Over the next five years, Private Enterprise Development in Low-Income Countries
(PEDL) will pursue a research agenda that aims to better understand
what determines the strength of market forces driving efficiency in
Low-Income Countries (LICs). Existing research suggests that the private
sector in LICs faces a number of constraints that act upon each other.
What is needed is research that allows us to understand how these
constraints interact.
PEDL will support approaches that promise to produce credible
research results that will be useful for policy-making. It will promote
research related to private enterprises of all sizes and will initially
focus on
four research themes:
- Modelling market frictions in LICs using newly available data
- Understanding how constraints interact using micro-founded macro models
- The dynamics of SMEs: Informality and entrepreneurship
- The role of export-oriented industries in driving growth
Proposals that address the following cross-cutting issues will be encouraged.
- Fragile and conflict affected states
- Gender
- Climate, environment and social compliance
Proposals for Exploratory Grants can be submitted at any time and will be awarded primarily to allow researchers to:
- explore new approaches to the study of firms in low-income countries
- develop new (or build on existing) sources of data on firms in low-income countries.
Grants will range in value from between £10,000 to £35,000 (value
for money will be a guiding evaluation criterion). The grants are
designed to provide financial support for the individuals undertaking
the research and to cover reasonable associated costs that are directly
related to the proposed research project. These grants will generally
run for a duration of 12 months.
Who is eligible?
Grants will be awarded on an individual basis primarily to
researchers from academia, the non-profit sector, think-tanks and
research centres, etc. Advanced stage PhD students may also apply – in
which cases CEPR will request a letter from the student’s primary
advisor that comments on the proposed research project and the student’s
ability to carry out the project.
How do I apply?
Applications must be submitted online at the PEDL website. The
description of the proposed research must not exceed three single-spaced
pages and adhere to the proposal template.
In addition, an up-to-date CV for the principal investigator (and any
co-investigators) must be submitted, as well as a detailed project
budget.
Applicants will be informed whether the proposal has been approved
within two months of submission. CEPR may ask applicants to provide
additional information in support of their application during this
period. The Evaluation Committee may also request applicants to submit
revised proposals should they consider that the proposal has sufficient
potential.
Deadlines
The fourth deadline for Exploratory Grants is on 30th September 2012, 5PM BST (Applications received by this date will be reviewed by November 2012).
