Research Program on Development Issues

CAF announces opening of Research Program on Development Issues

The Andean Development Corporation (CAF) announced the opening of its Research Program on Development Issues, inviting researchers to submit proposals for research work on topics of interest to the Corporation.

The selected proposals will receive financial support for completion of the work. The final papers will be presented at a local seminar and distributed in academic and research centers in shareholder countries.

CAF Economic Studies Director Miguel Castilla said that the program was intended, although not exclusively, for researchers associated with universities, research institutes, and other public and private institutions in Latin America. The invitation is also extended to assistant professors, researchers, and postgraduate students from CAF shareholder countries who work in institutions in the United States or Europe, and who specialize in issues related to Latin America.

This year’s program focuses on the topic: "Promoting productivity and diversification in Latin America." Proposals will be considered on the following research topics: 1) What factors stimulate diversification of exports and improvements in productivity in Latin America?; 2) What role do natural resources play in a strategy based on exports and increasing productivity?; and 3) Are clusters a viable alternative for diversification of exports in Latin America? Attached please find the terms of reference.

Conditions of the program:

The CAF will grant US$6,000 to the selected proposals. It will also pay the travel (tourist class) and lodging expenses for a seminar to be held in Caracas where the final works will be presented. The CAF reserves the right to publish and distribute the resulting works. The authors, however, are free to publish their works to specialized journals or other publications, or use them to satisfy academic requirements, provided CAF sponsorship is recognized.

The seminars will take place from October 2005. The deadline for receiving the final works is September 30, 2005. Some of the selected works may be presented at the round table at the next LACEA annual meeting.

The proposals must not exceed eight pages and include the following: title; executive summary; objectives and relevance for the region; research methodology; research scheme and timetable; bibliography.

The proposal must be accompanied by a resume and a letter of support from the researcher's institution or, in the case of postgraduate students, their academic adviser.

These requirements must be sent by e-mail to: CAF Research Support Program desarrollo@caf.com, CAF, Caracas, Venezuela. The deadline for receiving applications is February 28, 2005.

The proposals will be evaluated by a jury selected by CAF, whose decision will be based on the quality of the proposal and its relevance for Latin America and the Andean region. The results will be announced on March 31, 2005.

To obtain more information, please contact

Osmel Manzano Email: omanzano@caf.com tel: 0058-212-2092234 and Stefania Scandizzo Email: scandizzo@caf.com tel: 0058-212-2092240.