Kuwait Programme Research Grants

• Reforming the delivery of healthcare in Kuwait;
• Consolidating evidence-based policymaking in Kuwait; 
• Improving the role of the Kuwaiti Parliament in legislation and governmental oversight;
• Expanding the role of research and development in the Kuwaiti private sector; 
• Improving the efficiency of the sovereign wealth fund in Kuwaiti development;
• Developing economic and legal perspectives on diversifying the oil-dependent economy of Kuwait;
• Improving Kuwaiti service delivery and public administration;
• Diversifying energy consumption in Kuwait;
• Aiding sustainable urban development in Kuwait;
• Examining and informing public policy to meet the challenge of global warming in Kuwait.

• Projects must be relevant to one or more of the ten thematic research priorities of the Kuwait Programme.
• The projects should result in world class research and policy-relevant reports.
• PIs must be members of faculty or research staff (Research Officer and above) at LSE.
• PIs who have previously been awarded funding through the Programme cannot reapply in the same academic year that the previous project finished. 
• PIs cannot simultaneously work on an LSE Kuwait Academic Collaborations project and a Research Grant.
• Applications are limited to one application per person each year.
• In the event of reapplication, preference will be given to new applications, and the success of the former project will be taken into consideration.  
• Eligible costs include salaries, events, travel, research assistance, consultants, impact and knowledge exchange, and publications. 
• One output of the project has to be an LSE Middle East Centre working paper. The £2,000 cost of publishing the working paper needs to be included in the budget.
• PIs and Research Assistants will be affiliated to the Middle East Centre for the duration of the award. Where salary funds are requested, project researchers will be employed by the Middle East Centre.

• Individual projects may have a total budget of up to £34,000.
• Projects should run for a minimum of 12 months and maximum of 24 months. 
• There is no minimum budget for projects.

Proposals are invited for projects which would commence in September 2021. These should be submitted electronically in Word format to Ian Sinclair. 

Please submit a proposal of no more than 4,000 words. Proposals should address the five evaluation criteria laid out in the Selection Process section below and should be structured under the following subheadings:

1. Summary: project title, name of PI, start and end dates, total budget figure
2. Context and aims of the project (including literature review)
3. Methodology
4. Activities (including a clear timeline)
5. Publications: format, content, publisher, date of submission
6. Impact
7. Personnel (including short biographies). Full CVs should be attached as separate documents.
8. Annex 1: Budget. Please complete the Excel budget template provided.

Proposals must include a letter from the Head of the relevant Department or Centre confirming support for the commitment of the PI or other individuals to the project.

Proposals will be considered by a Selection Committee appointed by the Kuwait Programme. The committee will assess proposals according to the following criteria: 

1. Originality, significance and rigour of the research;
2. Likely contribution of the research towards policy-relevant challenges facing Kuwait;
3. Compatibility of the research with the broader work of the Kuwait Programme;
4. Evidence that the individuals involved have the capacity to execute the proposal and deliver on stated outcomes;
5. Value for money. 

Proposals selected by the committee will be awarded funds subject to the School’s Research Ethics Policy. The awards will be announced in April 2021 with funding available from September 2021. 

The Kuwait Programme, LSE Middle East Centre, will host and administer all awards, with oversight provided by LSE’s Research Division. Funding will remain in the Middle East Centre. PIs and Research Assistants will be affiliated to the Middle East Centre for the duration of the award. Where salary funds are requested, project researchers will be employed by the Middle East Centre.

The Kuwait Programme and LSE Research Division can offer advice and assistance to applicants during the preparation of applications to ensure the best fit with the Kuwait Programme’s criteria and goals. 

First drafts of proposals must be submitted by 15 February 2021. Earlier expressions of interest are strongly encouraged. 

The Kuwait Programme and LSE Research Division will ensure proposals meet the eligibility criteria and will assist with finalising budgets before final submission of applications on 15 March 2021.