United States of America: Researcher - RESEA01370-00001

If you have a passion for making the world a better place and want to have a front row seat to the world stage, USIP is the place for you.

We are a nonpartisan institute chartered by Congress to tackle the world’s toughest problems. Working in conflict zones around the world, our staff advise and support the military, government officials and community leaders – to promote knowledge and practices that prevent, mitigate and resolve violent conflict. To learn more about USIP programs and job openings go to https://www.usip.org/about/careers. The Institute is headquartered in Washington DC with staff working in 22 different countries, at any given time up to 20% of the staff could be deployed working in the field.

Research Competition – Request for Proposals

Over the last two decades the nature of violent conflict has changed: nonstate actors have become more prominent, the role of technology has advanced exponentially, and climate change has created new forms of insecurity. Partly a result of these trends, violent extremism, cyberwar, and asymmetrical warfare now occupy the center of the international stage. While much of the analysis on violent conflict has focused on state fragility and the challenges associated with strengthening state capacity, these new and shifting international dimensions of violent conflict highlight the potential limitations of a state-centric approach. What challenges do these new and shifting dimensions of violent conflict pose to peacebuilding? What are the emerging trends in peacebuilding to respond to these challenges? And how can peacebuilding policy and practice become more effective in addressing contemporary violent conflict?

As the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) embarks on its new strategic plan (2020-2022), we invite researchers at universities or research institutions to submit research proposals that address one or several of the questions outlined above. The research should offer recommendations to USIP, with focus on the changing nature of conflict, to help guide its agenda for policy and practice-relevant research. Research could include but is not limited to a meta-review/synthesis of academic and policy literature or datasets. USIP would welcome a follow-on component to an ongoing research project as long as it directly addresses one or more of the questions posed above.

USIP is dedicated to producing cutting-edge research on preventing, mitigating, and resolving violent conflict. This competition supports USIP’s mission by advancing evidence-based research that has a significant impact on peacebuilding scholarship, policy, and programming. USIP is particularly interested in innovative research that connects different levels of analysis (local, national, transnational, international), proposes new frameworks, and/or examines complex systems.

The selected applicant will be awarded a contract (a fixed price of $6,000) to support four months of writing – April to July 2019. During the award term, the winning applicant will be expected to complete a USIP Peaceworks publication. Peaceworks range from 8,000 to 12,000 words and are written primarily for scholars and practitioners. Peaceworks emphasize in-depth background, research, and analysis, and include detailed policy recommendations and conclusions. The winning applicant will also be expected to provide a progress report that includes interim findings (due May 2019). The selected applicant will receive the full award upon completion of the contract (when the publication is approved by USIP).

Those interested in applying should have demonstrated experience in research and strong scholarship related to peace and conflict studies. Scholars at all levels, from early career to the more established, are encouraged to apply.

Proposal Guidelines

The proposals will be evaluated on a competitive, peer-reviewed basis. Proposals should clearly describe research objectives and policy significance. Proposals should also demonstrate knowledge of the research subject and relevant literature. Given that the award is designated for writing support, proposals should provide an overview of the completed research activities. Applicants should also discuss the likely relevance of the proposed research to USIP’s priority themes or countries.

Proposals should be no longer than eight double-spaced pages, excluding the bibliography, and adhere to standard formatting practices (one-inch margins, twelve-point font, etc.).

Application Process

All materials must be submitted no later than 11:59pm (EST) on Friday, March 15, 2019. Applicants will be notified of a decision in late March. Materials should be uploaded through the online application form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScNc5DSO6csX4N8G837lMopBwLSemlP8heXkBKX2wsWK2MlGA/viewform

Must include:

• Completed application form
• Paper proposal and bibliography
• Proposed writing timeline with estimated number of hours per week required for the project
• CV

Please contact Amanda Blair at ResearchCompetition@usip.org if you have any questions about the application process. Pertinent responses will be made available to all applicants by email. No inquiries will be accepted, or responses given after Thursday, March 14, 2019.

Additional Information

1. USIP is not liable for any costs incurred by any applicant prior to issuance of an executed contract.
2. The Selection Committee will review all submissions received on time using the selection criteria established for the project.
3. The Selection Committee reserves the right to reject any submission, to reject all submissions, or to select multiple submissions, in the best interests of USIP. USIP may cancel this Solicitation at any time prior to contract award if it is in the best interests of USIP.

To apply for this position, please use the following URL:
https://ars2.equest.com/?response_id=5dd389976b275a9803f449ca2bba2f4e