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Request for Letters of Interest

The African Peacebuilding Network (APN) of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) invites letters of interest from Alumni and current grantees to transform their APN projects or related peacebuilding research into publishable book manuscripts. Applicants are expected to have completed their APN projects by the time of application and show sufficient evidence that work on ongoing book manuscripts—either based on their former APN award or previous peacebuilding-related research—can be completed and submitted to a publisher within four to six months.

About the APN Book Manuscript Completion Competition

The Book Manuscript Completion grants are intended to support researchers and practitioners who are former recipients of an APN grant or fellowship and have completed their APN projects. This award is intended to support dedicated time from work for up to six months to complete or update a book manuscript and finalize it for publication, as either sole or joint authors or editors. To be supported, Alumni must demonstrate that they have sufficiently progressed in writing or editing an ongoing book manuscript, and that they will use the following period to complete the manuscript and prepare it for publication.

This grant is meant to cover costs for the preparation, editing, copyediting, fact-checking, and finalization of manuscripts for publication by reputable publishers including, where relevant, a “buy-out” of teaching responsibilities or other duties. Other possible activities under the grant include residency, as well as affiliation to centers of excellence, for additional library and desk research and engagement with leading experts that will facilitate the completion of said manuscript. The program envisions two kinds of publishable manuscripts: full length monographs or edited volumes on African peacebuilding-related topics and themes. Each awardee will therefore be expected to have completed a final draft at the end of six months, with proven intent of future publication.

This initiative is meant to support APN Alumni as either sole or joint authors or editors in transforming their APN projects or related peacebuilding research into publishable book manuscripts. It also serves as a vehicle for enhancing the quality and visibility of independent African peacebuilding research both regionally and globally, while making the peacebuilding knowledge already gathered from a prior APN grant accessible to key policymakers and research centers of excellence in Africa and around the world. It is expected that recipients will produce and disseminate research-based knowledge that is relevant to, and has a significant impact on, peacebuilding policy and practice on the continent.

For its part, the APN will nominate one member of the program’s Advisory Board to work closely with each awardee and help enhance the quality and visibility of their research. The program will also work towards inserting the awardee’s scholarship into regional and global debates and policies focusing on peacebuilding.

Terms of the Grant

Grants are awarded on a competitive, peer-reviewed basis and are intended to support six months of writing and manuscript completion, from June 1, 2019 to December 1, 2019. Up to two (2) grants of a maximum of USD $10,000 each will be awarded.

It is expected that grantees will complete a manuscript for an edited book or monograph—either as sole authors, editors, or co-editors—by the end of the award period. During this period, grantees are also expected to explore ways to make their work accessible through seminars or other presentations.

Proposals

Applicants should clearly describe their former APN-supported project in the letter of interest and explain the originally expected outputs, particularly the research findings. It will also be useful to show how any previous non-APN research that is relevant to peacebuilding has cumulated into the draft manuscript at the current time of application. Applicants will also be expected to detail their achievements since their original APN-supported project began and accomplishments (both professional and academic) since the completion of the former award.

Applicants will also be required to submit evidence showing how far the book manuscript has progressed and a realistic estimation of the time required to complete the manuscript. Please note that the grant encourages the completion of either an ongoing monograph or an edited book project involving the collation and editing of existing contributions around a topic or regional focus for publication. Preference will be given to applicants who aim to publish new research findings, or updated or additional material related to their APN project. We strongly encourage the inclusion of a brief but realistic budget outline (keeping within the allotted amount for the grant).

Eligibility

Applicants must be Alumni of either the APN’s Individual Research Grant program, the APN’s Collaborative Working Group grant program, or the APN’s Postdoctoral Fellowship program. Individuals who are not APN Alumni or current grantees will not be considered.

Application Process

Applicants must submit a three to five-page letter of interest that addresses the following:

  • The year, project title, and type of APN award received in the past;
  • Type of manuscript intended to be completed (either monograph or edited volume);
  • If edited volume, list of contributors and proposed chapters;
  • Summary of proposed book manuscript, outlining its main arguments;
  • Brief description of chapters;
  • State of manuscript preparation (with supporting evidence);
  • List of intended publisher(s);
  • Expected accomplishments within four to six months;
  • Expected audience for the proposed manuscript, and the project’s potential to contribute to existing knowledge and practice; and,
  • Proposed uses of grant funds with a brief description and budget estimate; if proposing a residency or affiliation, please identify the host institution.

The letter of interest must be written in clear, coherent, and non-technical prose not exceeding three pages and submitted in Portable Document Format (.PDF). The letter should be double-spaced (footnotes and endnotes may be single-spaced, but must be included within the page limit), written in Times New Roman, 11-point font, with one-inch margins on all sides.

Requirements

  • Completed three to five-page letter of interest
  • List of five (5) most recent publications (not necessarily related to applicant’s APN research)
  • Updated CV/résumé of author or editor(s); if edited volume, also include CVs of all contributors;
  • Two (2) letters of reference; and,
  • Proposed project budget.

Materials 1-5 must be submitted through the SSRC’s Online Application Portal (SOAP) no later than 11:59pm (EST) on January 12, 2019.

If you have any questions, please contact APN staff at apn@ssrc.org, or by telephone at (+1) 718-517-3669.

Frequently Asked Questions.

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