Research on Poverty Alleviation, REPOA, undertakes and facilitates research, conducts and coordinates training, and promotes dialogue and development of policy for pro-poor growth and poverty reduction
This page contains information on how to apply for a research grant for an analytical research project . If you wish to apply for a grant to undertake fact-finding participatory action research then please go to CSO Fact-finding Research.
Junior and senior researchers, representatives from the public, private sector and NGOs
Individual and joint proposals are acceptable; as well as a joint application from different institutions. In order to promote inter-disciplinary research REPOA encourages teamwork on the research project.
A non-Tanzania based organisation or researcher would be expected to have well established links with local research bodies or a local researcher.
A new procedure has been introduced to extend REPOA's proactive mentoring and review process for research projects to include assisting researchers with the preparation for the design of the research project. This procedure involves submitting the research project plan in two stages:
From 1 October 2007 the procedure for applying for a research grant will be:
Under the Open Competitive System a public call for proposals invites interested researchers to submit a concept note on research themes derived from REPOA's research agenda, or in response to a special call for proposals:
If the concept note is judged by REPOA's independent reviewers to be of merit, then the researcher is invited to prepare a full proposal for research
It is vital that you read these guidelines, if you do not comply with the requirements for a concept note or subsequent proposal your application will be returned to you, and you will be asked to submit an appropriate concept note or proposal.
REPOA requires a concept note before you submit a research proposal. If REPOA accepts the concept not, you will be invited to prepare a full proposal; however, REPOA may ask you to clarify certain elements of the concept note before asking you to proceed to the full proposal stage.
The Structure of a Concept Note
Please make sure that you follow this framework, as REPOA will not accept a concept note that does not meet the requirements laid out below.
The total number of words is 550, using single spaced paragraphs and font size 12 in Microsoft Word, excluding the attached C.V.(s). The number of words proposed below is a guideline only - you may use fewer words, but do not use more.
Framework for the Concept Note (in the order it should be presented)
Research Title 15 words maximum
The title should focus the reader's attention on the essential theme of the proposed research – what are you researching? Have a concise and focused title. Avoid unnecessary punctuation (commas, colons, semi-colons ). Do not repeat keywords.
Research Problem 200 words maximum
What do you want to find out? What will you know after doing this research? What are the research questions? Use a clear and logical style in your writing.
Background 200 words maximum
A concise review of the main research work and current issues in the specific subject area. What is already known about this specific subject? This is not a literature review; you do not need to do one for a concept note.
Methodology 100 words maximum
Outline the proposed methodology. How will you conduct the research?
Location 50 words maximum
If fieldwork is involved, indicate where it will take place. Is a special reason why you have chosen this location?
Principal Researcher and other researchers, (if applicable)
Provide name(s) and full contact details. Briefly state qualifications and research experience of all researchers. Attach short CVs (maximum of three pages each)
Project Timeframe
Proposed project start date. Duration of the project.
Please note that from 1 October 2007 all proposals must be preceded by an approved concept note
Please make sure that you follow the framework below, as REPOA will not accept a proposal that does not meet these requirements. Closely following these guidelines will improve your chances of obtaining a REPOA research grant and should help you to ensure that you have a well thought through plan for the research project.
Structure of a Research Proposal (in the order that it should be presented)
Title
20 words maximum
What the research is about
Make the title short and clear
Avoid unnecessary punctuation
Don't repeat the keyword(s).
Abstract
500 words maximum
Short overview of the research proposal
This is not an introduction, it is a concise summary.
Introduction and Background
1,000 words maximum
Context and background of the proposed research
Include what is known on this matter already and how your research would tie in with this; note that this is not the literature review (see below.
Specify the geographical location, as well as the target group of the research.
Statement and Significance of the Research Problem
250 words maximum
Reason for the research project
What variables are you looking at in the study?
What is going to be studied or investigated?
Why it is important that this subject be studied?
Research Objectives
200 words maximum
Desired outcome/result
What is/are the key objective(s) of the research?
One principal objective may be enough, and more than three major objectives would probably be too many. Objectives should be listed in order of importance (primary, secondary). Research objectives do not include using the results of the research to influence policy.
Theoretical Background and Literature Review
3,000 words maximum
What is already known and what needs to be known.
Indicate how existing work contributes to the proposed research, and vice versa, how the proposed research moves beyond existing information.
Key research findings should be discussed in some detail, and the most pertinent issues summarised.
All textual references must be included in full in the list of references towards the end of the proposal.
If you ignore major sources of information to which you could be expected to have access to, then the proposal could be rejected.
Describe the main research methods and techniques to be used.
