Breaking the mold: Arab civil society actors and their quest to influence policy-making

Hana Murr Discussion
Type: 
Grant
Date: 
May 10, 2017
Location: 
Lebanon
Subject Fields: 
Colonial and Post-Colonial History / Studies, Government and Public Service, Middle East History / Studies, Political Science, Public Policy
Call for Proposals Civil Society Actors & Policy-making in the Arab World

The Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut in partnership with the Open Society Foundation (OSF) has launched the Project entitled: “Breaking the mold: Arab civil society actors and their quest to influence policy-making”. This Project aims at understanding, through field research and the use of policy theories, the effect of 1) media, 2) donors and funding schemes, and 3) the role played by government brokers/champions on the ways Civil Society Actors attempt to influence policies in the Arab world.

The Project is aiming to explore the role and effect of these three dimensions through case studies that can track and examine policymaking processes, as well as the ways civil society actors are attempting to influence policy-making.

The Project welcomes concept notes from scholars in the Arab world tackling the above dimensions in these areas:

  • Policies on Social & Economic rights/ protection
  • Policies on Gender related issues and women’s rights
  • Policies on political rights and participation (especially in countries that witnessed the Arab uprising)

These areas are not exclusive; any inquiries about other suggested relevant topics can be sent to Fatima Moussawi on the email fm73@aub.edu.lb  or to Hana Murr on the email hm108@aub.edu.lb.

Eligibility:

1.  Applicants need to submit their concept notes by May 10, 2017 and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 

2. The concept note has to be of 4-5 pages with a clear statement of the topic, the selected dimension (media, donor or government broker/champion), the specific policy field and the specific Arab country along with a clear proposed research methodology and timeline.

3. Participants are also required to submit their CV and two letters of recommendation.

Deliverables:

1. The concept note should be received by May 10, 2017 for review. 

2. Short-listed applicants will give a presentation of their research proposal to the Project’s Advisory Group in a closed workshop in Beirut on May 24-25, 2017 (TBC).

3. The accepted applicants need to submit a brief progress report halfway through their research timeline (around August, 2017).

4. The first draft of the research report must be submitted by the end of October 2017 for review.

5. The selected researchers must commit to present their final research report by the end of the current year (December, 2017) incorporating reviews. All final research reports will be published as AUB Issam Fares Institute Research Reports.

6. The grant will be paid in two installments, 25% at the start of the research and 75% upon submission of the final report.

Contact Info: 

Project Coordinators: Hana Murr (hm108@aub.edu.lb) and Fatima Moussawi (fm73@aub.edu.lb) : 

Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs
American University of Beirut
Telephone: 00961-1-350000 ext. 3379 and ext. 3328

Contact Email: