Announcements

Comparative African Perspectives on China and other emerging powers in Africa

Call for proposals - FAHAMU - Deadline extended to 19 March 2010

2010-02-05, Issue 471

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/Announce/62024

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Comparative African Perspectives on China and other emerging powers in Africa is a research project initiated by FAHAMU, the network for social justice issues. China’s deepening engagement with Africa is receiving increased attention from the global media, public- and private sectors as well as academic research. This should however not overshadow the activities of other emerging powers in Africa, including India, Russia, Brazil and South Africa. This call therefore seeks to develop an African perspective by strengthening the civil society voice in the discourse surrounding the engagement between Africa and these emerging powers.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

FAHAMU

Collaborative Research Project on Comparative African Perspectives on China and other emerging powers in Africa

Terms of Reference for In-Depth Thematic Areas

1. Introduction

Comparative African Perspectives on China and other emerging powers in Africa is a research project initiated by FAHAMU, the network for social justice issues. China’s deepening engagement with Africa is receiving increased attention from the global media, public- and private sectors as well as academic research. This should however not overshadow the activities of other emerging powers in Africa, including India, Russia, Brazil and South Africa. This call therefore seeks to develop an African perspective by strengthening the civil society voice in the discourse surrounding the engagement between Africa and these emerging powers. This project aims to achieve this by:

* Enabling research to be undertaken on the political, social, economic and cultural effects of the emerging powers activities in Africa,
* Developing informed discussion and advocacy in Africa surrounding the role and nature of engagement between Africa and the various emerging powers in Africa,
* Enhancing long-term cooperation between researchers, academics, media and activists in Africa and the emerging powers.

2. The Research themes

The primary purpose of this research project is to undertake a comprehensive comparative analysis between one of the following emerging powers and China’s activities in a respective African country:

* India
* Brazil
* Russia
* South Africa

Applicants will choose one of the above countries and provide a comparative perspective with the activities of China in their respective African country. Focus will be placed on one of the following themes:

* Comparative study on trade and investment practices of Chinese TNC’s in Africa and the chosen emerging actor, including corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices,
* Comparative study of the Chinese Diaspora community in Africa with the Diaspora community of the chosen emerging actor in Africa, or migration patterns, and the African response,
* Comparative study of investment practices in one of the following:

1. The agricultural sector, and the effects on land tenure rights
2. The extractive industries, and its environmental and social impact
3. The manufacturing sector, and the effects on local employment

* Comparative study on China’s (changing) stance on human rights and non-interference in Africa and the differences/similarities with the conduct of the chosen emerging actor,

* Comparative study on China’s aid policy to Africa vis-à-vis other Asian and 'Southern' powers, and the older 'Northern' players, and the implications for debt sustainability.

The intention in each of these areas is to identify appropriate and sector-specific policy measures as well as develop opportunities and challenges. This call for proposals therefore aims to:

* Provide an in-depth understanding of the impact of the specific research theme on the recipient African country.
* Evaluate how African governments are responding and ensuring a better co-ordinated response to the engagement within the specific research theme.
* Observe the effect this has for African societies - in particular how Africa’s engagement with emerging powers helps or harms development at the grass roots level.
* Determine a set of recommendations that could be useful for strengthening bilateral and multilateral continental institutions (including the AU, Regional Economic Communities) in stimulating an African strategy in Africa’s engagement with emerging powers in Africa.

3. Call for Proposals

The FAHAMU China/Emerging Powers in Africa Programme therefore invites interested African individuals and institutions to submit proposals in the above thematic areas. There are a total of four research grants to be awarded. Each proposal should include a brief review of the relevant literature in the thematic area relating to Africa’s engagement with the emerging powers, with particular reference to the relevant case study and where the research will be conducted. A clear outline of the methodology must be provided, including the type of data, availability of information and collection strategy.

Applicants are encouraged to form collaborations. Researcher teams must comprise at most three persons with one identified team leader and at least one female researcher.

This call for proposals is designed to strengthen the capacity and development of researchers and institutions working within their home countries. As a result, and given the total value of each grant, researchers are encouraged to submit proposals relating to their home countries and not apply to conduct research in third countries.

Finally all interested parties are encouraged not to duplicate existing studies. Instead the proposals are designed to assist researchers with seed funding for projects, which offer new insights into the impact of the selected emerging powers, and China, in Africa in each of the thematic areas.

Proposals designed along the guidelines specified below should be submitted to the attention of the Programme Officer, Ms Hayley Herman of the China/Emerging Powers in Africa Programme, FAHAMU, at the following email address: hayley@fahamu.org The deadline for submitting proposals is 05 March 2010.

4. Proposal requirements

Each proposal should include the following:

Background: The policy context of the proposed research.

Objective(s): A brief statement of the specific objectives based on the coverage of the thematic studies mentioned above.

Methodology: A statement detailing how the research objectives are to be achieved, i.e., hypotheses, methods, data collection, data analysis, etc.

Results: Anticipated results and how they might contribute to knowledge, future research and especially public policy.

Statement of qualification and current CVs

Work Programme and Timeline: The brief description of activities and timeline needed for each activity. Total duration of this study is 6 months.

Budget. Estimated expenditure by major line item, e.g., research time, in market travel etc. Total budget should not exceed GBP£4000.

Project leaders must at least fulfill all or some of the following criteria:

a. Completed at least one research project in the proposed thematic area of study;

b. Have a good publication record in the proposed thematic area of study;

Proposals should demonstrate a strong mentoring of young scholars engaged in the discourse surrounding emerging powers in Africa.

5. Conclusion

It is envisaged that the successful applicants will conduct the research over a 6 month period. The call for proposals will close on 19 March 2010. Research will commence following selection process and notification of successful applications. No applications received after 19 March 2010 will be accepted.

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