Georgian Institute of Politics (GIP) in cooperation with the Heinrich Boell Foundation Tbilisi Office – South Caucasus Region is launching the second cycle of the call for the proposals for the policy briefs/memos that address the geopolitical shifts in the region and their consequences for the South Caucasus (SC) states and the EU. The call is announced under the project “Analyzing Geopolitical Shifts in the South Caucasus,” which aims to encourage young researchers from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to further develop their policy-relevant analytical, research, and writing skills and networks.
In the framework of the project, the organizers are pleased to announce a call for two young researchers from Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan – overall six young fellows from the South Caucasus region. The candidates will be requested to submit a pitch for a policy brief or memo, which should analyze:
- Conflicts and (human/national) security in the region
- Energy and security
- War in Ukraine and its implications on the South Caucasus region
- The SC states as transit countries
- The role of regional actors, such as Turkey, Russia, and Iran
- Domestic debates on geopolitics/security in the region
- The EU policies in the SC and EaP states
- Relations between the EU and South Caucasus states
- Feminist perspectives on peace and security in the region
Researchers are free to offer topics of their choice which are not listed above. However, it is important to stay close to the mainline of interest – the question of geopolitical changes in the SC region and their consequences for the SC states and the EU.
All six selected researchers from Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan will take part in a series of kick-off online workshops and a 5-day long summer academy in Georgia. The drafting process of the policy briefs/memos, written in English, will be supervised by the GIP and the Heinrich Boell Foundation Tbilisi Office. Their length is limited to 2,000-2,500 words. The final publications will be presented to policy makers as well as representatives of academia, civil society, and the general public.
Eligibility and selection criteria for the young researchers:
- MA degree in political science, international relations, or other social science disciplines. Ph.D. students or Ph.D. degree holders from Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan will be given priority
- Age – up to 35
- Fluency in English
- Excellent writing and analytical skills as well as critical thinking
- Good verbal communication skills
- Interest and background knowledge on SC regional politics and preferably previous related publications
- Commitment to take part in the kick-off and follow-up workshops, summer academy, and the online presentation of the policy briefs
- Readiness to receive constructive critical feedback, to engage in discussions and to revise the paper accordingly
Submission – interested candidates should send:
- CV
- Abstract for policy briefs/memos – filled in the form, please download >>
- One sample of an article that you previously published on a related topic
The documents should be submitted only in English by email to Salome Kandelaki at [email protected], the latest by March 16, 2022.
Each selected researcher will receive an honorarium of 1,150 GEL (NET, excluding taxes) throughout the project.
Timeframe:
- March 16, 2022: Deadline to submit CVs and abstracts
- March 21-27, 2022: Interviews with shortlisted candidates
- April 7, 2022: Selected candidates are informed about the decision
- April 15, 2022: Kick-off online workshop for the selected young researcher
- June 2022: Summer academy for the selected young researcher
- Early October 2022: Publishing the policy briefs/memo
- October-November 2022: Presenting the policy briefs/memo
- December 2022: Advocacy meeting with the decision-makers
