Better Job Prospects for Young, Low Skilled and Female
Workers in the Mekong Region
Call for Proposals
Application deadline 15 August 2015, 23:59 (Cambodian time)
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1.
Background
The Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI) and International Development
Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada jointly call for research proposals under the Greater
Mekong Subregion Research Network (GMS-Net).1 This call for papers aims to gather high
quality development research on labour markets in Mekong countries that generates concrete
evidence-informed policy solutions to improve the current situation.
The call will contribute to addressing current and future labour market challenges facing
countries in the region by supporting a regional network of researchers to examine policies
and practices conducive to skills development and improved working conditions in nonagricultural labour markets for young, low-skilled and female workers and those belonging to
ethnic communities.
CDRI, a leading independent policy research institute, serves as the hub of GMS-Net, which
for the first time will launch a competitive call for 12 research ideas from research
institutions and organisations in the region. Some of the funded projects may involve
developing policy and research ideas or exploring opportunities and challenges to scaling up
existing projects. CDRI will provide administrative support and research oversight, and link
research outputs to policy for a wide and large community of policymakers, private sector
and civil society in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and beyond.
2.
Specific objectives

Develop policy options, new practices and institutional arrangements for more
jobs with better working conditions, especially in the context of the ASEAN
Economic Community.

Examine the current role of the private sector in job creation (labour market
demand) and workforce skills development (labour market supply).

Promote young regional talent to lead policy research and reform options.
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The Greater Mekong Subregion Research Network (GMS-Net), formerly known as the Greater Mekong
Subregion Development Analysis Network (GMS-DAN), is a newly established research network of countries
in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Founded in 1992, GMS-DAN has undertaken a series of country research
studies on a wide range of topics, from the impact of Asian financial crises on transitional economies to crossborder migration and trade. Research works, the findings of which could be drawn on as inputs into this
proposal, include (1) Labour Markets in Transitional Economies in Southeast Asia and Thailand, (2) Off-farm
and Non-farm Employment in Southeast Asian Transitional Economies and Thailand, (3) The Cross-border
Economies of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, (4) Labour Migration in the Greater Mekong Subregion,
(5) Inclusive Development in the Greater Mekong Subregion: An Assessment, and (6) Health and Education in
the Mekong Subregion: Policies, Institutions and Practices. All publications could be accessed and downloaded
at http://www.gms-dan.org/publications.html
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3.
Research themes
Research proposals should be wholly or partially related to one of the following six themes.
Applicants interested in more than one theme are requested to choose the most relevant one.
Research Theme 1:
Inequality of earnings by gender, geographical location and
ethnicity
Research Theme 2:
Labour market regulations and wage setting
Research Theme 3:
Safety nets for youth, low-skilled and women
Research Theme 4:
Private sector development and its role in skills development
Research Theme 5:
Implications of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) for
labour market policies and institutions
Research Theme 6:
Scaling up champion programmes on decent job creation and
skills development for youth, the lowed-skilled and women
Applicants can refer to the background paper for an overview of labour markets in GMS
countries, some specific research questions under each research theme and selected annotated
bibliography for further reading.
4.
Research grant
GMS-Net aims to fund at least 12 research projects up to a total value of USD480,000 (a
maximum of USD40,000 per project). CDRI and IDRC would particularly co-fund project
proposals. The grants will cover a range of activities including fieldwork and training, and
personnel salaries. The call for papers will open on 30 June 2015. Projects selected for
funding must be completed by the end of March 2018.
5.
Fieldwork and data collection
Researchers will be expected to allow the larger research community free and open access to
the data they collect, with appropriate confidentiality protections. Costs of preparing and
providing open access to data must be included in the proposal. A data-sharing plan with a
release schedule must be circulated within one year of project completion. The GMS-Net
website (http://www.gms-dan.org) is a resource for data dissemination.
Field work and data collection must be included the discussion of the protection of human
subject.
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6.
Target countries and eligibility
Research institutions and organisations in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and
Yunnan province of China are eligible to submit proposals with policy priority focus on
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV).
Institutions and organisations must be established as legal entities and applicants must be
affiliated to those institutions and organisations. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure
that the contents of proposals meet GMS-Net’s requirements. GMS-Net does NOT fund
individual consultants or private consulting companies.
7.
Consortia and partner institutions
Research institutions and organisations may form or join a consortium to develop a joint
proposal. Institutions and organisations involved in a consortium are required to present
supporting documents to prove the existence of the collaboration. In addition, the consortium
is required to select a representative (herewith referred to as the lead institution or
organisation).
8.
Evaluation criteria
Eligible proposals will be shortlisted by a selection committee and then evaluated by blind
peer-reviewers. Blind peer-reviewers will score the proposals and provide comments based
on the following criteria:

quality of research design

soundness of the research hypothesis and methodology

clarity of measures and indicators used to answer the research questions

relevance to the respective country’s policies and prospects for research and
communication uptake to influence policymaking

research team composition, qualifications and experience.
Having been assessed by the blind peer-reviewers, the proposals will be selected by the
selection committee for funding. The selection committee will consist of representatives from
CDRI and IDRC and two other regional or international experts in related fields.
9.
Capacity development and research uptake
In addition to research funding, capacity building will be one of the activities in the proposed
research programme. A short intensive training course is planned to equip researchers with
necessary skills for their immediate research studies and beyond. The training will be on
quantitative and qualitative labour market research.
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The project proposal should include an effective strategy to communicate research outputs to
policy and decision makers. To maximise the impact of research outputs and outcomes on
policy influence, a detailed matrix template of outreach visibility and research uptake should
be developed to give a visual snapshot. This outreach communication will be an important
consideration for evaluating proposals.
10. Important dates
Applications will close at 23:59 (Cambodian time) on 15 August 2015. Applications received
after the closing date will not be considered.
30 June 2015
15 August 2015
August-September 2015
October 2015
November 2015
May 2016
August 2016
November 2016
January 2017
March 2017
Application opens
Deadline for proposals
Evaluation of submitted proposals
All applicants receive an email notifying them of the success
of their proposals
Shortlisted applicants invited to present their proposals at the
first meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This will coincide
with a training course on quantitative and qualitative labour
market research
Submission of interim report
Approval of interim report
Submission of revised final research report
short/electronic pieces about specific papers
Approval of revised final research report
Final meeting
Publication of final report
11. How to apply
All applicants, individuals and consortia, are required to use the GMS-Net project proposal
template provided. All requested information must be supplied for the proposal to be valid
and eligible for evaluation and funding. For consortia, the lead institution or organisation,
with agreement from other partners, should fill in the proposal template.
Filled proposals and other requested documents should be submitted via email to
gmsnet@cdri.org.kh. Applications submitted through other channels will NOT be
considered.
All applicants, individuals and consortia, must follow the application guidelines in this call.
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12. Cost of application
Any costs incurred during the application process are the sole responsibility of the applicants
and will NOT be reimbursed.
13. Language
All documents including proposals must be submitted in English.
14. Assistance and support
For further support, please contact the Greater Mekong Subregion Research Network (GMSNet) administrative team at gmsnet@cdri.org.kh. Requests for additional information
received less than six working days before the submission deadline will not be processed.
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