FAQs & Glossary

Detailed Information, and Specific Advice to Answer Your Questions on the Application

FAQs

1. Can applications be led by Principal Investigators (PIs) from non-Academic organisations, such as NGOs?

Yes. The PI can be based in an academic or non-academic institution (as long as proposals are research-focused and include contributions from research-focused partners). Non-academic organisations should provide evidence of their capacity to lead and deliver research projects and attention should be given to issues such as support for the career development of researchers involved in the project and access to appropriate support facilities (e.g. for data management) and advice (e.g. on research ethics, safety etc.).

2. Does our organization need to be a recognised legal entity to apply?

Lead Organisations are normally expected to be legally registered entities. This is important for eligibility. Each Lead organisation will be asked to complete a due diligence questionnaire (see template in the application form), in accordance with funders’ terms and conditions. The Due Diligence questionnaire is about organisational governance (including processes and procedures) and it is carried out for the purposes of risk management and compliance.

3. How can we bring creative and arts-based approaches into our projects?

Applicants can deploy creative/arts-based approaches within their project. This can be implemented at different stages. For instance, data-gathering might include arts-based and creative methods (e.g. photo-elicitation, writing workshop, forum theatre, painting etc.) with project participants to generate other kinds of data than what is accessible through more traditional qualitative and quantitative research methods. Another way of incorporating creative and arts-based approaches lies in crafting more creative outputs (e.g. films, poetry etc.) and dissemination strategies (e.g. public exhibition). Creative/arts-based approaches might entail collaboration with other kinds of actors such as curators, artists, cultural organisations, artists’ collectives etc.

4. What kinds of outputs and dissemination strategies are you looking for?

The project research findings should be used to generate outputs including creative outputs (e.g. exhibitions), and textual outputs (articles, policy briefs). A plan should be in place to achieve each kind of output and a clear impact plan should be in place. Questions to keep in mind include who might benefit from the research and how might they benefit? How will you engage with the potential beneficiaries?

MADAR’s definition of impact is as follows: a demonstrable and robust (i.e. lasting) contribution to society. In the context of this call, the proposal’s contribution should focus on the protection risks associated with displacement and conflict in the Maghreb. We do not expect predictions from applicants but rather steps that might lead to impact.

You should outline the potential benefits of the proposed project on individuals, organisations and nations. Benefits might include increasing the effectiveness of public services and policy and enhancing quality of life.

5. How do we fill out the data management section?

This section should outline the project’s approach to managing data. Further guidance on data management plans can be found here: https://www.ukri.org/manage-your-award/publishing-your-research-findings/making-your-research-data-open/

6. How do I fill out the due diligence forms?

The due diligence process is about identifying risks to the delivery of the research project and finding ways to mitigate those risks – it is rarely about whether Keele should work with a partner or not.

This due diligence questionnaire is designed to collect the required information for Keele University to conduct its due diligence process in accordance with funders’ terms and conditions. The process has several stages, which do not need to be completed all at the same time.

For your application to the MADAR Small and Large Grants funding call, you only have to fill out Stage 1 of the Due Diligence form. It is also important to look at the example Stage 2 of Keele’s due diligence questionnaire provided in the due diligence document, so that your organisation is aware of the due diligence questions that we may need you to answer if your application is successful.

Your organisation may not be able to answer all the questions, for instance, if you do not have particular policies in place or if a question is not relevant for the project you are working on. If you cannot answer a question, please leave a brief note explaining why it is not applicable. If you have any queries, please contact research.global@keele.ac.uk and a member of the Research and Innovation Support team will be able to help.

7. Can I apply for a small grant and a large grant application?/ Can I submit more than one project proposal?

The same individual cannot submit two projects (whether it’s for a large or small grant) as a PI, but for instance can apply to and submit two separate projects as PI and Co-I respectively. This is the case also for individuals who are affiliated to two different institutions; for example, they can apply as a PI for a project through one institution/organisation and as a Co-I or researcher for a project submitted by another institution/organisation.

8. Which countries are eligible for funding?

The Lead Organisation must be based in either Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, or the UK. If the Lead Organisation is based in the UK, the project must involve Co-Investigators and/or Project Partners from the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list countries.

Co-Investigators or Project Partners can also be from other countries.

