Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) and Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), members of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), have announced their collaboration for the launch of a new research grant, Osra, focused on the Arab family and
policy related issues.
Osra, which means family in Arabic, will prioritise research aimed at developing knowledge about the Arab family. Research areas include marriage and family structure, parenting, family-work balance, and family laws and practices. The research findings funded under Osra will assist the development of evidence-based policies and programmes to promote the well-being of the Arab family.
QNRF is a member of Qatar Foundation Research and Development (QF R&D) and, by investing in cutting-edge research, it supports QF in its mission to build Qatar’s innovation and technology capacity, and help the nation develop into a hub of research excellence.
DIFI supports QF’s mission to foster a progressive society by addressing the community’s immediate social needs. DIFI’s vision is to be recognised as a global knowledge leader on issues facing the Arab family through research, policy, and outreach.
Applications for the Osra grant will open on March 16. The awards will comprise a one-year grant of up to $50,000. Researchers from Qatar and the Arab region are being urged to submit their proposals before
applications close on May 25.
To qualify for Osra funding, a research project must be led by a Lead Principal Investigator with a doctoral qualification, who has at least three peer-reviewed scientific publications in a relevant field, and is residing and affiliated to an institution in Qatar or another Arab country.
In addition to its own research activities, DIFI promotes research on the Arab family by providing research grants and organising an Annual Conference on
Family Research and Policy.
Dr Abdul Sattar al-Taie, executive director of QNRF, said the Osra grant addresses an area that has, in a large part, been left unexplored in the Arab region.
“QNRF aims to nurture Qatar’s research environment by addressing the key areas outlined in the Qatar National Research Strategy and supports high-quality research in fields relevant to Qatar and its surrounding region. Osra, no doubt, adds a new dimension to the vast portfolio of QNRF-funded research
programmes,” he added.
Commenting on the Osra grant, Noor Al Malki al-Jehani, executive director of DIFI, expressed happiness to collaborate on the new grant since it will unite local, regional, and international partners in seeking solutions to family-related issues faced in the Arab world.
Established in 2006, DIFI aims to support the 2004 Doha Declaration on the Family by contributing to the global knowledge base with information about issues facing the Arab family and how they can be tackled.
Through developing and disseminating high-quality research, as well as encouraging knowledge exchange on family-related issues across an international and interdisciplinary network of researchers, DIFI makes family issues a priority for policy makers through advocacy and outreach at the national, regional and
international level.