Describe how the research questions will identify the key variables that the research is aimed at, and the relationships the researcher expects to find, or not find, between them.
Describe the sample and the sampling procedures (if relevant) – what, how and why?
Are there/ could there be any limitations?
Describe the instrument(s) to be used for data collection and the fieldwork. It is not vital to include the draft questionnaire.
It is not necessary at this stage to go into details concerning data analysis.
Consider ethics (if relevant) – consent, access, etc.
Ensure that the proposed research methodology is consistent with the objectives of the research
Policy Implications and Feedback
250 words maximum
Possible implications and results sharing
Be clear in the possible linkages to policy matters.
Indicate how the feedback to the community and the sharing of information with the stakeholders will be carried out, and what benefits could be derived from the findings.
Researchers and Institutional Attachments
Details of the senior researchers involved and their CVs, institutional attachments and the division of responsibilities within the proposed research project.
Indicate who is responsible for the training and supervision of fieldworkers and other junior researchers, if any.
A proposal from an institution should be channelled to REPOA through the head of the department of that institution. You should indicate the experience and capacity of your institution with regards to research in the field you will be working in.
Where joint research between two institutions is proposed, the nature of the understanding between them should be specified, preferably with documentary support.
Timetable
Advise the breakdown of activities and approximate timing.
References
All references in the body of the proposal should appear in full in the references section.
Budget
Give details of the number of days, number of researchers and rates used to calculate the budget; there are maximum limits for the budget items.
REPOA's research grants do not include capital expenditure of any kind, such as vehicles and computers, nor do they allow for contingency expenses or overheads.
The budget should also foresee the costs involved in the feedback of research results to those who participated in the survey.
You must indicate what support you are getting from other sources in relation to the proposed research, if any.
Labour:
- Research honoraria for the principal researcher(s). Honoraria will only be paid on presentation of final research findings which are acceptable to REPOA.
- Research assistants at US$ 10 per person per day.
- Data coding, inputting and/or analysis at the effective rate of US$ 10 per person per day.
- Data analysis and computing at the effective rate of US$ 15 per person per day.
- Secretarial and other personnel at the effective rate of US$ 10 per person per day.
Subsistence/Incidentals:
- Daily subsistence allowance for travelling out of their workstation: principal researcher(s) US$ 60 per day, and research assistants US$ 20 per day.
- Incidentals when not travelling out of their workstation: principal researchers US$ 40 per day and a lunch allowance for research assistants of US$ 5 a day.
Transport:
- Inter-town: Public transport by air, train and road at actual cost, or if you are using your own vehicle then the equivalent of the lowest public transport cost.
- Intra-town (this does not include going to and from your usual place of work / study). Receipt for actual costs of public transport, or US$ 0.75 per kilometre in rural areas and US$ 0.50 in towns.
Materials and Supplies:
- Photocopying – actual cost.
- Report production and binding – actual cost.
- Computer time - actual charge.
- Acquisition of literature – actual cost.
- Cartography – actual cost.
- Rates for material and equipment for action-oriented and natural science research are based on the type and nature of the research.
Other Costs:
Other research costs such as training research assistants, pre-testing questionnaires, organising seminars and mini-workshops to present work in progress will be funded on the basis of anticipated or actual costs.
REPOA will forward concept notes that have followed the guidelines to three anonymous expert reviewers who will evaluate the concept note considering such matters as:
- Is the title focused and clear?
- Is the research problem clear and logically presented?
- Does the background section indicate that the researcher has a good grasp of the problem area?
- Is the proposed methodology appropriate for the proposed study?
Reviewers' conclusions are forwarded to REPOA's Technical Advisory Committee for review and endorsement. The committee may propose that the concept note be rejected or accepted, or that the authors should revise the concept note for resubmission, taking account of critical comments from the reviewers. In all cases REPOA will send the authors the experts' comments. An outright rejection means that REPOA will not consider a resubmission on the same topic from the same author or authors.
For Proposals:
Evaluation will take into account the following:
• Is this plausible?
• Is it practicable?
• Is this research worth doing? What will be learnt from it?
• Does the researcher(s) have the appropriate skills for this project?
Three independent and anonymous expert reviewers will be appointed to review the research proposal. The rating instrument summarises the reviewer's assessment, and in addition the reviewers provide written critical comments on the main components of the proposal. These comments are submitted to the Technical Advisory Committee for their consideration and recommendation to REPOA's Board of Directors.
Comments are forwarded to the author(s) when projects are rejected or require revisions. If the proposal shows some promise but needs substantial revisions, REPOA may identify an expert to mentor the researchers in revising the proposal.
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