LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM INITIATIVE (LGI) CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Each year LGI selects talented professionals to participate in its one-year multinational fellowship program. Fellows work in small teams under the guidance of a well-respected mentor to produce analytical studies on a given topic. The mentors help build the capacity of the LGI policy analysts and experts. The studies, which are published by LGI, present policy options and alternatives and are geared towards the policy-making community in fellows' respective countries. Once the studies have been published, LGI determines the steps it can take to support the proposed recommendations.

I. The project

The primary goal of the LGI Policy Fellowship program is to support policy research aimed at stimulating innovative and practical policy recommendations related to various areas of governance and the provision of public services. Fellows are encouraged to initiate research and to work on policy conclusions with national and local government officials and advisers. Each year broad topics are identified for candidates from different country groups. LGI is currently calling for Fellows for its 2003/2004 program, which will begin in October 2003 and end in July 2004.

II. Fellowship topics for 2003/4

1. Mapping the Public Policy Process: How Politics and Political Forces Influence Policy

Mentor: Mr. Julius Court, Overseas Development Institute

Fellows researching this topic will produce country case studies that analyze how advocacy groups successfully—or unsuccessfully—influence governmental policies in each country. Fellows will choose from one or two major policy areas to focus on. These can include such areas as social or technical public services in the field of local government, with an emphasis on new legislation, administrative reorganization, and financial reform. Key pieces of information that could be analytically assessed are:

1. Who influences policy-making? Which advocacy groups (businesses, minorities, other interest groups)? Why and when can some interest groups increase their lobbying capacity?
2. How do the various actors influence public policies? How does the political cycle influence policy making?
3. How are key issues put on the policy agenda? How transparent is this process? Are issues put on the agenda in a strategically planned or ad hoc manner?
4. Which levels of government make the critical decisions?
5. What are the means of communication between political lobbyists and policy makers?
6. How are policy implementation tools and methods designed?
7. Is there any post evaluation or feedback on policy actions?

Target fellows:

1. Policy researchers
2. Members of advocacy-oriented professional associations
3. Government officials

Preference will be given to candidates from South Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia/Mongolia.

2. How can NGOs be funded in post-donor environments?

Mentor: Dr. Katalin Koncz, Executive Director, Open Society Institute - Budapest

Research under this topic will lead to creative policy alternatives regarding the ways in which NGOs can and should best operate in precarious funding situations.. The output will be case studies on NGO sustainability in reduced/post donor environments. The studies will be of particular interest to NGOs, donors and governments that are operating in regions with shifting priorities and insecure sources of funding.

Different types of NGOs can be the focus of this study: community based, grass-roots organizations; charity and philanthropic (not-for-profit) organizations delivering public services; advocacy, watchdog and lobbying groups; churches, etc. Analysis may focus on: (1) "de facto" not-for-profit organizations, which for a variety of reasons are registered as private sector entities and usually undertake a combination of activities some of which generate a profit (usually working commissioned by the private sector), and some of which do not (usually working for local governments and civil society organizations), and some which are funded by a variety of grants; and (2) of "twin" organizations -- one registered as private sector and one as NGO -- which allow the same group of professionals/activist to be involved in activities funded in different ways, especially to implement activities funded by grants (several grant-giving organizations cannot give grants to private sector entities and require proof of registration as NGOs.)

Some of the key questions and issues that should be highlighted and elaborated are:

1. In post/reduced donor environments what are the ways in which NGOs can sustain themselves and what are the implications of their various transformation options?
2. What are the most appropriate and effective ways to support NGOs?
3. What role should voluntary contributions (charities, philanthropies, in-kind work) play?
4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of government actions in sustaining NGOs (i.e. alternative tax incentives, regulatory and audit functions, national negotiation forums, boards)?
5. What is the result when NGOs transform themselves from grass roots entities into private-sector entities in order to survive? Can/should a grass-roots culture of NGOs be maintained?

Target fellows

1. Members of prominent NGOs
2. Government officials dealing with civil society

Preference will be given to candidates from Central Eastern Europe and South Eastern Europe.

