The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (www.nupi.no <http://www.nupi. no/>) is pleased to announce a project supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Regional Competence Building for Think Tanks in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
The aim of the project is to further strengthen the capacity of regional think tanks to operate as arenas for rigorous and independent analysis and to participate in political debate (both domestically and internationally) . The project will sponsor selected researchers’ participation in two training/networking events and will award research grants (25,000 NOK) to selected researchers.
The project includes an advanced training workshop in Almaty (17-20 December 2009) and a concluding 2-day seminar in May 2010 (exact dates to be confirmed). Participation in the workshops is mandatory. Please do not apply this year if foreseeable work or personal commitments may prevent you from attending the Almaty workshop.
The research grant is to be used to carry out conceptually and methodologically rigorous research on a proposed topic related to policy challenges facing participants’ home countries (including but not limited to: governance, poverty, effects of globalization on countries in the region, energy issues, regional cooperation, foreign policy). Projects dealing with domestic issues are strongly encouraged although topics relating to international politics may also be considered. We encourage applicants to design research projects that will provide new empirical data and policy-relevant insights.
Selected applicants must submit the results of this research in a 15-20-page policy report (in English or Russian) to the project organizers by 12 April 2010 for peer-review. Revised reports must be publicized in individual countries by participating think tanks during April/May 2010.
The project will involve up to 28 project participants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. We strongly encourage female researchers to apply. Selection will be based purely on the quality and merit of the proposed research and the credentials of the applicant. Applicants should have at least a master’s degree or equivalent.
To apply for the project, individual researchers should fill out the application form (below) in either English or Russian. Application materials should be sent as one integrated word or pdf document (including a one-page CV). The entire application must not exceed three pages.
All applications submitted by 3 November 2009 will be considered. Late applications and applications longer than three pages will not be considered.
Applications and any queries can be sent to NUPI at thinktanks@nupi. no <mailto:thinktanks@nupi. no> .
Application forms are also downloadable from: http://english. nupi.no/Virksomh eten/Forskningsp rosjekter/ Regional- Competence- Building- for-Think- Tanks-in- the-South- Caucasus- and-Central- Asia <http://english. nupi.no/Virksomh eten/Forskningsp rosjekter/ Regional- Competence- Building- for-Think- Tanks-in- the-South- Caucasus- and-Central- Asia>
Please direct any queries to thinktanks@nupi. no