M-POWER/CPWF Fellowship Program

小昂

Fellowships
Open call for M-POWER Fellows
Call announced: April 1, 2011, Call closed: April 30, 2011, 12.00 hrs, Bangkok Time.
Download the following information in a Word document here
Download the application form in a Word document here

Introduction
The Mekong Program on Water, Environment and Resilience (M-POWER), with the support and collaboration of the Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF), announces its first call for proposals from professionals, researchers, government officials, and others interested in the Mekong Region, its management and its future. The objective of the capacity-building program is to help build capacity and provide support to people interested in improving the interface between research-based knowledge and policy for the sustainable management of water resources in the Mekong basin.

Award size
Each award will have a ceiling of $10,000 for a period of twelve months. We expect to support approximately five concept notes in this call.

Eligibilities
Successful applicants will have submitted concept notes that complement the CPWF’s Mekong program (seewww.mekong.waterandfood.org), and which address the research foci described below.

All proponents must be hosted by an institution, ideally one based in the Mekong Region but consideration will be given to other institutions working from outside as long as the institution has a mandate to work within the Mekong region.

Guidelines for submission
- Interested applicants can download the concept note submission template here.
- Concept notes should be no longer than five pages and be typed in the English language at no less than an 11 pitch font.
- Concept notes must be submitted by email to esdmekong@gmail.com and copied to cpwf.mekong@gmail.com .
- Proposals must be submitted 12.00 Bangkok Time on April 30, 2011. Proposals received after this date will not be accepted unless it can be proven that the delay was due to an Internet problem.
- Only one concept note per applicant will be accepted.
- All concept notes must be accompanied by the proponent’s CV (one-page).
- Applications must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from the proponent’s hosting institution.

Process of assessment and selection:
A selection committee formed of the M-POWER Steering Committee and CPWF-Mekong Staff will evaluate and select concept notes against the set of criteria appearing at the end of this document. The committee will employ the scoring mechanisms described at the end of this document. Central to this process will be agreement that the concept note is complementary to the CPWF Mekong Program. The geographical scope of concept notes must be within the Mekong Region or have relevance to it. For more information on the CPWF Mekong Program please access the web page athttp://www.waterandfood.org.

The selection committee will consider consolidate the results of the evaluations and reach consensus on those to be supported. The decision of the selection committee is final, and no negotiations will be entered into unless it can be proven that there have been any deviations from the rules contained in this document. Such negotiations will be arbitrated by the Chair of the selection committee, which if not settled will escalate to the M-POWER Steering Committee.

The Fellowship will be managed and administered by institutions selected by M-POWER to act on its behalf. Successful proponents will be understood, both during and after the award, to be ‘M-POWER Fellows’. Fellows will be mentored by M-POWER, host organisations and CPWF staff.

Research focus
Under this call, M-POWER and the CPWF invite applications that address one of the three questions:
1. What views are there from China on the Mekong-related interests of downstream countries?
China has often been excluded and reticent about engaging with agencies involved in the management of the Mekong River Basin. Although China accounts for 16% of the Mekong Basin area, it is the basin’s largest as well as most upstream nation. It already has built major infrastructure in the river and has plans for further investments that, taken together, could have major impacts on river flows. The Mekong (Lancang) is potentially an important trade route with South East Asian neighbours, a component of clean energy initiatives, and a part of development strategies for its western regions. The views and positions of Chinese officials and agencies with respect to the Mekong river basin are not well documented nor understood by people living in the basin. Most reporting in mass media focuses on highly polarized debates related to hydropower development. This study should enhance understanding of Chinese perspectives and identify ways in which China can be drawn into a wider dialogue about the Mekong’s future that takes into account downstream interests.

