Call for Research Proposals: Inclusion of Afro-descendants and Indigenous People

The central theme of the fifth version of this call is the inclusion of Afro-descendants and Indigenous Peoples.

What objectives does the call have?

• GDLab seeks to generate academic studies that provide solid evidence for:
  • Closing the gaps faced by people of African descent and indigenous peoples.
  • Reduce biases and unequal treatment based on race and ethnicity.
  • Strengthen institutional capacity to close the gaps faced by people of African descent and indigenous peoples.
• Only proposals that analyze one or more of the 26 IDB borrowing member countries will be considered.
• Proposals must apply rigorous quantitative methods that establish causal relationships, with structural models or experimental or quasi-experimental evaluations. Proposals that include qualitative analyzes will be considered only to the extent that they serve as input for the implementation of quantitative methods. Proposals that generate actionable policy recommendations for the public and private sectors and multilateral organizations will be especially valued.

What topics are priorities?

• This call seeks rigorous research proposals that contribute to the inclusion of people of African descent and the development with identity of indigenous peoples. Specifically, this call seeks proposals that evaluate:
  • Interventions that help fill the gaps faced by Afro-descendants and indigenous peoples.
  • Interventions that prevent or discourage unequal treatment based on race and ethnicity.
  • Policies that reinforce the institutional capacity of the countries in the region to promote the inclusion of people of African descent and the development with the identity of indigenous peoples. Proposals in this area should provide causal evidence on the institutional limitations of countries in the region to design and implement policies that contribute to the well-being of people of African descent and indigenous peoples.
• Proposals that consider intersections of identity, such as the differential impact of these issues on Afro-descendant and indigenous women, will be positively valued. In addition, proposals that consider how these issues affect different groups within Afro-descendant and indigenous communities, such as youth, the elderly, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ people, will be positively valued.

How much does it amount the financing?

Subject to the decision of the Scientific Committee and the signing of a consulting contract with the IDB, participants may apply for one of the following categories of financing based on the scope of the proposed work:

• Category I – Quantitative diagnoses that establish causal relationships. Studies in this category require resources to complement existing funds or to cover research activities or access to data sources. Proposals in this category can access a maximum fund of 20,000 American dollars canos (USD) and have a maximum period of 12 months to complete the study from the signing of the contract.
• Category II – Pilot interventions. Studies in this category require the resources to implement or evaluate the impact of an intervention or pilot program. Proposals in this category can access a maximum fund of 100,000 American dollars (USD), duly justified, and have a maximum term of 18 months.

Eligibility Criteria

• Both independent researchers and research teams made up of entities from the public sector, private sector, universities or research centers may apply for this call. Applicants must meet the following requirements: be a citizen of one of the 48 member countries of the IDB and not have family members who currently work at the Inter-American Development Bank or at IDB Invest (together, “IDB Group”) up to the fourth grade of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, including husband or wife.
• IDB Group specialists may be part of the research team, but may not receive compensation for their participation. The funds awarded will be distributed exclusively among the members of the winning team.

Evaluation Criteria

• Relevance and innovation. Does the proposal address a knowledge gap? How does the study contribute to closing these knowledge gaps? What is the innovation proposed by the study to address the problem?
• Data and methodology. Does the proposal present a clear research design and methodology? Proposals should explain in as much detail as possible how they will address the topic under study. The data collection problems and the estimation strategy should be described in detail.
• Implementation capacity. The experience of the researchers for the proposed project will be an aspect to consider. Priority will be given to proposals submitted by researchers who demonstrate previous experience in the subject and proposed methodologies. The proposals must have an implementation plan and budget according to the proposed activities.
• Scalability and replicability. Are the ideas and results applicable to other contexts? Are there obstacles to scaling the project?

For more information, visit Inter-American Development Bank.