Request for Research Proposals – Emerging Scholars Research Award 2025

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ICRMS is pleased to announce the Call for Proposal for the year 2025 under the Emerging Scholars Research Award (ESRA) category, inviting scholars and researchers to contribute to their shared vision of a world where the rights and dignity of every individual, regardless of their migration status, are upheld and protected through the production of primary research and policy recommendations.

Research Themes and Areas​

• Between Precarity and Resistance: The Biopolitics of Afghan Refugees in Balochistan’s Urban and Rural Spaces
• Gendered Displacement: The Enduring Impact of Conflict and Migration on Afghan Women in Pakistan

Funding Information

Selected ESRA candidates will receive a grant of 0.2 million. Once the grants are allocated, each awardee’s research will be evaluated and supervised individually by an assigned research supervisor.

Phases of Research and Deliverables

Phase 1: Preparatory Phase

• Tasks and Expected Deliverables:
  • Signing of Contract with ICRMS
    • Submission of Updated CV and a 100-word Biography
    • Attested Copies of Academic Documents and Bank Account Details
    • Preparation of Short Research Project Description (One Pager)
    • Successful Presentation of Proposal in Defense
• Phase 2: Proposal Refinement and Approval
  • Tasks and Expected Deliverables:
    • Revision of Proposal based on Evaluators’ Feedback and Key Performance Indicators
      • Revised Proposal Incorporating Evaluators’ Feedback and Key Performance Indicators
      • Development of Research Activity Timeline and Milestones
• Phase 3: Research Execution
  • Tasks and Expected Deliverables:
    • Submission of 1st Progress Report for Release of First Tranche of Funding
    • Submission of 2nd Progress Report and Field Data
    • Development of 1st Draft of the Paper
• Phase 4: Paper Refinement and Finalization
  • Tasks and Expected Deliverables:
    • Presentation of the First Draft in a Defense
    • Revision of Final Draft Incorporating Evaluators’ Feedback
    • Submission of Paper following ICRMS Journal Guidelines
      • Successful Presentation of the First Draft in Defense
      • Revised Final Draft of the Paper
• Phase 5: Reporting and Documentation
  • Tasks and Expected Deliverables:
    • Development of Final Research Report
    • Creation of 2-5 Minute Video Documentary of the Research Project
    • Preparation of Research Budget Utilization Report
    • Submission of Final Research Report in Hard Form for Release of Second Tranche of Funding
      • Final Research Report
      • 2-5 Minute Video Documentary
      • Research Budget Utilization Report
      • Submission of Final Research Report in Hard Form
• Phase 6: Publication
  • Tasks:
    • Review and Approval of Paper for Publication
    • Publication of Paper in the International Journal of Refugee, Minority, and Gender Studies

Eligibility Criteria

• ESRA is designed for master’s students and fresh graduates. The eligibility criteria include a minimum GPA of 3.5 for enrolled students. ESRA aims to support innovative and impactful research proposals from emerging scholars.

Selection Process

• Call for Proposals Announcement: ICRMS issues a formal Call for Proposals, inviting scholars and researchers to submit their research proposals based on the specified thematic areas and eligibility criteria.
• Proposal Submission: Interested applicants submit their research proposals, along with required documents such as CV, work plan, timeline, and proposal format, to the designated submission portal.
• Initial Screening: The submitted proposals undergo an initial screening process to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria and adhere to the specified format by ICRMS staff.
• UNHCR Screening: The initial shortlisted proposals are sent to UNHCR for further screening and those aligned with UNHCR’s mandate are nominated for selection.
• Final Selection: The expert review panel based on ICRMS, UNHCR, and Academic Evaluators evaluates and select from the submitted proposals based on criteria such as relevance to thematic areas, clarity of objectives, feasibility, methodological rigor, innovation, and potential impact.
• Notification of Results: Selected applicants are notified of their successful selection and provided with detailed instructions regarding the next steps, including the signing of contracts, submission of additional documents, and commencement of the research project.
• Publication of Results: ICRMS publicly announces the selected research projects and may publish the list of selected applicants on its website or through other communication channels.
• Proposal Defense: Selected applicants are invited to defend their proposals before the expert review panel. During the defense, applicants present their research plans, address panel members’ queries, and provide additional clarifications.