Call for Proposals: Comparative Research Networks

The Council for the Development of Social Science Research (CODESRIA) is calling for proposals for the constitution of Comparative Research Networks (CRNs) to undertake studies on or around different themes identified as priority research themes within the framework of the Council’s strategic plan for the period 2012 – 2016.

The major objective of CRNs is to encourage the development and consolidation of a comparative analytic perspective in the work of African social researchers. It is anticipated to establish a strong corpus of comparative studies produced by African scholars who could help to advance theoretical knowledge and discussion.

CODESRIA is calling for proposals from researchers based in African universities and centers of research.

Priority research themes for the constitution of CRNs for 2012 include the following:

• Re-thinking (African) development;
• Re-thinking democracy (in Africa);
• African encounters with the global system;
• Engendering democracy and development;
• Transitions in African higher education;
• Reforming the African public sector: retrospect and prospect;
• The changing political economy of African natural resources;
• The popular arts, identity and culture in contemporary Africa;
• Health, politics and society in contemporary Africa;
• Migration dynamics and the making of new diaspora communities;
• Changing rural-urban linkages;
• African integration and new regionalist impulses in Africa;
• New institutions of transitional justice;
• Conflict and reconstruction in Africa;
• Law, politics and society;
• State, political identity and political violence;
• Political pluralism and the management of diversity;
• Water and water resources in the political economy of development;
• Ecology, climate and environmental sustainability in Africa;
• Transport and transportation systems in Africa;
• Africa and the “Emerging” powers of the Global South (China, India, Brazil…)
• Religion, spirituality and power in Africa
• Democracy and governance in Africa
• Media and new technology of information and communication in Africa
• Agrarian transformation
• Crises of education
• Roles and dynamics of critical actors
• Critical thought, epistemologies of knowledge production, theories and methodologies.

Interested researchers are requested to focus clearly on the comparative question which they wish to address.

Each proposal should include:

• An introduction;
• Problem statement;
• Review of related literature;
• Objectives of the study;
• Research methodology;
• Expected results and outcomes.

For more information, refer to http://www.codesria.org/spip.php?article1545&lang=en.

Submit your proposals, CVs of the network members including the coordinator, and proposed budget and time-plan (in Word format) to the Comparative Research Networks, CODESRIA at nwg@codesria.sn or fax to: +221-33 824 12 89. Altrenatively, you can post to BP 3304, CP 18524 Dakar, Senegal.

Enquiries: Tel: +221 33 825 98 22/23.

For more about the Council for the Development of Social Science Research, refer to www.codesria.org.

To view other opportunities, visit www.ngopulse.org/group/home-page/other-opportunities