build on proven successful examples, and further develop approaches to data management and outreach. In response to this opportunity, the Think Tank Fund invites proposals in five targeted support schemes:
- Micro-grants for technological innovation and exchange of know-how;
- Technological fellowship;
- Replication projects;
- Methodological innovation for data driven policy research projects;
- Integrated data projects for evidence-based policy research and advocacy.
Eligibility
The Think Tank Fund will consider proposal by think tanks, policy research organizations, and advocacy groups from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine and are spending more than 50 percent of their activities in designing and carrying out research as well as advocating its results.
Grant
The Open Society Foundation’s Think Tank Fund (TTF) is receiving applications in five different categories:
- Micro-grants for technological innovation and exchange of know-how ( maximum budget of 5,000 US dollars)- The projects can cover simple one-way adaptation of a technological or visualization tool, or mentoring and cooperation with think tanks experienced in using data for research projects to facilitate knowledge transfer;
- Technological fellowship (maximum budget of 10,000 US dollars)- TTF technological fellowships will support the engagement of technological experts for the entire duration of a specific policy research project -from the design phase till outreach and dissemination of a policy product;
- Replication projects (maximum budget of 25,000 US dollars)– TTF invites project proposals that aim at creating an open toolkit out of technological instruments developed as part of existing policy research projects. Such toolkits should enable organizations working on similar topics to integrate these innovative instruments and methods into their research and advocacy efforts;
- Methodological innovation for data driven policy research projects (maximum budget of 25,000 US dollars)-TTF invites think tanks to submit policy-relevant research projects that build on innovative, technology-driven sources of data and research methods;
- Integrated data projects for evidence-based policy research and advocacy (maximum budget of 25,000 US dollars)-They will consider applications that propose new uses of data for advocacy, target non-traditional stakeholders, develop challenging and complementary information sets for broader application, or use datasets to challenge commonly accepted facts in an under-researched policy area.
Application
The application process will take place in two phases:
- Concept note submission- All interested candidates think should submit a brief concept paper of no more than 2,000 words. All applicants should indicate a specific support scheme (1 to 5) and provide the application materials requested for that scheme. In addition to the issues listed under each scheme, the concept note should include one paragraph describing your website; links to your most successful policy project and your proposed budget.
- Full proposal- The Think Tank Fund will use the concept paper to determine whether the project meets our current funding priorities. After reviewing your concept note, TTF will invite successful applicants to submit full funding proposals and notify rejected applicants. TTF will provide additional guidelines to those invited to develop a full proposal.
You can submit your concept note via Open Society Foundations Grant Portal where you need to register and then proceed with your application!
For addition information download the complete guidelines or click the official call.
