INSF Comprehensive Urban Resilience Program

Introduction

Urban centers worldwide face complex and interconnected challenges stemming from the intersection of natural hazards, water scarcity, and vulnerability in energy infrastructure. In response to such multifaceted issues, an integrated approach to urban resilience has been emphasized, aiming to synergize efforts and resources across various urban areas and engage diverse stakeholders to strengthen urban environments against natural hazards, water management, energy infrastructure, and other stressors.

Importantly, this integrated approach preserves the engagement nature of stakeholders from a systems science perspective, an approach that is contrary to focusing on individual expertise. It fosters diverse interests in problem-solving, planning, and decision-making through participatory means. This participatory orientation underscores that human intelligence brings together a range of knowledge, historical perspectives, and values to the forefront, all of which are essential in formulating culturally and locally sensitive strategies and flexible policies for urban resilience.

INSF Goal

Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) has prioritized support for research on the "Comprehensive Urban Resilience Program" as one of its "Comprehensive Research Programs related to Policy Actions." To operationalize this program, the foundation has broken down the comprehensive plan into a series of interconnected projects.

By breaking down the plan into relevant and distinct projects, a structured and scheduled approach has been developed to enable the validation, modification, and scalability of the comprehensive program at the city level across Iran. Each project is based on insights gained from the previous project and ensures robust and compatible implementation of the comprehensive program in urban environments. Typically, the INSF receives research projects through relevant calls for proposals and, according to its protocols, financially supports each call. For "Comprehensive Research Programs related to Policy Actions," the INSF intends to establish a "Steering and Management Center" (MEHR) to manage the relevant calls. This approach offers significant advantages for integrating and successfully implementing the comprehensive program. In this regard, the first call related to this comprehensive program is focused on the establishment of the Steering and Management Center for the Comprehensive Urban Resilience Program (MEHR-TAB).

Call for Proposals for the Establishment of Steering and Management Center for the Comprehensive Urban Resilience Program (MEHR-TAB)

Objective

Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) invites reputable research centers and distinguished Iranian scholars to submit their proposals for establishing the "Steering and Management Center for the Comprehensive Urban Resilience Program (MEHR-TAB)" with the main mission of engaging stakeholders and emphasizing integration. MEHR-TAB will fully oversee the comprehensive program on behalf of the INSF, ensuring effective collaboration of all stakeholders, managing future calls for proposals for comprehensive program projects, and ensuring the integration of outcomes and project achievements within the comprehensive program.

Eight key responsibilities of MEHR-TAB:

• Strategic Guidance
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Integration Oversight
• Management of Calls for Proposals
• Monitoring Projects Implementation
• Dissemination of Results and Science Promotion
• Capacity Building
• Flexibility and Adaptability

Proposal Submission Guidelines:

Applicant must submit an "Expression of Interest" indicating their capabilities (with reference to the above-mentioned eight key responsibilities).

Researchers should provide evidence of their institution’s track record in conducting comprehensive applied research, engaging stakeholders, project management, and integrating diverse research results.

Researchers who have submitted Expressions of Interest to participate in MEHR-TAB will be invited to a half-day workshop for further explanation, Q&A sessions, and familiarity with each other by the INSF, where they will be provided with complete information about the comprehensive urban resilience program and its attachments.

In the next step and after participating in the half-day workshop, applicants must submit the main proposal containing budget estimates and organization of capabilities and resources for MEHR-TAB, including a detailed strategic plan for guiding the comprehensive program with a particular focus on integration. Strategies for enhancing diversity, interaction, stakeholder engagement, project execution, and cohesive efforts must be outlined clearly within the proposal. The capacity of applicants’ institutions to manage complex and interdisciplinary collaborations must be elaborated as well. 

Timeline:

• Deadline for submission of Expression of Interest: March 8, 2024
• Deadline for submission of main proposals: April 13, 2024
• Announcement of results: Within 30 days of receiving the proposals

Further information regarding this announcement can be reached through the following link in Persian. 

https://insf.org/fa/news/648