Call for Proposals: Short-term Research on Food Security Early Action in East Africa

This call is for proposals for short-term ‘actionable’ research that will build evidence related to one or several of these challenges. Proposals should have clear links to drylands and pastoralism in East Africa, identify a research question that clearly links to a challenge, propose research and a workplan to answer it, and describe how the work can be used to help create impact.

The Jameel Observatory for Food Security Early Action (JO) is an international partnership led by the University of Edinburgh collaborating with the International Livestock Research Institute, Save the Children, the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and Community Jameel. Its vision is that vulnerable pastoral and agro pastoral communities in target regions of East Africa are more prepared for and resilient to the effects of evolving environmental shocks and stresses on their food security and nutrition. It combines the local knowledge and concerns of communities facing on-the ground threats of hunger with innovations in data science and humanitarian action; teaming up to devise solutions that can predict, prepare for, and overcome climate-related food security and malnutrition challenges in dryland areas of East Africa.

While the Observatory does not have any predetermined notions about the methods used and is open to a wide range of research methods including reviews of the literature, action research, analysis of secondary data, there is a strong preference for proposals that can show direct pathways to impacts, such as informing government action or by illustrating new and valuable interventions.

Funding Information

• The Observatory has a budget ceiling of approximately £200,000 for this call and plans to fund 2-5 projects.
• The workplan should be for a maximum of 12 months and applicants should demonstrate that they have the capacities to successfully execute the described activities.

Outputs and Obligations

• Successful candidates will be expected to:
  • Attend initial virtual meetings as well as monthly check-ins.
  • Participate in virtual inception and closing workshops.
  • As needed, communicate project activities to wider audiences.
  • Complete a final report following Observatory guidelines.
  • Complete an Observatory brief summarizing results.
  • Fully credit the Observatory in any communication activities or materials.

Who can apply?

• Any researcher, organization or entity.

For more information, visit Jameel Observatory.