Global Development Network Awards

Global Development Awards Competition

Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development (ORD)

2021 Edition

CALL FOR ORD REVIEWERS (CONSULTANTS)

The Global Development Network (GDN) is a public international organization that promotes better policies and better lives through high-quality policy-oriented social science research conducted in developing and transition countries. It provides researchers with financial resources, global networking, research management support, access to information, training, peer review and mentoring. Founded in 1999, GDN is currently headquartered in New Delhi.

The Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development (ORD) is a competitive research grant program under the umbrella of the Global Development Awards Competition administered by the Global Development Network (GDN) and funded by the Ministry of Finance, Government of Japan. This award program identifies and funds outstanding research proposals in low-income or middle-income countries with high potential for excellence in research and clear policy implications for addressing development issues.

Table of Contents

Call for ORD Reviewers (consultants)  1

A.         Background   1

B.         Scope of the call 1

C.         Profile of applicants  1

D.         Application structure   2

E.         Selection Criteria   2

F.         Application Procedure   2

G.         Deadline   3

Terms of Reference   4

1.         Background Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development  4

2.         Objective of the assignment  4

3.         Review criteria of ORD applications  5

4.         Structure of the review and timeframe   5

D.         Finance and Budget  6

E.         Reporting   6

Annex 1 – 2021 Global Development Awards Competition - Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development (ORD) Theme   i

Call for ORD Reviewers (consultants)

1. Background

The Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development (ORD) is a competitive research grant program under the umbrella of the Global Development Awards Competition administered by the Global Development Network (GDN) and funded by the Ministry of Finance, Government of Japan. This award program identifies and funds outstanding research proposals in low-income or middle-income countries[1] with high potential for excellence in research and clear policy implications for addressing development issues.

1. Scope of the call

GDN is recruiting reviewers to conduct the assessment of research proposals under the ORD category of the Global Development Awards Competition. The review is scheduled to take place in two phases:

• Lot 1 - Reviewers will be selected to conduct a first assessment of proposals on the basis of the ORD selection criteria and shortlist the best proposals.
• Lot 2 - Experienced researchers to review the shortlisted proposals, and select the three finalists of the ORD category. The final decision will be validated by the Panel Organizer.

Panel Organizer

Out of the Lot 2 reviewers, a Panel Organizer is selected based on her/his professional experience upon demonstrated availability for this additional task. This individual will have the additional task of approving the final ranking after taking into consideration all comments and (normalized) scores.

Interested candidates can apply to one lot only, depending on their profiles.

1. Profile of applicants

• Lot 1: Be a researcher with 2-10 years of research experience, with a track record of work and publication in the award theme for the current edition
• Lot 2: Be a researcher with 10+ years of research experience, with a track record of work and publication in the award theme for the current edition

1. Application structure

To apply, interested individuals must submit their Expressions of Interest (EoI) with the following information:

1. Indicate to which Lot does the EoI refer to
2. Overview of how your expertise matches the theme and scope of the competition
3. Description of past experience on similar assignments
4. Full CV

1. Selection Criteria

The criteria for the selection of Reviewers are as follows:

1. Research Background on the theme of the call
2. Policy background
3. Leadership experience
4. Evaluation and Experience on Project implementation experience

1. Application Procedure

Follow the steps given below:

1. Go to GDN’s dedicated online submission platform using the following link: www.gdn.int/awards2021/apply
2. Register or Log in into the platform to have access to your profile. You will receive an email confirming the successful registration of your profile and only after verifying your profile, will you be able to submit an application.
3. On your profile page, you will have access to ‘My entries’ where you may either resume (selecting the entry you would like to continue from the list) or start entry.  Select ‘Call for ORD Reviewers’ under Category.
   1. In case you need to exit the application and complete it at a later time, click on Save + Close. You may return and complete your application on the online platform before the closing date (4 September 2021) but it will be considered as submitted only if you press Submit Entry.
4. You will be asked to provide
   1. Indication to which Lot (1 or 2) the application refers to
   2. Overview of how your expertise matches the theme and scope of the competition
   3. Description of past experience on similar assignments
   4. Full CV
5. Once you have completed your application, click on Submit Entry. You will receive an email notifying you on the successful submission of your application.

Enquiries must be addressed to awards@gdn.int.

1. Deadline

The deadline for submission of demonstrations of interest is on 19 May 2021 (Indian Standard Time 6:00 PM).

Terms of Reference

1. Background

The Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development (ORD) is a competitive research grant program under the umbrella of the Global Development Awards Competition administered by the Global Development Network (GDN) and funded by the Ministry of Finance, Government of Japan.

1. Objective of the assignment

GDN is recruiting reviewers to conduct the assessment of research proposals under the ORD category of the Global Development Awards Competition. A proposal under the ORD category is up to 20 pages long in with a template followed by all applicants. Check the Call for ORD Proposals for more details.

