Kuwait Academic Collaborations - Call for Proposals

• To promote high calibre research by scholars at LSE and Kuwait universities and research institutions working in partnership on policy-relevant challenges facing Kuwait;
• To support academic excellence at Kuwait universities and institutions;
• To strengthen long-term academic collaboration and knowledge transfer between LSE and Kuwait.

• Projects should contribute to the thematic research priorities of the Kuwait Programme listed below. Proposals involving multi-disciplinary teams are welcome.
• Projects should produce high quality, peer-reviewed research papers for publication in top journals in the relevant field of research, and contribute to the academic and professional development of researchers at institutions in Kuwait.
• Projects must involve a Principal Investigator (PI) from the London School of Economics and a Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) from a Kuwait university of research institution.
• LSE PIs must be members of academic staff, research fellows or research officers.
• Co-PIs must be members of academic or research staff or hold a visiting affiliation at their host institution.
• The Kuwait Programme can assist in trying to match LSE and Kuwait-based researchers. However, please note we cannot guarantee a match will be made.
• PIs and Co-PIs who have previously been awarded funding through the programme cannot reapply in the same academic year that the previous project finished.
• Applications are limited to one application per person each year.
• PIs cannot simultaneously work on an LSE Kuwait Academic Collaborations project and a Kuwait Programme Research Grant.
• In the event of reapplication (following an academic year’s gap), preference will be given to new applications, and the success of the former project will be taken into consideration.
• Other universities and organisations as well as individuals employed by other universities and organisations may be involved as sub-partners engaged under the direction of the project leaders. Projects may involve more than one university.
• Eligible project expenses are salaries, conferences, seminars, travel, publications, research assistance, administration, consultancy fees, translation, and small equipment and consumables.
• Salary costs are eligible for PIs and for consultants and other research staff employed by the project. Tenured members of academic staff at LSE may apply for buy out for no more than 20% of their time. Total salary costs may amount to no more than 70% of the total budget.
• One output of the project has to be an LSE Middle East Centre working paper. The £2,000 cost of publishing the working paper needs to be included in the budget.
• Ineligible expenses are physical infrastructure, rent, permanent resources and large equipment.
• Partner institutions may claim an overhead of up to 10% of the costs of their share of the budget (no overheads can be claimed by the LSE PI).

• Reforming the delivery of healthcare in Kuwait;
• Consolidating evidence-based policymaking in Kuwait; 
• Improving the role of the Kuwaiti Parliament in legislation and governmental oversight;
• Expanding the role of research and development in the Kuwaiti private sector; 
• Improving the efficiency of the sovereign wealth fund in Kuwaiti development;
• Developing economic and legal perspectives on diversifying the oil-dependent economy of Kuwait;
• Improving Kuwaiti service delivery and public administration;
• Diversifying energy consumption in Kuwait;
• Aiding sustainable urban development in Kuwait;
• Examining and informing public policy to meet the challenge of global warming in Kuwait.

• Individual projects may have a total budget of up to £75,000.
• Projects should run for a minimum of 12 months and maximum of 24 months.
• There is no minimum budget for projects.

Proposals will be considered according to the following criteria:

• Originality, significance and rigour of the research;
• Likely contribution of the research towards policy-relevant challenges facing Kuwait;
• Compatibility of the research with the broader work of the Kuwait Programme;
• Support of academic excellence in Kuwait institutions;
• The contribution made towards strengthening long-term cooperation between LSE and Kuwait institutions;
• Evidence that the individuals and institutions involved have the capacity to execute the proposal and deliver on stated outcomes;
• Value for money.

Proposals selected by the committee will be awarded funds subject to the School’s Research Ethics Policy. The awards will be announced in April 2021 with funding available from September 2021. The Kuwait Programme, LSE Middle East Centre, will host and administer all awards, with oversight provided by LSE’s Research Division. Funding will be managed by the Middle East Centre with the exception of transfers to Kuwait partners as agreed. LSE PIs and Research Assistants will be affiliated to the Middle East Centre for the duration of the award. Where salary funds are requested, project researchers will be employed by the Middle East Centre.

Stage One – Expression of interest

Applicants should submit an expression of interest outlining the project in no more than 500 words. This should include the names of the two Co-PIs who have agreed to collaborate. This allows the Kuwait Programme to ensure proposals fit with the programme criteria and goals before full applications are made.

Deadline: 14 December 2020 

Stage Two – First draft of application

If the application fits with the programme criteria and goals, a full first draft of the application, of no more than 4,000 words (excluding bibliography), should be submitted, using the template provided here. The Kuwait Programme will assist with finalising budgets before the final submission of applications, and is happy to offer advice and assistance to applicants during the preparation of full applications.

Deadline: 19 January 2021

Stage Three – Final submission of application

Deadline: 16 February 2021

• Proposals are invited for projects which would commence in September 2021.
• Please submit applications electronically to Ian Sinclair, using the template below.
• The final submission should be no more than 4,000 words
• Proposals should be submitted jointly by the LSE PI and the Kuwait institution Co-PI.
• Proposals should address the five evaluation criteria laid out in the Selection Process section above.
• All applications must submit:

1.     Full application of no more than 4,000 words using the template provided here.

2.     Annex 1: budget using the Excel template provided here.

3.     Annex 2: letter showing Kuwait partner institution supports the application (this should be signed by a person with authority to confirm institutional approval), and an email from the LSE PI’s Head of Department or Centre confirming their support.

For submissions and all enquiries, please contact: Mercedes Masters, Kuwait Programme Coordinator.