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The Seventeenth OSSREA Social Science Research Grant Competition for Young Scholars
The Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA) is offering research grants to up to twenty-five successful applicants based in Eastern and Southern Africa during the current year. Proposals may be submitted by researchers from any of the disciplines in the social sciences involving applied social and economic analysis of contemporary development issues. Grantees are expected to conduct field research anywhere in Eastern and Southern Africa.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Competition are to encourage young scholars to conduct research in the social sciences, to strengthen teaching in the social sciences through the joint participation of faculty and students in field research, and to enhance the subsequent availability of research findings for teaching purposes.
RESEARCH TOPIC
The Competition is open to proposals focusing on any topic in the social sciences. However, special consideration will be given to proposals focusing on the following themes:
Structural Adjustment Programmes and the Social Sector
Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and Institutions
Accountability, Ethics and Leadership
Ethnic Conflicts in the Region and Their Resolution
Civil Society, Multi-party Politics, and Democratisation
Regional Economic Cooperation, and
Environmental Issues and Their Relations to Development.
ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES
All applicants must be based in Eastern or Southern Africa, currently employed, enrolled in or otherwise affiliated with a national institution which conducts research. They must hold at least a Master’s degree from an accredited academic institution. The applicant's institution must endorse the research to be undertaken and be willing to provide some support to the applicant. Proposals prepared for the fulfillment of the requirements for a degree will not be accepted. Applications by candidates who have won in either of two immediately preceding research competitions will not be considered. Also, individuals who have won twice in previous OSSREA competitions are not eligible.
A complete proposal should contain the following:
1. A synopsis of the proposed research including:
(a) Title, (b) Background, (c) Problem statement, (d) Study objectives, (e) Study significance and scope, (f) Conceptual framework, (g) Literature review, (h) Methodology, (i) Bibliography, (j)Work plan, and (k) A break-down of the budget required to accomplish the proposed research both in local currency and its equivalent in US Dollars.
2. A current curriculum vitae of the applicant, including age, gender, educational level, nationality and a detailed address (P. O. Box, Phone, Fax & E-mail).
3. A letter of endorsement from the institution of affiliation and official clearance from the relevant government authority (in countries where this is applicable).
4. The size of the proposal should be limited to a maximum of 10-15 pages with 1.5” line-spacing. Applications that exceed this page limit will not be considered at all.
BUDGET
The budget for the proposed research should not exceed US$5,000 and may be used to cover actual research costs (e.g., local travel and subsistence, supplies, acquisition of documents, photocopying, etc.). This will be subject to the approval of the Jury. Allocation for equipment (PC, tape recorders, etc.) and contingency are unacceptable. Not more than US$1000 of the total grant will be allowed as payment of honorarium to the grantee.
SELECTION PROCEDURES AND OTHER CONDITIONS
Research grants will be awarded on the recommendation of a panel of scholars drawn from Eastern and Southern Africa. The panel will review all proposals, with the names of the applicants removed.
Successful applicants will be expected to take up their awards within three months from the date of notification. Normally, the award will be good for a period no longer than one year, by which time a final report and a statement of accounts for the grant fund expended should have been submitted to OSSREA.
Grantees will be required to deposit copies of their final research reports with the relevant university library, sponsoring academic department or the national archives in the country where the research was conducted, in addition to submitting to OSSREA one hard copy and another copy on a floppy disk.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Grant applications and proposals should be submitted to OSSREA by express mail before 31st July 2003. Completed applications and inquiries should be addressed to:
The Coordinator
17th Social Science Research Grant Competition
OSSREA
P.O. Box 31971
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel.: 251-1-551163
Fax: 251-1-551399
E-mail: ossrea@telecom.net.et
Web: http://www.ossrea.net