Kuwait Program Research Fund accepting grant proposals

The Kennedy School of Government (KSG) has recently announced the 13th funding cycle for the Kuwait Program Research Fund. With the support of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, a KSG faculty committee will consider applications for one-year grants (up to $30,000) and larger grants for more extensive proposals to support advanced research by Harvard University faculty members on issues of critical importance to Kuwait and the Gulf. Grants can be applied toward research assistance, travel, summer salary, and course buyout.

Priority will be given to the following subjects, although applications will be considered in other areas: technology transfer; water resources and management; oil and petrochemicals; small-country security; governance and transparency issues; government subsidies policy; vocational training models; human resources development; applied research, education, and training related to the environment and pollution; and public health policy including disease treatment (especially diabetes) and prevention.

In addition, the fund seeks more extensive and ambitious proposals on small-country security and governance, transparency, and corruption issues. The Kennedy School is prepared to provide greater funding over a longer period of time for research in these two areas.

Proposals will be evaluated based on the direct involvement of Harvard faculty; the relevance and transferability of the research to Kuwait and the region; and the quality of the work plan, which should include an outreach component. Collaborative research with Kuwaiti academics and educational institutions is strongly encouraged.

There are no formal application forms. Please submit inquiries and research proposals (not exceeding five pages), including a budget, other sources of funding, and the curriculum vitae for senior researchers, to director, Middle East Initiative, KSG, 79 JFK St., Cambridge, MA 02138. The deadline for the receipt of grant applications is Nov. 16. Decisions will be announced by Dec. 17. For more information, call (617) 495-5963.