OSRA Research Grant

Objective

The Doha International Family Institute (DIFI) have launched the OSRA research grant which is an annual research grant on Arab families and family policy related issues. The goal of this call is to encourage research on Behavioral Issues Research, Family cohesion, Family Well being and Protection and Marriage and Divorce, Parenthood and Parenting research related to families that contributes to the development of evidence-based policies and programs to promote the well-being of families.

Description

In this cycle, application is open to all countries around the world. The proposal must include at least one Key Investigator (KI) from an Arab country (e.g. Lead Principal Investigator or Principal Investigator). Also, at least 60% of the proposed funded research effort and budget must be expended inside Arab countries.

The goal of OSRA is to encourage basic and applied research aimed at developing a knowledge base on Arab families, including comparative and policy oriented research. It aims to (1) support high quality empirical work that advances research on Arab families; (2) provide policymakers with evidence-based research and analysis that encourages the formation and/or modification of family-related policies; (3) develop research capacity on issues related to the Arab family; (4) develop research areas in support of the Qatar National Research Strategy (QNRS).

The grant awards each proposal team up to US $50, 000 for a maximum period of eighteen months. Grants will be made to the most innovative ideas received and selected through a competitive peer review process– and will be divided among the investigators/institutions comprising collaborative teams.

Responsiveness to Challenges

The OSRA research grant will focus on the following four specific research priority areas;

1.Family cohesion:

Family relationships, family resilience;
ageing families; extended families; intergenerational solidarity, division of household; stepfamilies; dual-career families; families with female head of household; work-life reconciliation.

2.Family wellbeing and protection:

Family formation policies, social welfare policies; social protection policies, child care policies, work-family balance policies; child protection policies; domestic violence policies; education policy and families; policies addressing the needs and wellbeing of Arab refugee youth and children; best practices that can inform the development of evidence-based policies that contribute to the well-being of Arab refugee families; social policies for alleviating impact of the blockade of Qatar on families; family protection policies and welfare of vulnerable groups (e.g. women, children, the elderly, and those living with disabilities).

3.Marriage and Divorce:

Patterns of marriage formation;
marriage and immigration; social and individual risk factors associated with divorce; impact of divorce on children /adolescent and youth; divorced mother/fathers, custody of children in divorce, family safety; delayed marriage; never-married women; social aspects of fertility, marital relationships, sustainable happy marriage, single headed mothers/fathers.

4.Parenthood and Parenting:

Parenting styles and practices; parenting and child well-being; father’s involvement; motherhood; fatherhood; delayed parenthood; transition to parenthood; responsible parenting; role of parents in supporting learning; educational implications of parenting on education and learning; parents and special needs; student, schools, and family engagement; parenting within the context of forced migration and resettlement; impact the blockade of Qatar on parenting and parenthood; impact of the blockade of Qatar on education.

5.Behavioral Issues:

Social behavior problems, prevention programs, adolescent and/or childhood behaviors, behavior of children at schools, behavior of the family under blockade, family behavior and the impact of wars and conflicts; impact of poverty and economic stress on families; family behavior with children with disabilities; marginalized/ socially excluded families; parent-child relationship in Arab refugee families and to endeavor to understand the dynamics of the parent/child relationship; issues faced by youth and children within Arab refugee populations.

Eligibility

• Applications from all countries are allowed but each proposal must include at least a Key Investigator (KI) (Lead Principal Investigator (LPI) or Principal Investigator (PI)) from an Arab country.
• The Lead Principal Investigator (LPI) must hold a research oriented doctorate or any of the approved terminal degree, as defined under the approved list of terminal degrees and have at least three peer-reviewed publications relevant to the specific research priority areas.
• In case of collaboration, each individual team within the collaborative team structure must include a Principal Investigator (PI).
• At least 60% of the proposed funded research efforts and budget must be conducted inside the Arab countries.
• Research proposals may be submitted in Arabic or English.

Important Dates

Always openLPI & PI online registration

Noon, Sunday 1 March, 2020 Online proposal submission opens

Noon, Wednesday 17 June, 2020 Online proposal submission closes

Noon, Wednesday 24 June, 2020 Online Research Office Vetting closes

October, 2020Successful proposals notified

July, 2020 Ineligible proposals notifications

How to Apply?

To submit a proposal, please visit the QNRF QGrants webpage.

To download application documents, please visit the QNRF Download Centre.

For specific examples for research topics in each theme, please check the Call for Proposals (CFP).