Call for Proposal

India's G20 Presidency: Integrating South Asia's Climate Change Perspective

Background:
India assumed the G20 presidency on December 1, 2022, taking over from Indonesia. As the largest democracy in the world and with the fastest-growing economy, India holds significant cultural influence. It has been using various platforms, including the G20, to display its leadership capabilities. Under India's G20 presidency, the country has prioritized Green Development and Climate Finance, with a strong emphasis on climate finance, technology, and equitable energy transitions for developing nations. India is also making efforts to incorporate the perspectives of South Asian countries on climate change.

The South Asian region encompasses diverse geographical features, ranging from the high Himalayas to deltas and island nations, which face specific vulnerabilities and developmental needs in relation to climate change. Additionally, this region has a substantial population living below or around the poverty line, making it particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change.

In this context, India aims to ensure that the voices and concerns of South Asian countries are given due importance in order to foster a more comprehensive and equitable global response to the climate crisis. However, achieving this goal requires addressing the intricate political realities of the region and incorporating the diverse perspectives, priorities, and demands of South Asian countries effectively.

To gain a deeper understanding of these interrelationships, the Regional Office of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) is producing a policy research paper. This paper will analyze India's role in the climate change debate within the G20, its readiness to lead South Asia's perspective, the major climate change issues specific to the region, and other related regional concerns. The paper will explore how the G20 can address these concerns and provide policy recommendations for India and countries in the South Asian region.

Scope of work:
The author will be responsible for the following deliverables:
- Write a policy research paper analyzing India's G20 Presidency and its incorporation of the question of climate change in the debate.
- The paper should have a total length of 2500 to 3000 words (excluding citations, references, organization profile, and author's profile).
- Submit the first draft of the paper by July 20, 2023, and the final draft by July 30, 2023, after incorporating feedback and comments. The feedback/editing process may involve multiple rounds.
 

Requirements:
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Possess relevant work/educational experience of at least 5 years in the field of Climate Change, Climate Laws, International Relations, and other related fields.
- Have knowledge of the South Asian policy processes and political landscape.
- Demonstrate experience in independently conducting primary and secondary research projects.
- Exhibit proficiency in high-quality, concise, and error-free writing in English.
- Be able to articulate research content effectively to diverse audiences.
- Display the ability to process large amounts of information and generate useful insights quickly.
- Demonstrate effective communication skills, including adapting messages to different stakeholders such as government partners, policy influencers, team members, researchers, partner organizations, and donors.

Prescribed Style:
The authors will be provided with a template for the policy paper to follow by FNF. The organization follows the Chicago Citation/Referencing Style. Authors should use footnotes instead of in-text citations and should not include hyperlinks.

How to apply:
Scholars, career diplomats, and academicians are encouraged to submit their 300-word abstracts, CV, and quotation for the final draft to Bipin.Ghimire@freiheit.org by June 25, 2023. Only selected authors will be contacted