The Research Grant Award Initiative and Process

1. The Research Grant Award Initiative and Process National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme (NFPCSP) Nur A. Khondaker Research Grant Administrator National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme (NFPCSP), FAO Representation in Bangladesh CIRDAP AUDITORIUM 26 November 2006; Wednesday

2. Increase Capacity in Civil Society (CS) to carry out Food Security (FS) Research Improve dialogue among CS and between CS and the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) Research Grant Award Initiative Component 2: “Improved research and dialogue in civil society, and within civil society and GoB”

3. Component 2: an overview Research Grants Panel (RGP) GOVERNMENT Challenge Fund (CF) Program Funded Research (PR) Component 2 CIVIL SOCIETY Research Institutions “Improved research and dialogue in civil society, and within civil society and GoB” Activities 1. Assess research needs on food security 2. Set the institutional framework and award grants 3. Facilitate research and dialogue

4. Steering Committee Approves TORs of RGP and modalities for selection of grants Donors Participation in selection of CS Representatives GoB - FPMU Preparation of research needs digests & organization of Workshops and Seminars Research Grants Administrator Technical Assistance Team Technical support Administrative support Challenge Fund (CF) Programme Funded Research (PR) Institutional framework: the RGP Research Grants Panel (RGP) • -FAO Representative in Bangladesh (Chair) • Representative from FPMU • Chairperson of the donor Consortium • Representative from FAO’s ESA Divn • - Representative from WFP • - 2 Representatives from Civil Society • - TAT Team Leader • Member Secretary: • Research Grants Administrator (RGA) The RGP approves the research topics and awards the research grants

5. Institutional framework (cont.) • longer-term research •  within 18 months • short-term research •  within 1 year • grants: US$ 30,000 – 50,000 • grants: US$ 2,000 – 10,000 • maximum of 2 proposals (at least 1 must involve collaboration with other institutions) • maximum of 4 proposals (at least 3 must involve collaboration with other institutions) • Award maximum 2 proposals: 1 with collaboration & 1 without • invitation for bids to specific research institutions identified • invitation for bids published • Award maximum 2 proposals: 1 with collaboration & 1 without “ analyze and distill the experiences and best practices conducted by GoB or CS Organizations, and options to scale up best practices already identified” “ more substantial and demanding research” Research Grants Panel (RGP) Challenge Fund (CF) Program Funded Research (PR) Preference will be given to research centres that propose a multi-disciplinary research programme that involves researchers from other institutions in addressing all aspects of the comprehensive food security programme

6. Research Grant Award Process: Major Activities/Steps • Establishment of the Research Grant Panel (RGP) • Preparation of the Research Needs Digest • Finalize Research Topics for Bidding • Define Guidelines for Submission of Research Proposals • Call for Research Proposals • Ranking Research Proposals • Selection of Winning Proposals • Signing Contract • Release of Funds

7. Finalize Research Topics for Bidding • Research Needs Digest (RND) Preparation • Based on the RND, Prepare a List of Researchable Issues • Proposals Selection for Grant Awarding

8. Call for Research Proposals • Pre-conditions are : • Establishment of the RGP, • Approval of the TOR of RGP, • Approval of the modalities & guidelines, • Finalization of the RND • List of Issues to Invite Proposals THEN • Call for Research proposals will be made

9. Ranking Research Proposals • RGA will receive the research proposals • Initial scrutiny : complete and comply to the format requirements • Reject- if does not comply the requirements • TAT –will assist RGP in the proposals • TAT / CTA may invite referees for proposals that need special attention. • Promising proposals may be sent back for further clarification to the proponent.

10. Selection of Winning Proposals • TAT will make preliminary assessment for the RGP to decide. Elements to be taken into Consideration: • Diversity and size of the institutions: • encourage participation of smaller institutions • institutions that have less research capacity • multidisciplinary and multi-institutional • collaboration between institutions • Diversity of research themes: • food availability • physical and social access • economic access • utilization/nutrition • Cross-cutting issues(Governance and institutions, infrastructure, environment, women and disadvantaged group etc.)

11. THE APPROVAL PROCESS • RGP • Approve guidelines, modalities • Approve research proposals • CTA & RGA • Announcements • Receive proposals • Initial scrutiny • (for format compliance) • prepare agenda for RGP • TAT • Preliminary Assessment • Technical Assistance

12. NEXT STEPS • Establishment of RGP • Steering Committee Approve TOR of RGP • First Meeting of the RGP • Complete RND Complemented by Benchmark Survey of Food Security • Approve Guidelines and Formats • Call for Proposals • Award and Signing

13. Dialogue Within CS 2006 • Discuss Preliminary Findings of RND • Finalize Research Needs Digest • Presentation and Discussion of Successful Proposals • Discuss Progress and Results of Research Results 2007

14. 135 Entities 312 Participants 11 Categories Invited organizations and Participants for November 29, 2006 CS Dialogue

15. Thank you Very Much