IFPRI and the Economic and Policy Research Centre Announce Call for Papers on Food Security in Uganda

To revisit some of the most pressing issues to have emerged from the 2011 Policy Dialogue on Food Security Information Systems in Uganda, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Economic and Policy Research Centre (EPRC) are announcing a joint Call for Papers (CFP). IFPRI and EPRC call for the development of two papers.

PAPER TOPICS
The two paper topics highlight main discussion points from the Policy Dialogue:
PAPER TOPIC 1 : Mechanisms to improve information on nutritious food to assure food security in Uganda
PAPER TOPIC 2 : Monitoring price trends along relevant value chains – specifically coffee, maize, and livestock – for improved food security in Uganda

SUBMISSION DETAILS
Candidates are invited to submit an abstract and will be selected by a committee on the basis of their abstract. Abstracts must be in English, must not exceed 300 words, and are to be submitted via email to J.Ferguson@cgiar.org . The deadline for all abstract submissions is June 11, 2012.

SELECTION CRITERIA
Abstracts will be selected according to the following criteria, qualifications and expectation:

• Abstracts must not exceed 300 words. Please note that the paper itself should be no longer than 20 pages in full.
• The first author must have a minimum of a Master’s degree.
• Tools and resources made available on the Food Security Portal should be used to support analyses presented in the paper.
• Abstracts pertaining to Paper Topic 1 should demonstrate consideration of the following expectations:

1. - Thorough knowledge of the current thinking in the literature on mechanisms to improve information on nutritious food to assure food security with particular relevance to the Ugandan situation.
2. Give a clear description of the current state of nutritious food information analysis in Uganda – including information coverage, collection, quality, analysis and dissemination.
3. Draw on examples from literature that demonstrate so-called “best practices” for designing and implementing mechanisms to improve information on nutritious food for enhancing food security and discuss how these “lessons learnt” can or cannot have relevance to the context of Uganda. Recommend practical ways for Uganda.
4. Show the constraints, challenges and opportunities that emerge when moving to improve information on nutritious food in Uganda.

• All abstracts pertaining to Paper Topic 2 should demonstrate consideration of the following expectations:

1. Thorough knowledge of the current thinking in the literature on price trends, value chains and food security with particular relevance to the Ugandan situation,
2. Focus especially on the three most relevant value chains for the Ugandan situation.
3. Indicate current and potential policy implications for Uganda and recommend practical ways of improving food security in the country.

SELECTION COMMITTEE
The selection committee will consist of two representatives from IFPRI and two representatives from EPRC.

SELECTED CANDIDATES
Those who will be awarded the call will be rewarded 3,000 USD each for the development of the papers. These two papers will be presented at a follow-up Policy Dialogue tentatively scheduled to take place in Uganda in 2012.