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Criteria for the Selection of Projects

This section deals with the eligibility and selection criteria of projects and project teams.

A minimum funding package of SFr 1.6 million will be available in 2006 for projects approved within this programme. A maximum of SFr 300,000 is allotted per project. Funding is conditional upon the project team demonstrating its ability to guarantee substantial participation in the overall cost of the project.

In order to be accepted, projects submitted to the GIAN must satisfy the criteria of high academic standards, practical application and financial viability. Each project will, in principle, be overseen by one of the Network's three founding academic institutions or another institution that will guarantee its academic quality. Each project must be undertaken in partnership with an international organisation.

1. Eligibility:

Each project team must include one or several representatives of at least one of the GIAN's founding institutions (University of Geneva, GIIS or GIDS) and of at least one international organisation with a representative in Geneva that has approved participation in the project. The GIAN encourages in particular projects that associate two or three of its founding academic institutions. The aforementioned "representatives" of academic institutions must be members of the faculty or other close collaborators with at least a half-time contract with the institution. Participation by other partners, the private sector or NGOs, for example, is desirable. Partnerships with other institutions of higher education, either Swiss or foreign, are encouraged.

2. Selection Criteria:

The GIAN Foundation Board places emphasis on action-oriented projects and the practical application of knowledge. Projects accepted by the GIAN should not be exclusively academic in nature but should also include a practical component that focuses on real problems for which society expects solutions in the short- or medium-term. The Foundation Board favours innovative proposals and those that create new synergies and networks.

GIAN support may be requested for research projects (and post-graduate studies or training programmes with a strong research component) that adhere to the following criteria:

A). Be international in nature and fall within the purview of at least one, or more, of the following thematic areas:

Within these areas, the GIAN encourages projects concerning conflicts and security, environmental issues and humanitarian action.

B). Involve a real partnership between the academic world and at least one international organisation, formalised through letters of engagement by each party. Financial and/or in-kind participation by each party is expected.

C). Be action-oriented and interdisciplinary in nature. The GIAN welcomes projects that concern the social sciences as well as the natural sciences and engineering sciences.

D). Projects approved in the framework of the 2006 tendering procedure must be completed within one year, (and must in all cases be completed before 31 December 2007).

The GIAN Foundation Board places emphasis on action-oriented projects and the practical application of knowledge. Projects accepted by the GIAN should not be exclusively academic in nature but should also include a practical component that focuses on real problems for which society expects solutions in the short- or medium-term. The Foundation Board favours innovative proposals and those that create new synergies and networks.

Each project team must include one or several representatives of at least one of the GIAN's founding institutions (University of Geneva, GIIS or GIDS) and of at least one international organisation with a representative in Geneva that has approved participation in the project. The GIAN encourages in particular projects that associate two or three of its founding academic institutions. The aforementioned "representatives" of academic institutions must be members of the faculty or other close collaborators with at least a half-time contract with the institution. Participation by other partners, the private sector or NGOs, for example, is desirable. Partnerships with other institutions of higher education, either Swiss or foreign, are encouraged.

A coordinator or main partner (representative of an academic institution or international organisation) of an ongoing GIAN project cannot submit a new project proposal as coordinator or main partner. This does not mean that he/she cannot be involved in another GIAN project in another capacity.

The GIAN applies the principle of co-financing. Each team must demonstrate its ability to provide a substantial contribution to the project, either in the form of funds provided by another donor or as a contribution in-kind. The team must demonstrate that it has the infrastructure and material means available for the execution of the project.

As a general rule, the GIAN does not fund infrastructure, equipment (computers or otherwise), operating expenses for an existing structure, salaries other than those of assistants, and centres or institutions that will require long-term support. It is expected that partner academic institutions and international organisations will supply infrastructure and a considerable percentage of staff time under co-financing arrangements.

Amounts for expenses that will be covered by the GIAN - travel and per diems, in particular - should be handled in compliance with the rules in force at the University of Geneva.

Project budget proposals are expected to conform to the type of standard budget in use by the GIAN. Recipients of subsidies must provide detailed accounting, especially with regard to the use of subsidies, under the same format.

In order to avoid unnecessary pressure on the GIAN's administrative structure, each project is placed under the academic responsibility of a "project coordinator". Administrative arrangements regarding the project team are handled in accordance with the rules of one of the three founding academic institutions. This pragmatic system centralises responsibility for the project and simplifies its administration. For additional information concerning the rules overseeing GIAN subsidies, please refer to the Regulations Concerning the Rights and Duties of Recipients of GIAN Subsidies .

Conferences and publications may accompany the research phase or may be part of the project's completion. The results of research are diffused internationally through the network of contacts constituted with the assistance of the GIAN's founding members and international organisations in Geneva. Appropriate acknowledgement of the GIAN's support must be indicated on all documents relative to the project.