III. Methods and procedures

Grant

LGI will award successful applicants with a stipend for a period of 10 months between October 2003 and July 2004. The stipend will cover monthly expenses related to research and travel costs.

Eligibility

Ideal applicants are governmental officials, civil servants, members of advocacy groups or professional associations, policy researchers and policy advisers. A graduate degree or equivalent is required. Applicants should be citizens of CEE, SEE, or NIS countries. As a rule, Fellows will be based in their home countries and will be required to attend two to three international fellowship workshops. Fellows are expected to continue with their current employment, spending only up to fifty percent of their time on the fellowship program.

Methodology

LGI will group Fellows into teams of 5-7 members each, each of which will be led by an expert mentor. Mentors will advise and supervise Fellows in the course of the implementation of their research projects. Mentors will also facilitate professional cooperation and communication between members of the team. Fellows are encouraged to support each other’s work with their expertise and comments within their teams. LGI encourages teams of fellows to develop joint or comparable research agendas.

Expected outcomes/ products

Fellows are expected to conduct quality research according to the mutually accepted research protocol. As a final product, Fellows will submit a research report that is an informative policy document. It will be based on recent theoretical literature and policy research findings, and will include policy recommendations. Teams are expected to submit a joint report concluding their comparative results. LGI will publish the best reports and will seek ways to work with Fellows in the future on implementing some of their proposed policy recommendations.

Application procedure

Step 1. Submission of the Application:

Applications must include ALL of the following materials:

1. Statement of interest (1 page maximum)
2. Research proposal (1,500 words maximum) including a well-defined research problem, topic justification, research methodology, and expected outcomes of the research.
3. Writing sample (English-language article published in a relevant periodical, chapter of a book, etc)
4. Professional CV (which includes: full name, gender, contact address, residency)
5. The name and contact information of two people familiar with the professional capacities of the applicant.

The deadline for submitting applications is June 30, 2003.

Late applications will not be considered.

Step 2. Review and selection:

Each incoming application will be registered by LGI upon reception. LGI will check each submission to ensure that it meets the formal criteria and quality. LGI will assign the submission a registration number that will be used for further reference. Submissions will be reviewed by LGI (see timetable below). LGI may contact the applicants to verify or request further information relevant to the Fellowship.

Criteria for Evaluation: proposals must respond to domestic needs, be policy-oriented, focused, creative, and theory-based but practice-oriented

Step 3. Feedback

All applicants will be notified by LGI of their status by July 31, 2003.

Step 4. Fellowship program

June 30, 2003 Deadline for submitting applications

July 31, 2003 Selection, notification

September - October, 2003 Selected fellows will sign contracts with LGI

October 1, 2003 Fellowship program begins, Fellows initiate their research and prepare their detailed research plan

Oct/Nov, 2003 Budapest Workshop

Teams will discuss each individual research plan and will accept a common TOR for a team report

February 20, 2004 Deadline for first drafts

March 1-31, 2004 "Virtual Workshop"

Mentors and members of each team discuss and comment on each other’s first drafts through e-mail.

During the Virtual Workshop period fellows and mentors

• discuss methodological issues
• develop further conceptual issues
• finalize the comparative framework

April 2004 Summary of "virtual workshops": preliminary team reports, evaluation of fellows progress and participation in the “virtual workshop”

May 30, 2004 Deadline for full drafts of fellowship projects

June 30, 2004 Review of final drafts

July 31, 2004 Delivery of full fellowship outcome and team reports

Oct/Nov 2004 LGI Fellowship closing conference in Budapest

*Note: dates may be subject to minor changes.

Step 5. Follow-up

Alumni-fellows are invited to participate in various LGI initiatives including curriculum development, technical assistance, consultancy work and LGI publications.

Alumni-Fellows are expected to assist new Fellows with comments and guidance in their research as well as helping to connect institutions to LGI.

Applications should be submitted to:

Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative: lgprog@osi.hu
Please write "LGI Policy Fellowship 2003" in the subject line.
Contact Person: Angela Radosits: aradosits@osi.hu
Project Manager: Scott Abrams: ascott@osieurope.org
Website: http://lgi.osi.hu/index.html