Call for Research Proposals: Policy Fellowship Initiative

The Policy Fellowship Initiative of the OSF-Armenia invites applications from junior and senior policy researchers eager to carry out rigorous and innovative study identifying the most critical open society challenges and developing practical solutions. The aim of the fellowship is:

To foster participation of civil society in the process of public policy development stimulating debates at all levels of society around the most important policy areas

Eligibility

The fellowship program is open for civil society representatives, university faculty, policy researchers, analysts, and advisers. An advanced university degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Law, Economics, International Relations or related field is required. Experience in policy formulation and analysis, advocacy, and implementation is desirable. Strong and proven research writing and methodological skills are highly desirable. Knowledge of English and Armenian is required. Availability of the fellows to devote significant time to the fellowship is a must. Fellowship applications for projects that last six months maximum will be accepted both from individuals and groups.

Application Procedures

Applicants are expected to fill in the policy research proposal form (see attached) outlining the following: problem description, and research justification, research question/s, policy options and argumentation methodology of research, as well as an elaborate advocacy strategy. The proposal should include itemized budget, which can cover such expenses as fieldwork, honorarium, travel costs, and other necessary expenses. The budget for each fellowship should not exceed $4000. To be considered, interested applicants must also submit the resume with a full list of publications, copies of previous research work carried out by the applicant(s). The research proposals should be submitted in English; the research itself is conducted in Armenian and shall have a policy brief in English.

Fellowship expectations and work product

It is expected that the fellows will produce policy papers and briefs based on those papers within the constraints of the 10,000 word limit with concrete recommendations in their respective areas. In addition to the research report specifying clear policy recommendations and options, the fellows may produce a variety of work products, including publications such as books, reports, and innovative public-education projects. Fellows may also engage in activities such as hosting panel discussions, travelling to conferences, participating in policy debates, and promoting their ideas in public venues. Selected applicants will go through a mandatory training on policy research methodology and advocacy.

Proposed Policy Research Areas

Applicants are invited to submit proposals for research on any policy-relevant topics or any combination of  open society pressing themes in Armenian context that include but are not limited to the areas presented below (1) Socio economic policies (2) Government accountability and transparency; (3) Good governance and Corruption Control ; (4) Human Rights; (5) Migration and Labour Rights; (6) Education Policies; (7) Rule of Law and Justice; (8)Digitalization policies; (9) Value based EU integration. See below for more detail.

Application submission

All interested applicants should submit fellowship proposals and supporting materials to OSF-Armenia via register@osi.am by 17.00, September 13, 2013. Electronic submission of application is a must, while additional, not required hard copies are also being accepted by the address: 7/1 Tumanyan str., 2nd cul-de-sac. For questions and additional information you can contact Policy Fellowship Program Coordinator, Mariam Matevosyan via tel. 53-38-62; 53-67-58 or email: mmariam@osi.am

Application Checklist

Filled in policy research proposal form (see attached) (required). Resume, listing previous publications and relevant research experience (required). Sample of relevant previous work (optional)

Seminar will be held to answer questions from potential applicants at 17.00, September 6th, in Verdi hall, Royal Golden Tulip Hotel, 14 Abovian St.,0001 Yerevan .

Proposed Policy Research Areas

1. Government accountability, fiscal transparency and corruption control in the good governance framework. Study of the systemic causes of corruption brings to the widely accepted convention that problems of low scale bribes or grand corruption should be understood within the broader framework of public sector rules and procedures. Fellows will be expected to focus on the study of the budget cycle starting from the allocation of public funds through revenue policies (tax collection and sharing or transferring of national budget funds to lower levels of government), spending (procurement, contracting) till audit and its information base. Cost benefit analysis of different forms of effective anti-corruption policies ranging from legal and administrative measures to the opening of decision-making procedures and increased professionalism in public service management and delivery, planning rules, administrative regulations on issuing permits and licensing, procedures of urban planning, preparation of government decisions and interagency cooperation constitute a major area of interest for the study of policy formulation and implementation mechanisms in selected fields. Foundation pays a special attention to the study of planned reforms in local government structure, local government independence and community budget cycle.

