MENA Program Call for Applications – January 20, 2019 Deadline

Promotion of think-tank work socio-economic reforms and Jordan’s foreign policy

As part of its project on promoting think-tank work in the Middle East and North Africa, including Jordan, the MENA program of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) aims to strengthen the scholarly and technical capacities of actors from both regional and EU civil society who are engaged in research, policy analysis, and advising.

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The project’s objectives are:

  • to analyze pressing issues and developments in selected countries and the region as a whole;
  • to provide training to develop new and enhance existing policy analyses and advice capacities;
  • to network with peers, political decision-makers, and senior experts to exchange experiences and increase visibility and credibility.

Jordan: Target Group and Thematic Focus

Invited to apply are mid-level professionals from Jordan and Europe who work in the field of policy analysis and advice in think tanks, academic research institutions, or comparable organizations. The subject focus should be on socio-economic reforms in Jordan as well as Jordan’s foreign policy, domains decisive for the country’s stability. This can include but is not limited to questions regarding youth unemployment, women’s integration into the labor market, income taxation as well as the country’s stance on the Palestine-Israel conflict, the crisis in Syria and its relations to the Gulf monarchies or Morocco. Applicants must have a background relevant to these topics and should demonstrate in their application how participation would benefit their professional activities.

Expectations

Applicants commit to participate in two workshops, one in Berlin (April 11–14, 2019) and one in Amman (June 13 –15, 2019).

Between the two workshops, each participant will write a policy paper (in English) on an issue of their choice related either to socio-economic reforms in Jordan or Jordan’s foreign policy (approximately 17,000–20,000 characters).

Selected applicants must submit a first draft (approximately 9,000–12,000 characters) at the latest three weeks before the first workshop in Berlin.

Participants will receive guidance and feedback on their papers during the workshops and the main writing phase between mid-April 2019 and late May 2019.

The final draft must be submitted before the second workshop in Amman, during which all papers will be presented to the group and a selection of papers will be discussed with relevant Jordanian and European decision makers and senior experts. The DGAP may publish high-quality papers online.

Travel Costs and Accommodation

The organizers cover accommodation and provide for travel subsidies based on the participants’ country of residence.

Berlin workshop: Participants travelling from Jordan may receive a subsidy of up to 650 euros; participants travelling from the EU, may receive a subsidy of up to 200 euros.

Amman workshop: participants residing in Jordan are eligible for a subsidy of up to 50 euros; participants travelling from the EU may receive a subsidy of up to 650 euros.

Travel expenses will be reimbursed separately after each workshop.

Workshop in Berlin: April 11–14, 2019

  • Two days of topic analysis and discussion with external experts and presentation of first drafts
  • Two days of training on policy-paper writing and research

Workshop in Amman: June 13–15, 2019

  • Presentation of final papers to the group and relevant decision makers
  • One day of training on policy advocacy and communication

The working language is English. Participation in both workshops and submission of a final paper are mandatory.

How to apply

Applications must include:

  • completed application form
  • CV (max. three pages)
  • letter of motivation

Please send your application to kabis@dgap.org. An application form is available for download below this entry. Kindly note that only complete applications in English can be considered. The deadline for applications is January 20, 2019.

The project is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.