Call for proposals - DFID ESRC Growth Research Programme Research Strategy Group

The ESRC, on behalf of the DFID ESRC Growth Research Programme (DEGRP), wish to appoint a Research Strategy Group to lead on academic guidance and agenda setting for the programme. This is a key role which will underpin broader ESRC and DFID strategies to ensure the academic quality and maximise the policy and practice relevance of the research that we fund regarding developing countries. The Research Strategy Group will have a strong track record in international development; relevant research and demonstrate particular academic strength in the area of development economics. It will be expected to work closely with DEGRP’s Programme Executive Group, Evidence and Policy Group (currently based at the Overseas Development Institute) and Independent Advisory Committee, and a range of national and international stakeholders with shared interests in the academic substance and research outputs of the programme.

The Principal Investigator leading the Research Strategy Group will be based at a research organisation eligible to receive ESRC funding, other members of the team may be based at the same or at different research organisations. The appointment will be for an initial period of two years, subject to performance and with a review point after year one. Once fully established, the Research Strategy Group will be a consortium of two to four senior academics appointed on a part-time basis (15-30 per cent full time equivalent per individual) with their own networks of experts and who, between them, have the knowledge and skills to cover the themes relevant to DEGRP. Currently, the programme focusses on three themes (agriculture and growth; finance sector development and growth; and innovation and productivity growth in low-income countries), but the remit of the team may be expanded as required. The team should include justified administrative support staff and may also include justified research assistance.

The full specification document and other relevant documents can be found below. Please read all these documents carefully before submitting your proposal.

The deadline for applications is 16.00 (UK time) 5 September 2013. Shortlisted candidate teams will be interviewed in London during the week of 30 September 2013. The appointment will commence in November 2013, or as soon as practicable thereafter.

Important reminder: Any UK and non-UK Co-applicant(s) and their institutions intending to apply to this call must ensure they are registered with the Joint Electronic Submission System (Je-S). It is essential to allow sufficient time to secure Je-S registration - we strongly recommend that applicants register with Je-S at least four weeks before the call deadline, as no exceptions can be made for late submission of proposals.

If you and your research organisation are already registered for Je-S, electronic proposals can be accessed via the central Je-S web site

To assist you in linking up with others interested in applying for the role, we are providing a contact sharing facility. If you would like to share your contact details, please send us a ‘virtual business card’ with

your email addresswebpage link (if available)one paragraph about your institutional affiliation, research interests and expertise

Your ‘virtual business card’ will then be deposited in a secure online folder which can be accessed by others who have also shared their business cards. Please note that sharing of contact details will be on an entirely voluntary basis. Beyond the provision of this contact sharing facility, the ESRC cannot take any responsibility for facilitating or negotiating partnerships between potential applicants.

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Mid-Term Review of Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) Programme

DFID, NERC and ESRC are seeking to commission an independent external Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) Programme. The Review is being managed by the ESRC on behalf of the funders.

ESPA is a seven-year £40.5 million investment. It aims to deliver high-quality, cutting-edge research that will improve understanding of the way ecosystems function, the services they provide and their relationship with the political economy and sustainable growth. ESPAs research will provide the evidence and tools to enable decision-makers to manage ecosystems sustainably and in a way that contributes to poverty alleviation.

The principal aims of the Review are as follows:

Assurance that aims and objectives to date are being realisedAssessment of scientific quality and impact to dateAssessment of value for money added by the ProgrammeIdentification of changes/improvements going forwardAssessment of whether/how the Programme is able to respond to new challenges and emerging risks in a changing context.

The review is taking place between July 2013 and February 2014 and will be undertaken by an independent consultant.

To find out more information about the review and to receive a copy of the Review Brief, please contact Alistair Staunton-Lambert at alistair.staunton-lambert@ssc.rcuk.ac.uk. The closing date for the submission of tenders is 12.00, 18 July 2013.

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EU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND)

JPND is a transnational initiative that aims to address the growing societal challenge presented by age-related neurodegenerative diseases. It involves research funders from 26 member countries. Spanning biomedical, healthcare and social science research, JPND aims to increase coordinated investment between participating countries in research aimed at finding causes, developing cures, and identifying appropriate ways to care for those with neurodegenerative diseases. Further details and information on the initiative.

This transnational call, co-funded by the ESRC, aims to establish a limited number of ambitious, innovative, multi-national and multi-disciplinary collaborative research projects that will add value to existing research by assessing and comparing pathways to care, through evaluating access to, the quality and the cost effectiveness of care provision and support for patients with neurodegenerative diseases across different care settings.

Proposals should be for up to three years in duration and proposals that span more than one neurodegenerative disease area are encouraged. The countries involved in the JPND initiative have agreed a central process for peer review of proposals throughout which the ESRC and ESRC nominated social scientists will be represented. Funding for successful UK applicants will be provided by the ESRC. The ESRC is contributing a total of  €1 million and anticipates that this sum will contribute to the UK partners of between three and five transnational research groups.

For enquiries relating to the ESRC call please contact: jpnd@esrc.ac.uk.

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