IFPRI and the Kenya Institute for Public Policy and Research Analysis (KIPPRA) announce a Call for Papers

A Policy Dialogue on Food Security Information Needs in Kenya, co-organized by IFPRI and KIPPRA, was held in Nairobi, Kenya in March of 2011. To revisit some of the more pressing issues to have emerged from this Policy Dialogue, IFPRI and KIPPRA call for the development of two papers. (For access to the Policy Dialogue proceedings report, please contact Jenna Ferguson at J.Ferguson@cgiar.org .)

PAPER TOPICS

The two paper topics highlight main discussion points from the Policy Dialogue:
PAPER TOPIC 1: Transitioning from emergency food security responses to long-term development strategies
PAPER TOPIC 2: Coping with price volatility of relevant commodities for Kenya: policy implications

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Candidates are invited to submit an abstract and will be selected by a committee on the basis of their abstract. Abstracts must not exceed 300 words and are to be submitted via email to J.Ferguson@cgiar.org . The deadline for all abstract submissions is March 10, 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.
• Abstracts pertaining to Paper Topic 1 should demonstrate consideration of the following expectations:
- Thorough knowledge of the current thinking in the literature on how countries can transition from emergencies towards long term development strategies.
- Give a clear description of recent experiences in Kenya regarding food security emergencies as well as the underlying causes.
- Draw on examples from literature that demonstrate so-called “best practices” when moving from emergencies to long term development strategies. Discuss how these “lessons learnt” can or cannot have relevance to the context of Kenya. Recommend practical ways of transitioning for Kenya.
- Show constraints and challenges that are confronted when moving from an emergency food security situation to long term development strategies
• All abstracts pertaining to Paper Topic 2 should demonstrate consideration of the following expectations:
- Thorough knowledge of the current thinking in the literature on the underlying causes of price volatilities and with particular relevance to the Kenyan situation
- Focus especially on the three most relevant commodities for the Kenyan situation.
- Discuss how the Kenyan policies have responded to the price volatilities so far
- Discuss – based on literature – how surrounding East African Countries have been confronted by price volatilities
- Indicate what the current and potential policy implications will be for Kenya and recommend practical ways of reducing or managing price volatility in the country.

SELECTION COMMITTEE

The selection committee will consist of two representatives from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); two representatives from the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA); one representative from Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture.

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 Nairobi in mid-2012.