Comparative Research Networks: Call for proposals for 2014
Deadline: 31 May, 2014
Within the framework of its strategy for building comparative knowledge on Africa produced from within the African continent, the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) invites proposals from researchers based in African universities and centres of research for the constitution of Comparative Research Networks (CRNs) to undertake studies on or around any of the themes identified as priority research themes within the framework of the Council’s 2012-2016 strategic plan. The primary purpose of CRNs is to encourage the development and consolidation of a comparative analytic perspective in the work of African social researchers. In so doing, it is hoped to establish a strong corpus of comparative studies produced by African scholars that could help to advance theoretical knowledge and discussion.
Priority research themes for the constitution of CRNs for 2014 include the following:
1. Higher education, ICT and internationalization: the changing landscape of higher education and research; neo-liberalism, its evolution and African responses to it;
2. Climate change, resources and development: the new scramble for African resources; agrarian transformation and agricultural development; value addition, industrial and service sector development
3. Politics and governance: Human rights; citizenship; social movements and evolving modes of civic engagement; peace, security and the rule of law
4. Gender, youth, culture and transformative social policy: new frontiers of activism; self-actualization in changing global contexts; the construction of more inclusive political systems; changing modes of being; changing modes of re-presentation
5. Regional and continental integration, mobility and the African Diaspora: evolving modes of engagement; the Diaspora and fashioning of the Africa to come; movement in the era of border fences; reconciling upward integration and grassroots empowerment
6. Knowing and engaging the rest of the world: African encounters with globalization; the study of other regions of the world; South-South relations; the emerging powers; and the comparative study of historical experiences of development and governance;
7. Thinking about the future: prospective studies; planning; and ways of dealing with uncertainty in Africa
Applicants are advised to clearly highlight the comparative character of their work in all sections of their proposals with particular emphasis on how their study designs, research methods and research activities enable them address the comparative questions posed. The independent selection committee will eliminate proposals that do not do so sufficiently.
CRNs should have between three (3) and five (5) members. It is advantageous to ensure that proposed networks are multidisciplinary in composition, sensitive to gender issues, and accommodative of younger scholars.
Interested researchers should submit application packages containing the following required materials. Please note that applications that lack any of these required materials will be discarded.
• A proposal with the following sections: an introduction; statement and contextualization of question; brief review of literature and/or competing hypotheses; study design and research methodology; significance of study; brief summary of budget and research plan. Proposals must be submitted as Word documents and should not exceed 10 pages (font type: Times New Roman; font size: 11; line spacing: double). Brief budgets, which should be incorporated into proposals, should take into consideration the fact that CRNs have a strict eighteen-month lifespan. Although grants awarded for CRNs vary from group to group, applicants should note for indicative purposes that recent grants ranged between USD 10,000 and USD 35,000. No specific format is required for the presentation of budgets but the Council covers the following costs:
o Field work undertaken by the members of the network
o Books purchased for the work of the CRN
o Honorariums paid to members of the CRN for work undertaken
o A review workshop to evaluate progress made by members
o Final workshop
• A cover letter listing network members and coordinator(s) and their email addresses and phone numbers
• CVs of all network members that contain full contact details including email and phone numbers
• A completed version of the identification sheet attached to this call
For the 2014 CRN competition, the deadline for submission of applications is May 31, 2014. Notification of the result of the selection process will be made by July 31, 2014. CODESRIA will organize a methodology workshop for selected CRNs members in September 2014. All applications should be sent by email to Comparative Research Networks, CODESRIA at crn@codesria.sn. Kindly use the subject line CRN 2014 in your email.
Comparative Research Networks CODESRIA
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