Call for Applications
Research Fellowships on Good Governance, Regional Dialogue and Non-traditional Security Challenges

1. Introduction and Background

Education is a vital component of the overall political, economic and social ecosystem of any democracy. Research is needed for democratic education so that society can participate in decision-making processes with as much knowledge as possible. This research also analyzes and answers questions of national importance and assists policy makers in light of changing local, national and global dynamics.

Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) Pakistan strives to add further value to an already vibrant and innovative academic research culture in Pakistan by supporting the country’s young and forthcoming researchers and exposing them to international academic practices and debates.

In this regard, HSF Pakistan is collaborating with its multiple partner universities on small scale research fellowship projects for academically outstanding students. Through this project, HSF and its academic partners aim to support young researchers by providing them with much-needed support in relevant academic fields. Aside from financial support, these young scholars are also mentored through HSF’s widespread academic network to produce high quality publishable papers and discuss them with relevant national and international stakeholders.

2. Fellowship Details

The selected students will be supervised by the respective faculty members of HSF’s Partner Universities to conduct original research on the topics selected by them and approved by the respective university focal person(s) in coordination with HSF.

The research fellowship includes a monthly stipend for the duration of the project against the submission of deliverables and progress reports. The selected research papers shall also be presented at thematic conferences and symposia later.

The produced papers will be published in academic peer-reviewed journals and/or edited volumes to ensure the broader dissemination of the research findings. Necessary support for the publication, e.g. copy-editing or proof-reading, will also be provided to the selected authors.

All grant holders under this fellowship activity will become part of the HSF Fellows network and have access to a nationwide network of political and academic partners along with professional and continued educational opportunities.

Participating Universities

• National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad (Non-Traditional Security Challenges)
• University of Karachi (Regional Dialogue)
• University of Peshawar (Regional Dialogue)
• Islamia University of Bahawalpur (Good Governance)
• Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad (Non-Traditional Security Challenges, Good Governance & Regional Dialogue)
• Institute of Business Administration, Karachi (Non-Traditional Security Challenges & Good Governance)

3. Research Themes and Suggested Research Topics

A. Good Governance

• Fiscal, administrative and political devolution
• Fiscal devolution: emergence, dimensions, and repercussions
• Local government system: institutional structures and processes
• Inter-governmental institutional framework & relations
• Effectiveness and efficiency of the Council of Common Interests
• Inter-Provincial Coordination and Cooperation
• Management of devolved subjects (post-18th Constitutional Amendment)
• Responsiveness of institutions in term of governance
• Bridging the gaps for Good Governance
• And other related research topics on fiscal governance and democratic devolution

B. Regional Dialogue

• Challenges of dialogue in South Asia and their solutions
• Avenues of cooperation in South Asia
• Conflict resolution and peace building in the Pakistan-Afghanistan region
• Migration, diaspora, refugees, and internally displaced persons
• Borders and transnational mobility
• Trade, growth and regional peace
• And other related research topics on challenges of dialogue in South Asia and their solutions

C. Non-traditional Security Challenges

• Food security and the question of access versus unavailability
• Health security and the emphasis on flexible state crisis management regimes post-COVID-19
• Climate change and the need for transboundary security management systems
• Institutional harmonization in the context of Non-traditional Security
• Cybersecurity and/or the role of social media in conflict management
• Water and energy security
• National Security Policy design post-COVID-19
• Development theory and the normative challenge of securing “human“ security
• And other related research topics on Non-traditional Security Challenges and their need for action

4. Eligibility Criteria

1. Applicants must be enrolled as students (PhD, Mphil, MS or BS final year) at one of the above-mentioned HSF partner universities for the entire period of the project year (i.e., until 31 December 2022).
2. The applicants may not take on any other work contracts for the entire funding period unless approved by their academic supervisor(s) and HSF.
3. The applicants may not receive any other full scholarship grant for the entire funding period unless approved by their academic supervisor(s) and HSF.

Scholarship holders are expected to further fulfill the following criteria:

1. be proficient in the use of the English language and academic writing
2. demonstrate commitment to conduct their research in the given timeframe
3. maintain good work ethic and keep the relevant supervisor(s) updated
4. submit the required progress reports on time
5. maintain regular attendance in project-related workshops, research methodology training and lecture series (identified by the supervisor)
6. submit a publishable paper by 31 October 2022

5. Timeline and Deliverables

6. Application Procedure:

The proposed research projects must remain within the framework of the focus area(s), theme(s) and topic(s) listed above.

Interested students are requested to submit the following documents as one (1) single pdf file to islamabad(at)hss.de

And also to the participating universities.

1. A short CV with contact details and the student’s grade point average (no longer than one page, Times New Roman 12-pt font)
2. An abstract of the research proposal (no more than 1,000 words; Times New Roman 12-pt font), which outlines the following:  
   1. the research topic, its focus, and relevance
   2. at least one central research question
   3. the intended theoretical and methodological approach

Application Deadline: April 15, 2022