| Title |
Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) |
URL for more info |
http:=
//www.usaid.gov/locations/middle_east/countries/omep/ |
| Sponsor |
United States Agency for International =
Development=20
(USAID)
|
Sponsor Type |
Federal, U.S. |
| Upper Amount |
$1,000,000 |
Amount Note |
Funds may be provided for grants of up to $1 million and =
up to=20
five years in length, although proposals of more modest size =
are=20
strongly encouraged and are usually more competitive. =
|
| Deadline |
Dec 15, 2009
|
Deadline Note |
Anticipated deadline. A deadline for the =
next=20
cycle has not been confirmed. The record will be updated =
when new=20
program information becomes available. |
| Activity Location |
Middle East
|
Citizenship or Residency |
Middle East
United States
|
|
| Requirements |
Academic Institution
Commercial =
Nonprofit=20
Ph.D./M.D./Other Professional
Small Business =
|
| Abstracts |
USAID's MERC Program =
funds=20
peer-reviewed collaborative research projects between Israel =
and its=20
Arab neighbors. Established as a result of the Camp David =
Peace=20
Accords to promote Arab-Israeli cooperation, MERC has =
expanded=20
beyond its original participants, Egypt and Israel, to =
include many=20
countries throughout the region. To date, the program has =
also=20
funded Arab-Israeli projects with participation from Jordan, =
Morocco, West Bank/Gaza, Lebanon, and Tunisia. During 2007, =
MERC=20
supported nearly 40 active =
Arab-Israeli=20
projects in a wide range of topics. The dual goals of the =
MERC=20
Program are
1. to contribute to development and the =
quality of=20
life in the Middle East region through the application of =
research=20
and technology, and
2. to contribute to Arab-Israeli =
cooperation=20
by establishing strong working relationships that last =
beyond the=20
life of the project.
USAID-MERC funds cooperative =
technical=20
projects in a wide variety of areas, including but not =
limited to=20
agriculture, health, environment and engineering. Awards are =
based=20
on technical merit and the contribution to cooperation and=20
development in the region. In this regard, genuine =
Arab-Israeli=20
partnerships and regional significance are key elements of =
all=20
successful MERC projects.
MERC projects are not =
restricted=20
to a particular technical sector. The program seeks applied =
research=20
and technology development proposals within the broad areas =
of the=20
natural and physical sciences and engineering. Investigators =
are=20
also encouraged to integrate social science approaches, =
economics=20
and the use of computer technology into the research where=20
appropriate. However, it is not considered appropriate or =
innovative=20
to include sophisticated methodologies when they do not =
address the=20
overall development goals of the project. The program aims =
to=20
promote researcher-initiated ideas, and thus, USAID does not =
assist=20
in proposal development.
Ideally, MERC projects =
should apply=20
research and technology to regional problems rather than =
issues of=20
strictly local or even global concern. Examples of the types =
of=20
development impacts MERC aims to achieve include, but are =
not=20
limited to, economic growth that increases incomes of the=20
disadvantaged, improved environmental management, increased =
food=20
production, water conservation and efficient use, and =
reduction of=20
the burden of disease through better treatments or =
health-management=20
strategies. more..=20
|
| Eligibility |
Only proposals =
developed=20
jointly by Arab and Israeli investigators are accepted. =
Projects=20
must include at least one Israeli and one Arab institutional =
partner. Projects involving three or more regional partners =
are also=20
allowed. A proposal may be submitted by any party in the=20
collaboration. Partners may come from academic, private =
sector,=20
non-governmental, or governmental institutions.
The =
only=20
non-regional partners allowed are U.S. institutions, =
although U.S.=20
participation is not encouraged. If an=20
American partner is included, their role in the project =
should be=20
limited to providing technical assistance and must be =
justified as=20
providing an essential technical contribution unavailable in =
the=20
Middle East. The use of any U.S. institution to lead or =
administer=20
the overall project is very strongly discouraged, and is =
strictly=20
prohibited in the case of U.S. Government agencies. The =
major focus=20
of the MERC Program is on fostering direct cooperation among =
Middle=20
Eastern individuals and institutions.
MERC strongly=20
encourages women, minorities, and persons with disabilities =
to=20
participate fully in its competitive program. No person will =
be=20
excluded from participation on the basis of race, color, =
age, sex,=20
national origin (as distinct from current nationality), or=20
disability. more..=20
|
| COS Keywords |
Energy Sciences
Engineering
Health and =
Medicine
Middle East
Natural and Physical Sciences,=20
Mathematics and Technology
|
| Funding Type |
Collaboration or Cooperative Agreement =
Research=20
|
| Sponsor Contact Info |
=20
|
| Bookmark Url |
http://fund=
ingopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=3D51328 |
|
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