MERC (administered by the Ford Foundation in Cairo)  is pleased to announce the 11th round of research awards and invites proposals from qualified researchers. Deadline for receiving proposals in their final format is 15 November 2011.  While open to all research ideas and topics, the program encourages proposals that apply rigorous social science methodologies and theories particularly in the following areas:

Role of emerging social groups (youth & women) in the new context of democratic transition  -  The future of civic society in the transition context -  Youth and political participation -  Electoral process and Political behavior etc.

Residents of Arab countries are eligible to apply for the awards and to participate in the activities of the program. Residents are persons of any nationality whose current and planned future place of professional practice is in the region. Temporary residence outside the region for purposes of advanced study does not preclude eligibility. Research proposals may include non-residents as co-investigators.

Master students and Ph.D. holders in the early stages of their professional careers are especially encouraged to apply. For exceptionally strong cases, research awards may also be made for Ph.D. dissertation research in the region by students from the region. In the case of projects involving team research, the principal investigator must have a Ph.D. degree.