2. Economic and social policies. In this subfield fellows are encouraged to study Government policies and administrative procedures designed to promote market diversification, R&D and industrial sector development, export promotion, SME development, especially in rural areas, SME taxation mechanisms, investment promotion, external debt management, state of property rights, and land control, urban planning (i.e. transportation), income, property, hotel taxes, tourism and infrastructure development etc. Special attention is paid to the study of agricultural policies, different state subsidizing schemes, low interest loans, seed, pesticide control and dissemination policies, food security, natural disaster reduction and control policies etc. Social welfare policies directed at poverty and unemployment rate reduction such as planned delivery of combined social services, introduction of the new retirement system and combined social service delivery, health insurance for state workers and special groups, mortgage loans and programs of affordable housing for young families, policies directed at birth rate increase, public safety and police reform as well as environmental impact assessment, industrial and household waste management represent a broad set of important policy areas where OSF Armenia suggests to conduct policy research.

3. Labor Rights. In this context themes include but are not limited to the study of illegal and non formal employment reduction policies, work contracts, policies directed at work productivity and fair pay, health, security and overall workplace conditions at workplace, compensation and reward policies, social security benefits, minimum base wage formation and its economic justification, relationship between labor market and education, labor unions, study of state regulation of private career development agencies, work efficiency of state regulatory bodies (Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, State Labour Inspectorate) in a comparative framework. It is anticipated that by drawing on primary data and statistical analysis, the research fellows will present an empirical analysis of the current state of their chosen field of research, along with feasible policy recommendations.

4. Migration Management. In this category fellows are invited to study current migration management policies in Armenia, look at its legislative bases, structures, procedures, technical capacity and equipment in the system. Special emphasis is paid to the study of labor migration to Russia and Russia’s regularization policies, existing policies that aim at reducing migration from rural areas especially from bordering villages, as well as educational, temporary labor migration, social impact of labor migration and flow of remittances. Study of Armenian state policies designed to boost the development potential of Armenian Diaspora are also welcomed. Some representative areas here may include study of Armenian state policies directed towards diffent Diaspora communities, repatriation polices, dual citizenry, case

studies of state policies meant for Syrian Armenians in a comparative framework etc.

5. Rule of Law and Justice. In this subfield fellows are encouraged to study state policies meant for promoting judicial independence, existing practice of appointment of judges, questions of judicial responsibility and disciplinary procedures for judiciary, structure of self regulatory bodies for judges, professional advancement programs for judges, technical and administrative development of judicial system, effectiveness of anticorruption policies in the field, policies designed to create equal conditions for judges in the Council of Justice. Problems of access to justice i.e. simplification of legislation, public awareness and access to legal information.

6. Social Inclusion of Marginalized and Vulnerable Groups and Protection of Rights . Protection of rights in closed and semi closed institutions, systemic changes in criminal justice system are among Foundation’s major scope of interest. Papers that discuss government policies/offer new alternatives concerning army conscripts, juvenile justice, LGBT community, religious minorities, prisoners, drug users, people with disabilities, including psycho-social disabilities, patients in need of palliative health care, problems of elderly people , children with special educational needs,

etc. are especially welcomed. Existing social perceptions of marginalized and vulnerable groups and possible impact of those on state policies is yet another area that needs to be studied in this context.

7. Gender Equality in Modern Armenian Society. The high prevalence of violence against women in Armenia, its impact on women’s full employment of rights and equal participation in the society, warrants a call for increased attention to the issue. General lack of credible research conducted to study gender policies in labor market, migration trends, social security system, property ownership etc. brings out the necessity of sound, data based policy analysis. Fellows are also encouraged to conduct an in-depth evaluation of the impact of the existing sex imbalance and pre-natal sex selection on Armenia’s economy and societal structure, as well as provide compelling testimony showing

the need for change in policies and attitudes.

8. Popular Political Discourse, Identity Narratives and Its Impact on Policy Formulation. In this context fellows are encouraged to analyze current political discourse, its dominating narratives and how those are utilized to shape the current understanding of the common good, societal values, public perceptions, and the course and different aspects of Armenia’s domestic and foreign policies. The policy research should focus on the tendency of misrepresentation of national identity narratives in the state policy formulation process in spheres like human rights,

education, public health, national security, foreign policy, etc.

