Team composition:

Applicant teams are generally composed of* at least one senior researcher, leading several junior researchers, and must:

• be gender-balanced (at least 50% female researchers)
• be comprised exclusively of individuals born and living in a developing country – with priority given to low income countries (LICs), fragile and/or conflict states (see list)
• present sufficient academic and/or professional background in economics research/policy analysis

See further below for application details/procedure.
For more information regarding the "PEP support program" for researchers in developing countries, see Introducing PEP Work in Research Capacity Building

*In the case of projects involving community-based monitoring systems, however, grants are released to institutions, not individuals (find out more below, or here).

For the analysis of specific and country-relevant policy issues

Under the broad theme of inclusive growth and employment, a list of priority issues have been identified as especially relevant to address specific knowledge gaps and policy needs in terms of evidence base:

• Providing social protection to the informal sector
• Youth employment and entrepreneurship
• Employment intensity of non-agricultural growth
• China’s growth: opportunities and challenges for developing countries
• Entrepreneurial risk tolerance by gender
• Discrimination in credit access for women at the SME level

CLICK HERE to find (download) a detailed description of each of the above-listed priority themes of research

To assist applicants in designing their research proposal, PEP resource persons have also prepared a complete review of existing scientific literature on each of the above-listed themes. See LIST OF RECOMMENDED READINGS

From a variety of methodological approaches

Building on ten years of experience and a large pool of world-renowned experts in the field, PEP offers unique expertise in the application of cutting-edge methodologies or analytical techniques of economics and development research in the specific context of developing countries.

Beyond the geographic scope of its activities and reach, another peerless feature of PEP is the breadth of analytical perspectives, tools and techniques (usually referred to as the “PEP toolbox”) in which researchers receive training and support. Some of these tools - which are acknowledged worldwide as the most up-to-date in the field of applied development research – emerged directly from PEP research.  They are based on extensive experience in the analysis of policy issues related to poverty and economic development in the specific context of developing countries.

Find more information regarding the various methods fostered by PEP research through the related sections of the PEP website as linked below:

• Community-based monitoring systems
• Macro-micro policy simulations
• Impact evaluations*
• Microeconomic measurement and analysis

 * Note that in the case of impact evaluation projects, this first (2012) round of PAGE will only fund (and thus accept proposals of) projects using randomized controlled trials (see below). For more information regarding the specific research techniques associated with the use of "randomized controlled trials", see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randomized_controlled_trial

A basic PAGE grant amounts to approximately $44.5 K, including $20 K in research (cash) grant and up to $24.5 K in various subsidies (for participation in PEP meetings, study visits, working paper and journal publication grants, presentations in international conferences, organization of national policy conferences and dissemination activities).

For projects from LIC teams, an additional $13.5 K is provided to allow 2 team members to attend a PEP School.

For projects using RCTs, up to $100 K in extra funding is provided for the conduct of baseline and follow-up surveys.

In the context of this first (2012) call for proposals, PEP has received 151 proposals from 52 different countries, out of which 28 projects will be selected for support, following their presentations at the next PEP general meeting - to be held in South Africa, in May 2013.

Application details and procedure

NOTE THAT THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF PAGE PROPOSALS FOR THE FIRST (2012) ROUND HAS EXPIRED FOR ALL TYPES OF PROJECTS, EXCEPT THOSE THAT INTEND TO USE CBMS. FOR THE LATTER THE DEADLINE HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO JUNE 5, 2013.

THE NEXT PEP-PAGE CALL FOR PROPOSALS WILL BE LAUNCHED IN SEPTEMBER 2013

Who can apply?

• All members of applicant teams must be developing country nationals (and reside in a developing country during the full course of the project), with priority given to teams from LIC countries, fragile and/or conflict states (see list).
• Teams are generally composed of at least one senior researcher leading several junior researchers, of which at least 50% are females.
• University-level training in economics or equivalent experience will generally be required.

Interested researchers who are not eligible for funding are nonetheless encouraged to use the training material, readings and other information and resources made available on the PEP website.

How to submit a proposal?

You must submit your proposal using the PEP website “intranet system”. Here are the steps to follow:

1. ALL members of the applicant team must first register on the PEP website, before submitting a new proposal. To register, click on "Register" (see also top right corner of the PEP website header above, next to "Login") and follow the instructions.
   
   
2. You will receive a username and password by email, normally within minutes, that will allow you to access your PEP intranet file, by clicking on the Login button (again, top right corner above). Note that you can change your password yourself, through your personal intranet profile, anytime.
   
   
3. ALL members of the applicant team must post their personal CV in their PEP intranet file. To do this, each member should "Login" to the PEP website and then select "Profile" and "Upload CV". We also strongly encourage applicants to fill out their profile with as much detail as possible (including photo, short bio, etc.).
   
   
4. To then submit the proposal, the team leader must login, click on "Submit New Proposal" and fill out the required information, using the proposal templates (to upload when completed) as provided below - see "content of proposals".
   
   
5. When all is done, to make sure that the proposal has been successfully submitted to PEP, return to your PEP intranet file and click on "My Projects".

If you have difficulty completing the steps above, please contact us at info@pep-net.org for assistance.

Content of proposals

Project proposals submitted in the context of the PAGE initiative must include a description of:

• Research question, methodology, data sources and requirements
• Project’s expected contributions in terms of :
  • Scientific “value added” and evidence base (how does the project fills knowledge gaps)
  • Responsiveness to specific policy needs (including evidence of consultation with stakeholders)
  • Capacity building and strengthening of local expertise
• Strategy for research communication and policy outreach at the national level, throughout the project cycle

The research project proposal should also correspond to one or more of the priority themes.

With the exception of projects involving community-based monitoring systems (see below), applicant teams ARE REQUIRED to use the following

• PROPOSAL TEMPLATE (download here)

You may also refer to the following :

• "GRANTS MANUAL" (for more information regarding PEP grants and contracts)
• "Guidelines to design a research project proposal" (in scientific terms)

CBMS proposals

In the case of projects using community-based monitoring systems (CBMS), applicants can submit proposals until June 5, 2013, and must refer to/use the following links and documents to do so:  

• Guidelines for CBMS proposal
• CBMS Grants Manual
• Template for submitting a proposal to CBMS

If you require assistance or further information from the PEP team, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@pep-net.org

For inquiries/information regarding CBMS proposals, please contact cbms@benilde.edu.ph or cbms.network@gmail.com

Previous call for proposals

Click here