Application Deadline: December 3, 2024
The Inter-American Foundation (IAF), in conjunction with the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) is inviting applications for its new Research Fellowship Program to advance rigorous field-based research on actionable questions about community-led development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The IAF will award up to ten Fellowships in 2025. Each of the ten fellowships includes a stipend of $20,000 to support an individual researcher working over the course of twelve months in one or more of the countries in the region where the IAF works (see IAF.gov/Where we work), participation in a three-day in-person orientation workshop, and engagement with the network of IAF Fellows.
The IAF works in the following countries in the Caribbean: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago.
Research Topics
- the generation of economic and other opportunities, particularly for women and youth,
- effective ways to address the drivers of irregular migration and/or strengthen rootedness and resilience among vulnerable populations,
- integration of migrants and other displaced populations,
- responses to chronic violence (including gender-based violence),
- social cohesion,
- social inclusion (including of Afro-descendants, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups),
- sustainable agriculture,
- disaster resilience,
- community philanthropy, and
- other development issues in which communities are vested.
Eligibility
- A Bachelor’s degree
- Must be a citizen of one of the countries in which the IAF works or the United States
- May be enrolled in a graduate program or they may have completed their education
- May be working within academia as teachers or researchers
- May be working in partnership with community-based organizations;
Application Details
- A standard online application form.
- A research abstract (250 words max) that summarizes proposed research.
- An actionable research statement (250 words max) that describes how findings may inform decisions by a community-led organization, the IAF, and/or other donors and supporters of community-led development.
- A personal statement (500 words max) that explains (a) what is motivating or inspiring applicant to pursue this research project on community-led development, and (b) how the proposed research will contribute to applicant’s understanding of the topic at hand.
- A research proposal (5 pages max) that includes:
- Relevance. Clearly articulate the research question to be answered through this Fellowship and how it advances one of IAF’s Research Topics above.
- Contribution. Describe the practical implications of the proposed research. In other words, how do applicants expect your research findings may be useful to community-led organizations, donors, and/or other stakeholders?
- Methods. Describe the methods applicant will use for field research, the type of data to be collected, data analysis method, and steps to be taken in ensuring that the data and analysis are reliable. The IAF is open to a range of approaches and research designs including quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods; single-site, single-country, or comparative approaches. Explain why you have chosen the proposed approach for the given question.
- Work to date. If available, a brief description of any related research work done to date, noting any preliminary analysis informing the proposed research.
- A selected bibliography (2 pages max) relevant to the proposed research. Applicant may use whichever standardized citation style (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago) preferred.
A multidisciplinary review committee, convened by the IAF and including IAF staff, will evaluate proposals based on relevance, quality, intellectual merit, the fit between research question and research design, feasibility, and the practical implications of the proposed research to the IAF, community organizations, policymakers, and/or funders.
