IFPRI and the National Institute for Agronomic Study and Research Announce Call for Papers on Food Security in DRC

To revisit some of the most pressing issues to have emerged from the 2011 Policy Dialogue on the Importance of Statistical Information Systems in Improving Food Security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the National Institute for Agronomic Study and Research (INERA) are announcing a joint Call for Papers (CFP). IFPRI and INERA call for the development of two papers.

PAPER TOPICS
The two paper topics highlight main discussion points from the Policy Dialogue:
PAPER TOPIC 1 : Using agricultural market information analysis to identifying market bottlenecks pertaining to key staple commodities in the DRC
PAPER TOPIC 2 : Quality and constraints of the information used for the implementation of targeted social safety net programs in the DRC

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.
• Where possible, 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 agricultural markets, market bottleneck, and market information with particular relevance to the DRC situation.
2. Give a clear description of the current state of agricultural market information analysis in the DRC – including data coverage, collection, quality, analysis, and dissemination.
3. Draw on examples from literature that demonstrate so-called “best practices” for identifying market bottlenecks through agricultural market information analysis and discuss how these “lessons learnt” can or cannot have relevance to the context of the DRC. Recommend practical ways for the DRC.
4. Show the constraints, challenges and opportunities that emerge when moving to enhance agricultural market information analysis for the identification of market bottlenecks in the DRC.

• 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 information needs for the implementation of targeted social safety net programs with particular relevance to the DRC situation.
2. Give a clear description of recent experiences in the DRC regarding targeted social safety net programs.
3. Discuss – based on literature – how surrounding sub-Saharan African Countries have addressed information needs for the implementation of targeted social safety net programs to enhance food and nutrition security.
4. Indicate current and potential policy implications for ensuring the collection and analysis of quality information for the implementation of targeted social safety net programs in the DRC and recommend practical ways forward.

SELECTION COMMITTEE
The selection committee will consist of two representatives from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and two representatives from the INERA.

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 the DRC in 2012.