Request for Proposals: Understanding the Effectiveness of Conflict Resolution Mechanisms in Water-Related Conflicts

May 26, 2023 | United States Institute of Peace
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The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is a national, nonpartisan, independent institute, founded by Congress and dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical, and essential for the United States and global security. In conflict zones abroad, the Institute works with local partners to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflict. For more information, please visit http://www.usip.org. USIP’s program on Climate, Environment, and Conflict (CEC) was launched in the beginning of FY2022. Its focus has been on four key policy-relevant themes: understanding and mitigating the risks of conflict in a transition to a sustainable global economy; addressing the impacts of migration and displacement linked to climate and environmental change; managing conflict around transboundary water resources in a changing climate; and deepening an understanding of climate security issues and their strategic implications.  Purpose of the RFP USIP seeks an individual or organization to support the research and writing of a USIP Peaceworks publications and/or Special Reports to help guide USIP’s thinking and policy development in the area of transboundary water and conflict. Specifically, these publications will help USIP understand the ways in which dispute/conflict resolution mechanisms may impact and shape conflict or peace outcomes when tensions arise over water resources. Those interested in submitting a proposal should have demonstrated experience in research and strong scholarship related to water, peace, and conflict studies. Scholars at all levels, from early career to the more established, are encouraged to submit proposals. Proposals should clearly describe the importance of the issue to be addressed, research objectives, and policy significance. Proposals should also demonstrate knowledge of the research subject and relevant literature.  Scope of Work Background USIP expects to award up to two contracts either for the development of policy papers or for a small research project, with the goal of publishing the work either as USIP Peaceworks or Special Reports publications, with timelines dependent on scope and research demands. Peaceworks publications target peacebuilding practitioners or academics (although not necessarily both at the same time), and range from 8,000 to 20,000 words, including endnotes. Peaceworks publications emphasize in-depth background, research, and analysis, and include detailed policy recommendations and conclusions. Special Reports are short, timely, policy-relevant reports that range from 2,500-10,000 words. Special Reports offer policymakers, practitioners, and scholars a distillation of expert research, lessons learned and problem solving in the topic field. The publications should offer recommendations to USIP, with a focus on the changing nature of conflict, to help guide its agenda for policy and practice-relevant research. We invite researchers at universities or research institutions, as well as unaffiliated researchers, to submit proposals that address one of the issues outlined below. Please note that there are two separate lines of inquiry: one on conflict/dispute resolution mechanisms at the transboundary level, and one on the subnational level. We expect proposals to substantially respond to and address one line of inquiry, although researchers are encouraged to address both, if relevant. Proposals can be based on ongoing research that is ready to be turned into a policy piece or novel research that requires more extensive work. USIP would also welcome follow-on components to an ongoing research project that addresses one of the below issues. USIP will also consider proposals that identify important related topics that do not appear on this list. However, due to funding limitations, it is expected that research proposals will be primarily desk-based and focus on review of existing literature and research rather than data collection from the field.  Line of Inquiry I: Conflict resolution mechanisms within transboundary water agreements Current literature suggests that a variety of institutional mechanisms codified by existing agreements, including conflict management and resolution, can mitigate violent conflict (Tar and Sinnett, 2012; De Bruyne, Fischhendler, Haftel, 2020). However, other research shows that while conflict resolution mechanisms may be indispensable elements of transboundary water agreements, such mechanisms tend to be either incomplete, unsophisticated, or absent from treaties (De Bruyne and Fischhendler, 2013). Few studies have focused specifically and in-depth on conflict or dispute resolution mechanisms and the specific ways they are formed, deployed, or have enabled successful conflict mitigation or mediation (Meshal, 2018). USIP is interested in filling this gap through the following research questions: 

• What types of conflict/dispute resolution mechanisms exist within existing transboundary water agreements? In what ways have they influenced or shaped pathways to peace or conflict in transboundary water basins?
• In what cases and in what contexts can conflict/dispute mechanisms demonstrate successful mitigation or mediation of conflict in transboundary river basins? Are there particular types of conflict/dispute resolution mechanisms that have seen more success in mitigating or mediating conflict?
• What institutional factors enable these conflict/dispute resolution mechanisms to function and support mitigating or mediating conflict?
• Where are there opportunities to strengthen and make more mature conflict/dispute resolution mechanisms in existing or future transboundary water agreements?
• How can and should water agreements at different scales (e.g., subregional, regional, international) play a role in dispute resolution? How do these different forms of dispute resolutions interact? What takes precedence and why?

• Where and how have conflict/dispute resolution mechanisms prevented or mediated conflict over water at the subnational level? Can any trends or lessons learned be distilled from the ways conflict/dispute mechanisms have played a role across diverse contexts?
• Are there particular types of subnational conflict/dispute resolution mechanisms that have seen more success at mitigating and/or mediating conflict? What kinds of enabling factors underpin and determine the success of existing mechanisms?
• In what ways can subnational conflict/dispute resolution mechanisms be replicated elsewhere within a country? What are the challenges or barriers for replication?