2. What is the performance to date of the basin's river basin organisations (excluding the MRC) and how can their performance be improved?
All over the Mekong Basin, river basin organisations (RBOs) are springing up. Proponents applying to answer this question will detail the government policies that have lead to the emergence of these RBOs, and explain why they have decided to adopt these policies. It will identify which catchments have developed RBOs, and will choose a sample of these to explore. In so doing, proponents will examine how effective these organisations have been, the kinds of constraints that they face, and how their performance can be improved. In addition, proponents will analyse the relationship between these RBOs and central governments, identify what executive powers they have (if any), and what their future holds. Proponents may also explore issues of social exclusion and inclusion in such formations that indicate ways that gender, class, age and ethnicity may constrain equitable representations of all stakeholders, their knowledge and interests, in river basin management benefits and risks.

3. In what ways does hydropower decision-making and administration need to be improved in the Mekong?
The discussion on hydropower in the Mekong is polarised between ‘for’ and ‘against’ perspectives. The fellowship offered here seeks perspectives on what needs to improve in the hydropower sector. The successful proponent will explore in what ways their own countries’ governments see hydropower management and decision-making needs to be improved. It is particularly interested in understanding in what ways governments themselves see that the sector

The research will seek to identify particular managerial and decision-making issues, and address in what ways governments feel that these should be addressed. In addition, successful proponents will identify areas that require support, capacity building and integration.

Selection criteria
Initial selection:
- Submission received on time.
- Proposal in the English language with legible font.
- Proposal no longer than five pages long.
- Proponent eligibility to apply for support.
- One proposal only from the proponent (in cases of multiple submissions, the first submitted proposal will enter the process).
- Letter of Support from a hosting institution.
- One-page CV from the proponent.
- Budget requested is not higher than USD$10,000.
The selection committee can, at its discretion, request adjustments to proposals should any of the above not be met.

Technical selection:
The selection committee, (comprising the M-POWER Steering Committee and CPWF Mekong Staff) will select the concept notes for support based on the following criteria:
- Relevance of subject area to the on-going CPWF in the Mekong.
- Relevance of either basic or proposed action research to one of the three focal areas contained in this call document.
- Validity of study design and methods to address research questions
- Clarity of rationale and research questions.
- Plausibility of project being carried out given skills of proponent, contributions and commitments of host, and potential risks.
- Reasonableness of budget request and stated needs.
- Capacity building value of fellowship to region.
- Sensitivity to gender considerations.

Guide to scoring:
The concept note as a whole with be scored as follows:
0 - poor, 1 - fair, 2 - satisfactory, 3 - good, 4 - very good, 5 – excellent.

The resulting scores will be used by the Selection Committee to guide their decisions on which concept notes to support. The decision of the Selection Committee is final. Scores will not be released to the proponent nor to any other parties.

Planned Duration and timetable:
Call announced: April 1, 2011
Call closed: April 30, 2011, 12.00 hrs, Bangkok Time.
Evaluations completed, and winners announced: May 30, 2011
Contract signing: by June 15, 2011
Research commences: by end of June 30, 2011
Mid-term report: December 15, 2011.
Final reports: June 15, 2012
Statement of expenditure submitted: September 15, 2012

Outputs:
A final report, the main body of which should be in the format of a draft paper prepared for submission to a peer-reviewed journal or as a chapter of an edited book.

Reporting:
Six months after the award date, proponents will submit a mid-term report to M-POWER . A template for the report will be provided.
Final reports must be submitted in English one year after the commencement of the awards.
Reports must be accompanied by statement of expenditure. This must be received by M-POWER no more than three months after the final report has been submitted.

Payment schedule:
Successful proponents will be issued with 50% of their grant at the time of award; and an additional 30% when a mid-term report has been received by M-POWER, and approved. The final 20% will be paid on receipt of the final report and an internally generated financial report from your institute, stamped and signed by the Chief Financial Officer or equivalent.

Contracting:
Contracts shall be between the proponent’s host institution and an institution selected by M-POWER for this purpose.

CPWF Mekong Website: www.mekong.waterandfood.org
http://209.62.39.12/~insmai81/cp ... 43&Itemid=5
M-POWER website
http://www.mpowernetwork.org/Get ... llowship/index.html