News Archive Item
Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER)
Description:
Program Background and Objective
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is exploring new opportunities to use science and technology to meet the world’s development challenges. As part of its science and technology strategy, USAID is developing mechanisms to leverage the investments that other U.S. government agencies make in scientific research and training. Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between USAID and the National Science Foundation (NSF), the two agencies implemented a pilot program to assess the potential for USAID-funded collaborative research projects. Based on the program’s success, USAID and NSF are now pleased to announce the launching of a new and broader program called Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER). This competitive grants program will allow scientists in developing countries to apply for funds to support research and capacity-building activities in partnership with their NSF-funded collaborators on topics of importance to USAID. Areas in which both NSF and USAID have strong mutual interests include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Food security topics such as agricultural development, fisheries, and plant genomics
- Global health issues such as ecology of infectious disease, biomedical engineering, and natural/human system interactions
- Climate change impacts such as water sustainability, hydrology, ocean acidification, climate process and modeling, and environmental engineering
- Other development topics including disaster mitigation, biodiversity, water, and renewable energy
The PEER application form, proposal preparation instructions, and FAQs are available online at http://www.nationalacademies.org/peer
Proposal Deadline: November 30, 2011, 11:59 PM (U.S. Eastern Standard Time)
PEER is designed to leverage NSF funds awarded to U.S. researchers with funds from USAID that can be distributed to developing country researchers so that both sides have the resources they need to work together productively. Therefore, research topics proposed under PEER must be collaborative in nature and must complement research goals specified in the NSF award, as well as the technical and developmental goals of USAID. Only proposals building upon active NSF-funded awards will be considered. PEER proposals should expand the scope of the NSF-funded research by including research and training activities to be carried out by developing country counterparts, the costs for which cannot be supported under NSF awards. Examples of the types of activities that may be funded under PEER include education and training; technology dissemination; application and adaptation of new technologies; support for students, postdoctoral associates, and researchers; international travel; communications; equipment, materials, and supplies for developing country institutions; research networks; and international workshops.
PEER is being implemented by the National Academies, which will manage the proposal review process and disburse and monitor grants awarded. Beyond the current program cycle, it is expected that solicitations for PEER will be issued at least annually, with details to be posted at http://www.nationalacademies.org/peer. In addition to future open calls for proposals, PEER also anticipates issuing a special call for proposals in 2012 for projects involving collaboration with potential U.S. recipients of NSF Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) awards. U.S. researchers who have submitted PIRE pre-proposals will receive further information about the special PEER solicitation to share with their developing country counterparts if and when they are invited to submit full PIRE proposals.
