NZAID

International Development Research Fund 2007/2008 | Application guidelines

The New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) / Nga Hoe Tuputupu-mai-tawhiti has established an International Development Research Fund (IDRF) to carry out and disseminate research that is likely to improve development policy and practice. 

The fund is open to New Zealand based researchers to carry out research in partnership with researchers from developing countries. Research supported by the fund will focus on advancing development policy and practice in regions, countries and sectors aligned to New Zealand Official Development Assistance (ODA) priorities, and is likely to be of relevance and interest to both the New Zealand development community and the region, country or development sector that is the focus of the research.

There is one application round a year. A total of up to $120,000 is made available per annum, with the maximum limit for any single proposal being $40,000. Eligible costs include international travel, living expenses, and research assistant and translation costs. Researchers' professional time, conference/workshop attendance and equipment and consumables are not covered. Multi-year research projects of up to three years duration are particularly encouraged. 

These guidelines set out the IDRF’s:

All correspondence and queries should be addressed to:

Kate Taptiklis,
Group Administrator,
Strategy, Advisory and Evaluation Group (SAEG)

kate.taptiklis@nzaid.govt.nz

Goal

To enhance development policy and practice through encouraging and supporting quality international development research in developing regions, countries and sectors that align with New Zealand ODA priority areas.

Specific objectives

To encourage and support:

  1. The undertaking of quality international development research aligned with particular geographic, sectoral and/or thematic interests of NZ ODA.
  2. Collaborative research between international development research communities in New Zealand and NZ ODA development partner countries.

Eligibility criteria

  1. The geographic focus of the research is the Pacific or South East Asia region and/or one or more NZAID bilateral partner countries1 within these regions. Proposals covering Melanesian countries, Indonesia and Vietnam are particularly encouraged.
  2. The specific focus of the proposed research lies within the scope of NZAID’s policy framework and the general geographic, thematic and/or sectoral foci of the NZAID regional or country programme strategy of concern.2
  3. The research team members are primarily qualified and professional development researchers. Student postgraduate research may only form, at most, a minor component of the proposed research.
  4. The research team includes at least one NZ citizen or permanent resident based at a NZ university or research organisation.
  5. The research team includes at least one citizen or permanent resident from the region or country(ies) on which the research is focussed, and who is also based at a university or research organisation in the respective region or country.
  6. The research proposed would not normally be undertaken (or commissioned) by NZAID3 and must be aimed at improving the delivery or practice of development in the region, country or sector of focus.
  7. Written evidence that the research proposal has gained the appropriate ethical approval of the university/research organisations concerned.
  8. Written evidence of the acceptance of the proposed research by the relevant counterpart/authorities of the country(ies) that the applicant proposes to visit, if required by that country(ies). The responsibility for obtaining such approval will rest entirely with the researchers involved.
  9. Applications follow the guidelines set out in the Format for Applications (below) and include all required documentation.

Selection criteria

The following criteria will be used to assess eligible applications:
  1. The quality of the research proposal.
  2. The potential of the research output to enhance development policy and/or practice, particularly in terms of its impact.
  3. The potential of the research to contribute to development knowledge.
  4. The development research track record of individual team members and the whole team.
  5. The inclusion of a researcher(s) at an early stage in their research careers.

Eligible costs

The following costs can be covered by the Awards:

  • international and domestic economy airfares
  • living expenses up to $100 a day
  • research assistants
  • interpreters/translators

The following costs will NOT be covered:

  • researchers’ professional time
  • equipment and consumables
  • conference, seminar or workshop attendance

Selection process

  1. Three hard copies and one emailed copy of applications must be received no later than 28 January 2008 by:

    Amanda Burrows
    Group Administrator | Education
    SAEG | Strategy, Advisory & Evaluation Group
    NZAID
    Private Bag 18-901
    Wellington
    New Zealand
    amanda.burrows@nzaid.govt.nz

    Late applications will NOT be considered.

  2. Applications will be considered by a selection panel comprising appropriate representatives of development research and practitioner communities, including academics, NZAID and international development NGOs.
  3. The final decision rests with NZAID and applicants will be notified of the outcome by Friday 29th February 2008.
  4. All successful candidates will be notified of the specific process and conditions pertaining to NZAID payment of the grant.

Format for applications

Researchers that are considering applying to the Fund are strongly encouraged to discuss their preliminary research ideas with NZAID before submitting their applications.

Applications should be set out as in the IDRF Application Document 2007/08 (Word document 108k)

Related notes

 

Related Links

 

Page Last Reviewed: 26 January, 2008 /scholarships/idrf-application-guidelines.html