The Aegis Trust is pleased to announce the second call for proposals by Rwandan researchers, as part of its programme on Research, Policy and Higher Education (RPHE), funded by the UK Department for International Development (DfID).

Proposals are sought for innovative, challenging research papers (in English or French) on the following broad themes:

* Memory, identity and narrative
* Reconciliation and social cohesion
* Transitional Justice
* Trauma and psychological/psycho-social issues
* Gender dimensions of post-genocide recovery
* Post-genocide economic development
* Education, media and peacebuilding

Only Rwandan nationals (or non-Rwandans collaborating with named Rwandans) may apply. Proposals that include non-Rwandan researchers must show the substantive involvement, including co-authorship, by the Rwandan counterpart. A maximum of 12 proposals will be accepted. Each successful proposal will receive the local equivalent of 2500 British pounds to be used for researchers’ salaries and other costs associated with conducting the research (£1750 will be paid up front and £750 upon production of the outputs detailed below). The amount paid for each research paper will be the same, regardless of the number of co-authors.

Proposals (maximum 1000 words) must include a brief description of the broad topic of the paper, the specific research question to be addressed, the research methods to be employed and the paper’s expected contribution to the existing literature and to policy or practice. Applicants, including any co-authors, should also include a copy of their CV.

Proposals may relate to projects that are already well developed (but have not been previously published) or new projects that require fresh research. Both categories will be paid at the same rate. Successful applicants will be expected to produce a draft paper of 7000-10,000 words by 30 June 2016 for inclusion in the Aegis online working paper series, a 2-page policy brief highlighting the paper’s key findings by 15 July 2016, and evidence that the working paper will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed academic journal or as a chapter in an edited volume. The outstanding £750 will only be paid upon production of these three outputs.

Successful applicants will attend an initial meeting in Kigali in November 2015 with the Head of the Aegis RPHE programme, Dr. Phil Clark (SOAS, University of London), and two authors’ workshops (in April and July 2016) in which each draft paper will be discussed and advice given regarding possible publication routes.

The deadline for research proposals is 5pm on Friday, 28 August 2015. Proposals or any queries should be sent to: researchpapers@aegistrust.org.rw. Information on the papers selected in the 1st round of RPHE proposals can be found here