The review is scheduled to take place in two phases:

• Lot 1 - a first level review by early-career scholars (less than 10 years of experience)
• Lot 2 - a second level review of experienced researchers (above 10 years of experience)

Interested candidates can apply to one lot only, depending on their profiles.

Panel Organizer

Out of the Lot 2 reviewers, a Panel Organizer is selected based on her/his professional experience upon demonstrated availability for this additional task. This individual will have the additional task of approving the final ranking after taking into consideration all comments and (normalized) scores.

Lot 1: First level review

Reviewers will be selected to conduct a first assessment of proposals on the basis of the ORD selection criteria and shortlist the best proposals.

Lot 2: Expert level review

Experienced researchers to review the shortlisted proposals, and select the three finalists of the ORD category. The final decision will be validated by the Panel Organizer.

1. Review criteria of ORD applications

The criteria for the ORD category are as follows:

• Academic quality
  • Quality of the research question formulated
  • Quality of methodology and methods chosen to answer the research question
  • Quality of literature review
  • Originality and Innovativeness
  • Ethics
• Clarity of the links to policy
  • Link to specific development outcomes
  • Specific relevance to policy process
• Feasibility
  • Timeline
  • Budget
  • Research team
  • Impact of social distancing policies

1. Structure of the review and timeframe

Each review consists of:

1. Scoring each proposal against the criteria
2. Comments to complement the quantitative evaluation per criteria

Applicants receive the anonymized comments and have the opportunity to revise their proposals between phases. It is expected that all comments submitted are respectful and contribute to the professional development of the applicants regardless of the quality of their proposal.

Lot 2 reviewers (second level review) will not have access to the comments from the 1st level reviewers but the applicants will provide a reaction to their comments.

Selected reviewers will comply with the timeline defined for their assignment which is expected to be:

• Lot 1: First level review

Between 14 June-16 July with up to 10 proposals per reviewer, 3 reviews per proposal. This number might differ depending on how many applications are received and how many reviewers are selected.

• Lot 2: Second level review

Between 26 July and 25 August with 3 reviews per proposal (the workload on each reviewer may vary).

• Panel Organizer

Between the 30-31 August to approve the final ranking upon reception of all normalized scores and ranking provided by GDN.

1. Finance and Budget

• Lot 1: Every proposal reviewed will be paid USD 40 to the reviewer.
• Lot 2: Every proposal reviewed will be paid USD 80 to the reviewer. GDN also pays USD 200 to the Panel Organizer as a management fee.

1. Reporting

All reporting will be done to João Costa, Program Associate, through the email addresses awards@gdn.int and jcosta@gdn.int (all communications to be addressed to both emails mandatorily.

Annex 1 – 2021 Global Development Awards Competition - Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development (ORD) Theme

“International trade and the promotion of biodiversity”

Biodiversity and economic activity have traditionally been depicted in terms of trade-offs and zero-sum games. International trade, in particular, has been identified as an important factor in biodiversity degradation in developing countries, in light of the greenhouse gas emission it generates globally, its role in spreading invasive species and pathogens and for its links with extractive industries, among others.

In both policy and academia, however, a growing interest in systemic approaches to sustainable development calls for a change of framework. New knowledge is needed to support a broader change of mindset amongst policy makers, the private sector and key societal actors, to develop pro-nature policy frameworks and solutions. When it comes to international trade, this requires a granular understanding of its interaction with biodiversity, through analyses that cut across levels and sectors, and across countries.

The 2021 edition of the Global Development Network’s Japanese Awards for Outstanding Research on Development calls for early and mid-career researchers based in low-income or middle-income countries to develop original research that throw light on impact pathways that link international trade and biodiversity - beyond GHG emissions - with the goal of better understanding what can be done better or differently, to protect and even promote biodiversity.

Research projects can focus on local, national, regional or continental levels, and on multiple pathways of impact. Research proposals can adopt disciplinary approaches from across the social sciences: proposals can focus on economic, legal and regulatory aspects, explore socio-anthropological, political and environmental conditions affecting international trade, its impacts on society, and ultimately biodiversity, with an eye to illuminating the conditions and variables that may generate virtuous impacts of regulation of international trade on biodiversity promotion.

Proposals should discuss the proposed research question and methodology not only in light of their academic relevance, but also in light of their potential to contribute to stronger public debate and policy action in the future.

A direct link to the COVID-19 crisis is welcome, but not required. In light of the quickly changing scenario, proposals that integrate a focus on COVID-19 and related policy responses must explain how the quickly changing policy landscape is likely to impact the focus of the research.

Impact of the Pandemic

All research proposals must include an analysis of risks for the proposed research linked to existing restrictions to movement and other restrictions linked to pandemic response in the relevant geographical areas.

[1] Press here to visit the list of countries which are recognized as low and middle income countries by the World Bank