Comparative Research Networks: Call for Proposals 2012
Deadline: 15 June, 2012
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 strategic plan for the period 2012 – 2016. 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 2012 include the following:
1. Re-thinking (African) Development;
2. Re-thinking Democracy (in Africa);
3. Engendering Democracy and Development;
4. Transitions in African Higher Education;
5. Reforming the African Public Sector: Retrospect and Prospect;
6. The Changing Political Economy of African Natural Resources;
7. African Encounters with the Global System;
8. The Popular Arts, Identity and Culture in Contemporary Africa;
9. Health, Politics and Society in Contemporary Africa;
10. Migration Dynamics and the Making of New Diaspora Communities;
11. Changing Rural-Urban Linkages;
12. African Integration and New Regionalist Impulses in Africa;
13. New Institutions of Transitional Justice;
14. Conflict and Reconstruction in Africa;
15. Law, Politics and Society;
16. State, Political Identity and Political Violence;
17. Political Pluralism and the Management of Diversity;
18. Water and Water Resources in the Political Economy of Development;
19. Ecology, Climate and Environmental Sustainability in Africa;
20. Transport and Transportation Systems in Africa;
21. Africa and the “Emerging” Powers of the Global South (China, India, Brazil…)
22. Religion, Spirituality and Power in Africa
23. Democracy and Governance in Africa
24. Media and New technology of information and communication in Africa
25. Agrarian transformation
26. Crises of Education
27. Roles and dynamics of critical actors
28. Critical Thought, epistemologies of knowledge production, theories and methodologies
Interested researchers are requested to highlight clearly the comparative question which they wish to address. Each proposal should include: an introduction – problem statement – review of related literature – objectives of the study – research methodology – expected results and outcomes. The proposed budget and time frame should be outlined keeping in mind an eighteen months duration effective the date of launch of the network. Furthermore the proposal should indicate the list and composition of network members, including the name(s) of the coordinator(s) of the group; the bio-data and institutional affiliation of the network members; copies of the curriculum vitaes (CVs) of the coordinator(s) and members of the network; and the budget breakdown for the proposed activities.
The identification sheet attached to this call should be filled in and sent along with the proposal and other required elements. An application that does not contain the required elements will not be considered. The proposal per se should not exceed 12 pages (font: Times New Roman, size of fonts: 12, line spacing: single).
Authors of proposals are advised to pay closer attention to comparative aspects while designing methodology and framing research questions. The independent Selection Committee that will review the CRN proposals will be mandated to eliminate all proposals that are either silent on the comparative question that will be researched and the corresponding comparative methodology that will be employed or which show an inadequate understanding of the challenges of comparative research.
Each CRN will be entitled to organise three meetings during its lifespan, one methodological; the second one to evaluate the progress of the work of the members of the group and the third and final one to wrap up the work. Although the budget that will be approved for CRNs varies from group to group, we like to inform prospective applicants for indicative purposes that the grants that were awarded by CODESRIA in the recent past ranged from USD 10,000 to USD 35,000. Similarly, although no specific format is required for the presentation of the budget for the work that is proposed, authors may wish to note that resources will be allocated by the Council to cover the following costs:
i) A methodological workshop for the members of the CRN;
ii) A review workshop at which the progress of the work of the CRN members will be assessed;
iii) The field work to be undertaken by the members of the network;
iv) Books to be purchased for the work of the CRN;
v) Honorariums to be paid to the members of the CRN for the work undertaken.
vi) Final workshop
The size of a CRN varies from proposal to proposal but, on the average it varies between four to six members. It is advantageous to ensure that a proposed CRN is multidisciplinary in composition, sensitive to gender issues, and accommodative of younger scholars.
For the 2012 CRN competition, CODESRIA will be open to receive proposals up to 15 June, 2012. Notification of the result of the selection process will be made by 31 July, 2012. The methodology workshop for the selected CRNs will be held in October 2012. Proposals, CVs of the network members including the coordinator, and proposed budget and time-plan (in Word format) should be sent to:
Comparative Research Networks
CODESRIA,
BP 3304, CP 18524
Dakar, Senegal.
Phone: +221-33 825 98 22/23
Fax: +221-33 824 12 89
E-Mail: crn(at)codesria.sn
Website: http://www.codesria.org/
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