12/5/23, 12:35 PM Proposal Writing - AERC

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12/5/23, 12:35 PM Proposal Writing - AERC

PROPOSAL WRITING

Proposal Writing
Guidelines on how to choose a research topic. In every proposal, your format must present all the essential information in an order that
makes sense.

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12/5/23, 12:35 PM
This template serves as a guide for researchers to follow before submitting research projects for funding through AERC’s Thematic
Research Program. Due to the large volume of new proposals received every year, often priority is given to those proposals that
complied with this template. The maximum number of pages allowed for a proposal is twenty (20) with 1.5 spacing including tables,
figures, references, and annexes. AERC does not expect you to meet the maximum page number limit. Do not submit the proposal in
single spacing.
1. Title
The title of a research proposal should not be repetitive nor
generic nor borrowed from similar work by others. Title needs to
be reflective of the main thrust of the research project,
preferably short, simple to understand and if possible inspiring.
It is not bad to be bold as well.
2. Abstract (350 words maximum)
An abstract for a research proposal is a highly condensed
version of the entire project with a sharp focus on what the
research project intends to do. As most of our thematic research
projects are empirical, start with the objectives of the project
(research questions/puzzle), type of data to be used (good to
mention only if it is unique or novel) and methods. If preliminary
results are available, it helps a lot to report them in the abstract
indicating their potential implications to policy or further
research.
3.Introduction (maximum 3 pages)
“Introduction” is the most important section of the proposal and
offers an insight into the richness and originality of the project.
As much as possible spend a lot of time in this section so that
the project can win the grant. Once the paper is written, this
section also remains to be the most important (see this
interesting guide on how to write an excellent Introduction
section https://www.cgdev.org/blog/how-write-introduction-
your-development-economics-paper). The following structure
helps to develop the “introduction section)
1. Broad context of the study or motivation (1-2
paragraphs)
2. Research questions and their relevance (1 paragraph)
3. Hypotheses or empirical approach including methods (2
paragraph)
4. A few sentences describing data to be used (1
paragraph)
5. Say something about the expected contribution of the
study to the literature: what is new in the study about
the topic and relative to the country that is the focus of
the study (1 paragraph)
https://aercafrica.org/proposal-writing/
Proposal Writing - AERC
4. Literature review (1-2 pages)
1. Focus on the literature that made seminal contributions
and are the foundations to the issue, and then move to
the work done on Africa, including the specific country
concerned.
2. Organize the literature review thematically. Avoid
splitting this section into “Theoretical literature” and
“Empirical literature;” focus on what previous literature
accomplished, state the gaps, and indicate how your
project intends to close that gap.
5. Empirical strategy or approach (4 pages)
1. This is an important section of the proposal where a
clear link between the theoretical/analytical /conceptual
framework is linked with the empirical model is proven.
Theoretical or conceptual framework: this section
outlines valid theoretical, analytical, or conceptual
construct that frames the empirical work. That means it
offers the workhorse or as is often described “the
reduced form of the empirical model.” It is in this section
that we get the hypothesis (e.g., expected signs of
reduced form equations, parameter of interest for the
empirical work, etc.)
2. Describe and motivate the specification of the empirical
model.
3. Describe the econometric approach including the
baseline model, issues of endogeneity (selection bias,
reverse causality, omitted variable problem, etc.), how it
could be addressed and indications of robustness.
6. Data and stylized facts from the data (2
pages)
The data section is very important as it provides information on
its relevance to answer the research questions, source, issues on
sample properties, etc.
1. Describe the data sources clearly and accurately.
2. Present some stylized facts (trends, relationships,
similarities, differences) on key variables/indicators that
will be used in the study.
Expected findings: Very brief since you have not done
the analysis yet (1 page)
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8. Work Plan and Budget (1 page)

African Economic Research Consortium

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