Cooperative Bank of Karditsa (CBK) and the European Microfinance Network (EMN) are seeking a researcher (or a team of researchers) to carry out a research project under Maria Nowak Research Fellowship. This initiative is designed to promote research on inclusive finance across Europe and to contribute to the broader European academic landscape of microfinance. 

This year, CBK's proposal was selected, focusing on the impact of climate change on rural communities and the role of cooperative banks in supporting these communities. 

Below is an overview of the research assignment funded by the Maria Nowak Research Fellowship, including details on the project’s objectives, activities, budget and application process.  

For all those interested in submitting a proposal, please review the full Terms of Reference by following this link. Please note that proficiency in Greek is a critical requirement for all applicants.  

Main objective 

The researcher will: 

• Assess the impact of climate incidents on rural communities served by cooperative banks/microfinance institutions (MFIs)
• Evaluate the current role of cooperative banks/MFIs in supporting these communities. 
• Propose tailored financial products and services to meet the challenges posed by climate change. 

Key Activities and deliverables 

• Conduct field visits, interviews, and surveys in the Karditsa region. 
• Review relevant literature on climate change and microfinance. 
• Draft a comprehensive consultancy report and a concept note for an academic paper. 
• Present findings at the EMN Annual Conference in 2025. 

Budget 

The selected researcher will receive a lump sum of EUR 10,000 (excluding VAT). 

Application process  

Interested candidates should submit a detailed research proposal, a CV with references, a cover letter, and proof of academic qualifications and language proficiency. A selection committee, consisting of EMN Research Committee members and CBK representatives, will review the applications. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview with EMN and CBK representatives. 

Deadline  

Proposals should be sent to the following addresses: n.benaglio@european-microfinance.org, f.preve@european-microfinance.org, empletsa@bankofkarditsa.com, by midnight (Brussels time) on Monday, October 7th, 2024. The same email addresses can be used for any questions or inquiries. 

FAQ:

1. Is the research proposal oriented mainly towards academics or open also to professionals?
   Proposals from teams of academics and professionals are also welcome. All team member profiles will be evaluated based on the criteria outlined in the call to ensure that all required skills and expertise are adequately covered. University students can also be included. It’s important to clearly specify the number of days each team member will dedicate to the project.
2. Is there a limit to the number of researchers that should form the research team?
   There is no limit on the number of researchers; however, given the scope of the assignment, a team of 2-3 members seems ideal
3. Can the researcher be a university or is the research oriented solely towards independent researchers?
   The call is open to all types of researchers, including those affiliated with universities. If that is the case in the proposal, please clearly specify the names of the university-affiliated researchers who will be involved. Related documentations (e.g. CVs) shall be also provided.
4. Is there a specific template for the research proposal?
   There is no specific template for submission. We expect candidates to cover standard fields such as the project's aims, specific research questions, methodology for data collection and analysis, potential impact, limitations, timeline, and budget. Please consider this list as a guideline and feel free to include any additional sections you find relevant. For formatting, we suggest using 12pt bold Garamond font with single line spacing
5. Should the requested available references be delivered at the stage of proposal submission?
   At the stage of submission, only two reference names and contacts are required, no recommendation letter.
    

 Funded by the European Union 

With the support of