Iraq Research Fellowship Programme

The Iraq Research Fellowship Programme (IRFP) is one of a number of complementary activities sitting within the wider ‘Iraq Programme’.  The programme has to date made 12 awards of up to £25,000 following 3 of 5 scheduled 'call for applications' rounds.  Research of direct relevance to Iraq provides the vehicle through which the IRFP seeks to achieve its aims. 

Funding is either awarded as seed-corn to support a scoping/piloting study for a larger piece of research or as funding for smaller distinct pieces of research.

The fourth IRFP 'Call for Applications' Round is pending confirmation of additional funding.  Should you wish to be included on the 'call for applications' circulation list, please contact [email protected]

IRFP Aims

To enhance regional and Iraqi research and teaching capacities; 
To undertake and deliver innovative research outputs of relevance to Iraq’s future;
To nurture lasting international research collaborations; and
To reengage selected Iraqi academics in exile. 

Awards to Date

Round 1 Selected Proposals
‘Use of Molecular Methods for Better Understanding of Tuberculosis in Iraq’
‘Female Iraqi Academics in Post-Invasion Iraq: Roles, Challenges & Capacities’
‘Analytical Study of Curricula of Education in Iraq’
‘Potential use of Trees in Phytoremediation and Phytostabilisation of Heavy Metals in Iraq’

Round 2 Selected Proposals
‘Transfer of Expertise in NMR Spectroscopy from the University of Liverpool to Iraq’
‘Psychosocial Paediatric Training in Iraq: Perspectives of trainers and students’ 
‘Mobile Phone Technologies to Enhance Self-Management & Education for Iraqi Diabetics’
‘Transforming the Learning Environment through Theatre (TLET): Developing a Basra model’

Round 3 Selected Proposals
'Upgrading of Historical Areas in Iraqi Cities: Reviewing the Utility of Space Syntax in Historical Baghdad'
'A comparative study of the genetics of Behcet's disease in Iraq'
'Assessment of the primary healthcare system in Iraq using a multimodal method'
'Design and Synthesis of Wide Band Fractal Antennas for On-body Communications using Method-of-Moments'

Research summary and outputs are available by clicking on each of the above research titles.

A further two rounds are scheduled in 2012 and 2013, subject to funding.     

Selection Criteria

The underlying principle guiding selection of IRFP research proposals is evidence of potential impact on academic development in Iraq and international reengagement of Iraqi academics, so that the research must be relevant to both Iraq and the wider international academic arena.  Please see Applicant Guidance Notes for full details of selection criteria. Guidance Notes (English)  Guidance Notes (Arabic)

All complete research proposals received are subject to independent expert review, and the review shared with the proposal's principle author in line with the programme's capacity building aims.

Research Team Requirement

A prerequisite for research teams is a 4 member core team combining an academic currently in post in universities of international repute, an Iraqi academic in post-2003 exile and two early to mid-career Iraqi lecturers and/or researchers still in post in Iraqi.  Selected teams are encouraged to include additional colleagues in the implementation of the research to help maximise the benefit and impact of the IRFP.

In recognition that the necessary contacts may not exist to allow a submission with all four members of the prerequisite core research team, applications are  accepted where only two members of the core team have been identified. 

CARA Facilitation Role  CARA is able to facilitate the building of the core teams drawing on the CARA UK Universities Network for principle investigators and advisors, and on its database of Iraqi academics for exiled and in-post Iraqi team members.

Governance

The IRFP is guided by two committees, the UK Steering Committee and Middle-East Regional Sub-Committee both made up of international researchers and academics, including Iraqi academics in exile and in post.

The latter is an advisory body bringing a regional perspective and expertise to the table.  The former is responsible for final selection of IRFP-supported research.

Capacity-building and Networking

IRFP Workshops Supporting capacity-building and networking are central to the programme and facilitated through 3 to 5 day workshops hosted in Amman every 4 months.  The first workshop post selection provides an induction to the programme, and is often the first occasion when the core research team members meet (see Research Teams).  Futher workshops are also pending additional funding.

IRFP Collaborations

Faculty members from the following 25 universities (15 UK, 9 Iraqi and 1 Canadian) are directly involved in the IRFP-funded research: Babylon, Baghdad, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad University of Technology, Bangor, Basra, Cambridge, Cardiff, Central Manchester University Hospital, Central School of Speech & Drama, Institute of Education (IOE), Kerbala, Kingston, Kirkuk, Leicester, Liverpool,  London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Loughborough, Mosul, Mustansyriya, North Staffordshire University Hospital, Queen Mary, School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), Sheffield, York/Toronto. 

IRFP Publication

A book to capture the IRFP model and process, and to which 7 of the 12 research teams will each contribute a chapter on their engagement with the IRFP under the co-editorship of Dr Michele Moore and Dr Healther Brunskell-Evans, will be published by SENSE Publishers in 2012, with a Foreword by Professor Adel Sharif.

Supporters

CARA is indebted to all those who have supported the programme whether financially or in-kind.  It is particularly indebted to the IRFP facilitators, the research team Principal Investigators, the committee members and the independent reviewers all of whom have provided their services pro-bono.

Funders The Open Society Institute (OSI) and The Sigrid Rausing Trust (SRT)remain the IRFP's principal funders.

Facilitators Professor Roger Slee, Dr Heather Brunskell-Evans, Professor Kevin McDonald, Dr Michele Moore, as well as Dr Sarah Beazley, Dr Jason Sparks.

Principal Investigators Prof. Nadje Al Ali, Prof. Mike Barer, Dr Tim Corcoran, Prof. Doug Godbold, Dr Jon Iggo, Prof. Robert Istepanian, Prof. Davey Jones, Dr Wendy Pullan, Dr Edward Roberts, Dr John Satherley, Dr Egbert Sondorp, Profesor Roger Slee, Dr Anwar Tappuni, Bruce Wooding.

Advisers Mr Nazar Amso, Dr Mike Pomerantz, Mr Leslie Scarth

Yet others, who have supported the IRFP, are listed under CARA Angels.

Should you have any queries please address them to [email protected]