Opportunity for a bi-communal team of Cypriot researchers
In 2016, NI-CO (Northern Ireland Co-operation Overseas) is offering a unique opportunity for a bi-communal team of Cypriot researchers to visit Northern Ireland to evaluate the delivery and impact of EU Peace funding and to derive lessons for Cyprus’s reconciliation work and use of international funding mechanisms.
Northern Ireland Co-operation Overseas
A unique opportunity to study the impact of EU post-conflict funding from the experiences in Northern Ireland
10 April marks the 18th anniversary of the Good Friday Peace Agreement, In 1998, which brought an end to decades of conflict in Northern Ireland and established new governmental arrangements. That year (1998) the EU granted Northern Ireland €707 million in Peace and Reconciliation programme funding to ‘help Northern Ireland become a peaceful and stable society’. Projects were expected to promote reconciliation and mutual understanding between estranged communities.
In 2016, Cyprus also faces an historic opportunity to end decades of division and bring its communities together under new governmental arrangements. NI-CO (Northern Ireland Co-operation Overseas) is offering a unique opportunity for a bi-communal team of Cypriot researchers to visit Northern Ireland to evaluate the delivery and impact of the EU funding Northern Ireland received and to derive lessons for Cyprus’s reconciliation work and use of international funding mechanisms.
The bursary covers travel, accommodation, expenses and transport in Northern Ireland up to a value of €13,000 for a team of two researchers representing both Cypriot communities. NI-CO will facilitate all necessary access to contacts and institutions for the research.
The research team will develop a professional document which critically assesses the performance of the Peace and Reconciliation Programme in both structure and delivery, and considers its suitability for Cyprus in a post-settlement situation.
Participants should be involved in and have senior experience of either civil society, central or local government or be engaged in complementary research at an academic institute. In all cases, the selected team will require the confidence and support of the local political leadership to carry out the research.
The full Guidelines for Applicants are available for consultation at www.nico.org.uk/bursary . The deadline for submission of proposals is 29th April 2016.
NI-CO is a not for profit, public body dedicated to the pursuit of building efficient, accountable and sustainable public sector institutions capable of managing donor aid effectively and implementing positive change. NI-CO has worked in countries across the world.