The SCALE Award is now collecting research proposals from implementing partners funded by the USAID Office of Food for Peace (FFP), with the aim of building the evidence base for interventions at the intersection of agriculture and the management of water resources. Below are some quick facts about this request, along with links to documents with more details.

What is the objective of this research initiative?
The objective of SCALE’s Evidence of Impact Technical Support is to enable food security implementing organizations to build the evidence base for practices and approaches that have the potential to enhance the impact, sustainability and scalability of FFP-funded emergency or development activities related to agriculture, natural resource management (NRM) and off‐farm livelihoods.

What kind of research project will be funded?
This request for research proposals focuses on interventions at the intersection of agriculture and the management of water resources. Illustrative Evidence of Impact studies might include for example a comparison study, a piloting of a strategy, an evaluation, or other research approaches. For examples of research subject areas, please see the full description here.

How much funding is available?
SCALE plans to cover the costs of research support (up to $50,000) for one Evidence of Impact study under this call.

What is the funding for?
This research support can include technical guidance from a research consultant or institution that can assist the successful applicant with research design, data collection, tool development and/or analysis. Such support may be remote, in-country or a combination of both, depending on award needs. The final funding level will depend on context, relevance, quality, needs, availability of funding and competing priorities. Note: No direct funding will be awarded to the successful applicant, SCALE will cover the costs of the consultant and/or research organization with the skills necessary to assist with conducting the chosen study. See full description for details.

Who can apply?
Applicants must be organizations that are currently implementing a development or emergency activity funded by USAID/FFP.

When is the deadline for applications?
This request for proposals is open from the date of issue and will close at 11:59 pm ET on 13 May 2019.

For more details about this request for research proposals, please refer to the following documents:

SCALE Evidence of Impact Technical Support: Request for Research Proposals

Attachment A: Technical Proposal Requirements

Attachment B: Budget Requirements

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Strengthening Capacity in Agriculture, Livelihoods and Environment (SCALE) is a USAID/Food for Peace (FFP)-funded capacity strengthening, applied research and knowledge sharing initiative. Implemented by Mercy Corps in collaboration with Save the Children, SCALE works to strengthen the impact, sustainability and scalability of FFP-funded agriculture, natural resource management, and off-farm livelihood activities in both emergency and development contexts.