ENGALDA GIANFRANCO MARTINI Scholarship for students and young researchers (Deadline: 30th April 2014)
1. Main goal
The Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA) has decided to set up an
annual scholarship in memory of its Honorary President, Gianfranco Martini, who
passed away in October 2012. Gianfranco Martini was among the initiators of the
concept of Local Democracy Agencies and became the first President of ALDA when
it was founded in 1999.
Throughout his active life Gianfranco Martini remained passionate about the
promotion of local democracy, the engagement of civil society and the
encouragement of interethnic dialogue in Europe with a particular focus on the
Western Balkans.
2. Specific objectives
Following a widely disseminated call for applications within Europe, ALDA will once a
year award a scholarship to a student or researcher proposing a study or work
project dealing with the topics local democracy, engagement of civil society and/or
interethnic dialogue.
The objective is to receive high-quality academic research and analysis for ALDA’s
fields of activity in order to develop strategies on how to further promote local
democracy, engage civil society and strengthen interethnic dialogue.
3. Applicants
The Call for Application is open to university students and researchers proposing a
study work or project dealing with the topics local democracy, engagement of civil
society and/or interethnic dialogue. Priority will be given to study works or projects
that have a focus on regions where ALDA is active.
4. Scholarship amount
The amount of the scholarship will be decided annually by the ALDA Governing
Board in the context of the adoption of the annual draft budget. The amount available
for 2014 is 3,000 EUR.
5. Eligibility of actions
The application should include a succinct presentation of maximum 5 pages of the
objective of the study or work project with a clear indication of how it will help further
the topics of local democracy, engagement of civil society and/or interethnic dialogue
and what the scholarship will be used for. Relevant references should also be
submitted.
Projects of students should at least be a Master thesis or higher (e.g. PhD
dissertation). Applicants for a work project should at least dispose of a Master
degree.
6. Criteria for project selection
The applications will be selected by the evaluation committee on the following
criteria:
o Originality and innovation of the proposal
o Timeliness and relevance of the research
o Clear definition and formulation of the research project’s objectives and how it
will be implemented
o Relevance for ALDA’s work regarding local democracy, civil society
engagement and interethnic dialogue
o Research that builds a link between theory and practice.
The selection process will be made by an evaluation committee nominated by
ALDA’s governing board.
7. Deadline for application and application process
Applications should include
o a succinct but precise presentation of the project (max. 5 pages),
o a motivation statement for the project,
o a CV,
o a copy of ID,
o a draft budget and if available
o relevant references
and should be sent in electronic version at latest by 30th April 2014 to:
The successful candidate will be announced at the annual General Assembly of
ALDA which will take place on June 2014.
The scholar will be expected to present the results of her/his study or project at the
ALDA General Assembly the following year. In addition, the results of the scholarship
will be widely disseminated.