• Deliverable #1: Coordinate publication process
• Develop a conceptual outline that includes proposed literature review, research methodologies, and timeline for approval by USIP before conducting research.
• Deliverable #2: Conceptual outline (3-5 pages)
• Provide a draft manuscript that addresses one of the lines of research outlined in this RFP on dispute/conflict resolution mechanism’s effectiveness in mitigating and mediating conflict related to water.
• Deliverable #3: Draft manuscript (10,000-20,000 words)
• Provide a second draft manuscript that responds to USIP review.
• Deliverable #4: Second draft manuscript (10,000-20,000 words)
• Provide a final manuscript that responds to peer review and that will be of quality to publish through USIP as a Peaceworks or Special Report; and a blog post on the final report to be published as Analysis & Commentary on USIP’s website.
• Deliverable #5: Final manuscript (10,000-20,000 words) and blog post (800-1,200 words)

• Deliverable #1: Coordination of publication process (1 day)

• Deliverable #2: Conceptual outline (5-7 days)

• Deliverable #3: Draft manuscript (15-20 days)

• Deliverable #4: Revision of draft manuscript (5-10 days)

• Deliverable #5: Final manuscript and blog post (5-10 days)

1. Technical Narrative Proposal he technical narrative proposal should be no more 5 pages and include the following sections:
2. Overall Approach and Methodology Based on the information provided, describe the proposed approach to desk research, data analysis, research methodology, and development of conclusions. As noted above, the final research methodology will be developed in consultation with USIP.
3. Key Personnel, Staffing, and Specific Expertise Describe the key personnel, their role, their level of knowledge, and how their experience is related and beneficial. Describe the overall staffing plan for the project. Please note that staff may be non-US citizens and do not require a security clearance.
4. Prior Experience Describe at least two projects of similar scope and complexity the offeror has worked on previously. Provide a point of contact with telephone number and email address for each of the described projects
5. Curriculum Vitae (CV) For each of the key personnel, please provide a CV of no more than three pages. CVs will not count towards technical narrative proposal page limit.
6. Cost Proposal The cost proposal shall include a detailed budget and a budget narrative. Budget must be in US dollars and in a spreadsheet format (e.g., Excel). Please note that USIP allows nonprofit organizations to include up to 15% indirect cost recovery on total direct costs for contracts.
7. Financial Management Assessment Form Organizations must complete the Financial Management Assessment Form unless they have received Federal grants, contracts or cooperative agreements in the past two years and can provide their audited financial statement from their most recent fiscal year. Please reach out to Kayly Ober (kober@usip.org) to request a copy of the Financial Management Assessment Form if it is not attached to the solicitation
8. Certification Page Complete and sign the Certification Page below and submit with the proposal.

1. Complete proposals must be submitted by email to kober@usip.org by 5:00 pm ET on June 16, 2023.
2. The Institute is not liable for any costs incurred by offerors prior to issuance of an executed contract with the Institute.
3. Submissions must be typed and submitted electronically and must include all submission requirements outlined in the Submission of Requirements section of this RFP. No changes or corrections to a response will be allowed after the deadline.
4. All submissions should be in English and US dollars.
5. Any questions concerning this RFP should be directed to Kayly Ober at kober@usip.org. Pertinent responses will be made available to all offerors by email. No inquiries will be accepted after specified time and date.
6. Any proposal not addressing all RFP requirements may be considered non-responsive. Late proposals may be rejected as non-responsive.
7. This RFP is not an offer to enter into an agreement with any party, but rather a request to receive proposals from offerors (organizations or persons) interested in providing the services outlined herein. Such proposals shall be considered and treated by USIP as offers to enter into a contract.
8. USIP shall not be obligated for the payment of any sums whatsoever to any recipient of this RFP until and unless a written contract between the parties is executed.
9. Unless stated otherwise within this RFP, the selected Contractor shall be responsible for providing all equipment and/or supplies required to perform the services.
10. The selected Contractor shall not discriminate against any person in accordance with Federal, state, or local law.
11. The submission of any materials to USIP in response to this RFP will constitute (i) a representation that the Offeror owns or has unrestricted license to use and license such materials and all intellectual property expressed therein; and (ii) the grant of a non-exclusive license to USIP to use such materials and intellectual property for any purpose, including specifically the evaluation, negotiation, and documentation of a contract with any party.
12. Offeror will commit to adhering to the attached USIP Terms & Conditions, else risk removal from consideration. Exceptions to these terms must be clearly outlined in an annex to the Technical Narrative Proposal. Please reach out to Kayly Ober (kober@usip.org) to request a copy of USIP Terms and Conditions if they are not attached to the solicitation.