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<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><b><font face="Arial" color="maroon" size="3"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: maroon; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Call for Expressions of Interest: Think Tank Initiative </span></font></b><b><font face="Arial" color="navy"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
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<p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><b><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada 2009<br>
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<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Website: </span></font><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><a href="http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-125431-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html" target="_blank"><font color="navy"><span style="COLOR: navy">http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-125431-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html</span></font></a> </span></font></p>
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<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Think Tank Initiative invites applications from eligible organizations in Latin America and South Asia that are committed to using research to inform and influence social and economic policy. The Initiative will provide multi-year core funding and technical support to successful think tanks. </span></font></p>
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<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><b><font face="Arial" color="maroon" size="3"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: maroon; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Deadline: September 28, 2009</span></font></b><b><font face="Arial" color="navy"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
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<h3 style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><b><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Eligibility - </span></font></b><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Think Tank Initiative announces the launch of its Call for Expressions of Interest in the following countries in Latin America and South Asia:<br>
</span></font><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br></span></font><em><i><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Latin America: Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, Peru</span></font></i></em><i><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
</span></font></i><em><i><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">South Asia: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka</span></font></i></em><i><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
</span></font></i><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br></span></font><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Initiative invites independent policy research institutions in these countries to submit Expressions of Interest that identify long-term strategies to:</span></font></h3>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font face="Symbol" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>·<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></font></span></span></font><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Develop their own robust research agenda; </span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font face="Symbol" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>·<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></font></span></span></font><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Increase their ability to inform and influence policy; and, </span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font face="Symbol" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>·<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></font></span></span></font><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Improve key aspects of their organizational performance.</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font face="Symbol" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>·<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></font></span></span></font><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Possess a track record of rigorous research and analysis on <em><i><font face="Arial"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">national</span></font></i></em> social and economic policy issues related to growth, equity and poverty reduction; this precludes institutions whose work is focused exclusively on one sector or policy issue; and, </span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font face="Symbol" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>·<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></font></span></span></font><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Be committed to using research to inform national public debate and to create spaces for discussion and new ideas; </span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font face="Symbol" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>·<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></font></span></span></font><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Be existing non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations legally founded and registered as independent entities in the country of operation.</span></font></p>
<h3 style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><b><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Funding Available</span></font></b></h3>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Think Tank Initiative will make a series of core grants to cover operating and research costs as well as institutional strengthening activities. Grants will provide up to 30 percent of an institution’s overall budget over the funding period. Initially, core grants will be either a four-year grant or a two-year renewable grant combined with tailored capacity development support to address key weaknesses.</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Up to 15 institutions per region are expected to qualify for support as a result of this Call.</span></font></p>
<h3 style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><b><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Expressions of Interest</span></font></b></h3>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Expressions of Interest should be submitted online. Please refer to the application form for further details. Applicants will be requested to answer several questions, and, in general, the review panel will be looking for:</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font face="Symbol" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>·<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></font></span></span></font><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A description of the organization, its vision and mission, and its commitment to undertake organizational improvement; </span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font face="Symbol" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>·<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></font></span></span></font><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A brief description of current research areas, significant achievements and future research agenda; </span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font face="Symbol" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>·<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></font></span></span></font><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A description of current and future partners, stakeholders and users of their research; </span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font face="Symbol" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>·<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></font></span></span></font><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">An overview of how the institution anticipates making use of support from this Initiative (e.g., kinds of improvements to be introduced). </span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><font face="Symbol" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>·<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></font></span></span></font><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Additional information and documentation is also requested to support the application.</span></font></p>
<h3 style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><b><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Information</span></font></b></h3>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><font face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">For more information please see the "<a href="http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-142366-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html" target="_blank"><font color="navy"><span style="COLOR: navy">Call for Expressions of Interest</span></font></a>" document<br>
All enquiries should be addressed to: <a href="mailto:thinktank@idrc.ca" target="_blank"><font color="navy"><span style="COLOR: navy">thinktank@idrc.ca</span></font></a>.<br><br></span></font></p></div></div></div>