9. Education Armenia is in the midst of significant reform both in mainstream school system and higher education. In the given context fellows are invited to study the problems of academic integrity, freedom and high school management at large, conduct cost benefit analysis of high school and higher education reform and their course of implementation from the perspectives of access, equity, accountability, quality and relevance of education, as well as corruption and nepotism in the system. More specifically policy areas may include the study of the cost of higher education and existing mechanisms of financing it, content analysis of textbooks, use of new education technologies, teaching staff trainings, ways used to improve and measure student and teacher achievement, limits of technical

education system etc.

10. Digitalization Pօlicies. Armenia is undergoing through a very controversial digital switchover process. Though transition of Armenia from analog to digital broadcasting in Armenia is envisaged in 2015 there is still no clearly articulated transition policy or wide consensus over the implementation process. In this context fellows are encouraged to study the further impact of the transition on overall competitiveness of mass media market, technical issues rgarding migration to digitalization, national legislative framework of multiplex operators’ engagement from a comparative perspective, impact of digitalization on the work of regional TV companies, and overall coordination

regulation of the digitalization process.

11. Value Based EU integration. ‘Substantive completion of negotiations on Association Agreement between Armenia and EU, opens a very broad span of fields that will need to be broadly discussed and analysed by the policy community of Armenia. In this context fellows are encouraged to study different policy aspects of Armenia's economic and trade relations with the EU as well as the institutional framework (visa liberalization, intellectual property rights, rules of origins, customs and trade facilitation mechanisms, social and labour rights etc.) needed for the policy harmonization. Fellows will also be expected to study the political dimension of Armenia’s EU integration and its challenges at large as value based cooperation is hardly possible if fundamental challenges on the ground such as systemic corruption, anti-democratic practices, poor public communication strategy of EU integration, possible incompatibilities of EU integration process with the overall course of Armenia’s foreign policy etc. remain unaddressed. 

Policy Fellowship Initiative. Armenia. 2013Proposal

This application form is designed to simplify the research proposal submission process and offer specific framework for proposal submission and evaluation. It highlights some of the key sections that a robust policy research proposal shall contain. Each section needs to be carefully addressed. Word limits are not meant as rigid rules but are expected to be taken into account. Preciseness, concision, clarity and clear cut scope are seen as an advantage of a potentially successful proposal. Policy Research Project’s Title and AbstractBrief overview of your proposal: What do you intend to examine? What is the motivation /reason for your study? What is the current reform relevance? What are the questions you seek to answer and the existing policy(s)/policy alternative(s) that your paper will argue for? (250-300 words)

Problem description and research justificationDiscuss the current state of the art in your proposed field of study, research/publications/policy alternatives in the field of your planned research, indicating the novelty of your project and its anticipated contribution to the field. (1000-1200 words)

Research questionsWhat puzzle are you trying to solve? (80-100 words)

Policy options and argumentationIn response to your research question, what is your preferred/suggested policy option/alternative Why do you think your preferred/suggested policy option/alternative is more effective? Hypothesize on that. (1000-1200 words)

MethodologyPlease describe your research methodology. Be as concise as possible. Outline potential obstacles and show how you'll overcome those (maximum 1000 words).

DeliverablesPlease describe your research outputs i.e. policy papers, briefs, infographics, presentations and debates, audio visual materials etc. (80-100 words)

Advocacy StrategyDescribe beyond the typical research presentations, how can you envisage making an impact? What resources and tools could you develop to disseminate your policy paper, and how will it be useful to the targeted communities? How would you disseminate them? What are the risk factors associated with the implementation of your advocacy strategy?

Describe the list of target policy-makers and policy-implementers that you intend to contact and (500-700 words).

Project Timetable Provide the timeframe for the planned project and the key activities. Please note that maximum duration of projects is six months.

BudgetPlease list all the costs in an itemized budget table below. Note that the budget shall not exceed 4000 USD.