9. What are the requirements for the letters of support?

The letter of support should provide the following information:

• confirming that the organisation supports the application
• confirming the organisation is aware of and agrees to their role in the project

It should be on headed paper and signed by someone with the appropriate level of authority of the organisation; the letter might outline how this project will benefit them and what added value they will bring.

10. Can we apply for funding for an ongoing project?

The funding must be for new projects. If your application builds on an existing research project, please explain how this project differs from the previous work and be sure to include the specific aims and objectives of your new proposed research.

11. When will the grant holders training and networking workshop take place?

The date will be confirmed once awardees and the projects are in place, but is likely to be in early 2023.

12. What is a KEI event?

Knowledge exchange and impact (KEI) refers to all activities which enable non-academic audiences to engage with your research; these may include partners, participants, collaborators, audiences and research users. KEI enables a mutual process where academic ideas are shared, and external insights and experiences are brought into academia.

The MADAR KEI forum will bring together MADAR Co-Applicants, Project Partners, members of the MADAR Advisory Board, selected MADAR grant holders, and in-country policy makers from across the Maghreb. The KEI forum will provide an opportunity to reflect on best practices for collaboration between researchers and practitioners focusing on displacement and protection challenges across the Maghreb region, showcase MADAR commissioned projects, and launch MADAR’s Handbook, Policy Briefs, and Exhibition.

13. What does DAC mean?

Development Assistance Committee (DAC), which is part of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

14. What does LMIC mean?

Low and Middle Income Countries. This is the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) list of countries with low-income or middle-income economies.

15. How do I fill out the ODA compliance section?

MADAR is funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), which is part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance. Projects funded through MADAR must therefore demonstrate how they will contribute to the economic development and welfare of developing countries.

Please make sure to answer each of the four questions in the application form:

• Which country/countries on the DAC list will directly benefit from this proposal?
• How is your proposal directly and primarily relevant to the development challenges of these countries?
• How do you expect that the outcome of your proposed activities will promote the economic development and welfare of a country or countries on the DAC list?
• What approach(es) will you use to deliver development impact within the lifetime of the project and in the longer-term? Please consider the potential outcomes, the key beneficiary and stakeholder groups in the DAC list country/ countries and how they will be engaged to ensure opportunities for them to benefit and enable development impact to be achieved.
  

16. Can an NGO from a central Maghreb country apply as a lead alongside others from elsewhere in the region, when none of the co-applicants is a member of the MADAR Network.

Yes they can. It is important that the lead organisation meets the eligibility criteria and that the project is research focused on the themes/priorities of MADAR.

17. Does the call for projects finance businesses? Can the project be carried by non-governmental organizations/institutions and submit it as a project cycle development specialist?

Projects can be carried out by non-research organisations as long as these organisations can demonstrate their capacity to carry out a project where research is an important criterion through collaborations with researchers and being based in one of the countries concerned.

18. On which terms does the fund award small or large grants?

Large and small grants are for different budgets, duration and objectives. For example, in the large grants, there is the possibility for projects to focus on research areas that are cross-border, Trans Maghreb and that include countries outside the central Maghreb (Libya and Mauritania). For small grants, you are asked to set up a project that focuses on one country in terms of fields of action. This choice is subject to the applicant's objectives.

19. Who manages the funding once it is awarded?

The research coordinator and the lead organisation where the funds will be transferred will be the project coordinator with exchanges with Keele University which is the organisation that will pay for the funds.

20. I am a researcher affiliated to an institution, can I apply as a principal investigator?

Yes! but you need the support of the institution that will receive the funds and to which you are affiliated.

21. Can the funds be transferred to another account domiciled in Europe, obviously in the name of the entity submitting the project, which is based in Algeria, Morocco or Tunisia?

Yes it is possible to do so, as long as the organisation/institution’s remit and scope of activities is based in these countries. What matters is that they are based in Algeria, Morocco or Tunisia and their remit in in any of these countries; the location of their registration and/or bank account is not relevant.

22. Is there a minimum number of researchers and partners for the applicant?

There is not a minimum/maximum number. The team’s composition should be adequate to the project’s aims and objectives with clear roles and responsibilities commensurate to the project’s scale and teams members’ experience and track record.

Glossary