العربية

AFAN Research Program: Online Application

Application Instructions

To apply for a Research Grant, please read the instructions below and then complete the online application.

The research proposal must relate to the legal environment for civil society (e.g., the rules governing the establishment, operation, or sustainability of civil society organizations (CSOs), CSO-government relations, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, etc.).

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the following factors:

  • Quality of the proposed research project,, including the significance of the issue to be addressed.
  • Past or present experience in civil society law as a lawyer, academic, government official, or NGO leader.

Applicable Countries

This initiative is only open to applicants from Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, Yemen.

Research Fellows’ Obligations

Grantees will be required to enter into a contract with ICNL and provide a commitment to (1) complete the research paper by August 30, 2013; and (2) agree to allow his or her research paper to be posted online and made available through ICNL’s Middle East/North Africa portal.

Online Application


1. Applicant Information


2. Language Proficiency

Please indicate your level of reading and speaking proficiency in each language. Note: English or French language proficiency is not required.

Speaking Proficiency

Reading Proficiency


3. Availability

The project and final report must be completed by August 30, 2013.


4. Proposal

In five pages or less, please describe in detail the following elements of your research project:

  • Your past or present experience on issues relating to the legal framework for civil society;
  • The topics you would like to research. Research projects may take the form of, for example, assessment tools, models for progressive legislation, analyses of restrictive legislation, papers detailing approaches to law reform and techniques for safeguarding civil society against legal threats,  simple-language guidelines on issues like registration, foreign funding, reporting, rights and obligations of organizations, as well as qualitative researches on actual implementation of the law.
  • Your research design/methodology, including the work product you intend to produce through the research;
  • Any conflicts you have that would prevent you from completing your research paper by the deadline.

Note Regarding Research Proposals
The topic proposed must relate to the legal environment for civil society (e.g., the rules governing the establishment, operation, funding, or sustainability of NGOs, NGO-government relations, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, etc.). Illustrative focus areas might include: an analysis of an issue of regional concern; an assessment of your country’s legal framework for civil society and research on the actual implementation; an analysis, from an international perspective, of a draft law affecting civil society; an analysis of how to improve the implementation of legislation affecting civil society, or a paper detailing approaches to law reform and techniques for safeguarding civil society against legal threats; simple language guidelines on the implementation of laws affecting civil society.  This is a non-exhaustive, illustrative list of possible areas of focus.  You are welcome and encouraged to propose other areas of focus relevant to advancing the legal framework for civil society in your country or region.


5. Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae

In five pages or less, provide a resume or CV. Include the applicant’s name, mailing address, email address, and phone number.


6. Certification

Type your full name in the box above. By typing out your name, you certify that you have carefully read the “Research Grant Application Instructions” and will comply with all program requirements should you receive the small grant.