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Context
A good functioning of utilities is crucial to build an efficient economy. They have important effect on households’ life, firms’ performance and the efficiency of other components of the economy. Many components of the broad utilities sector such as transport, telecommunications or energy have been studied in the literature and their positive impact on growth and development supported. At least three channels are in play. First, these activities are important providers of jobs. Therefore, their growth and development may create non-negligible opportunities of employment. Second, their good performance could have positive spillovers on other sectors of the economy through the reduction in costs of doing business. Third, with the increasing globalization and the international fragmentation of the production process, well performing utilities can help exporters to better take advantage of their participation in international markets and attract more FDI and portfolio investment. In the ERF region as in other regions of the world, utilities have been for a long time state-owned and managed. Efficiency issues pushed a number of countries to initiate programs for rationalizing the functioning of the sector either through allowing for more competition or through a set of regulation agencies. However, contrary to steps taken elsewhere in developing countries, and despite recent initiatives, the ERF region still lags behind in regulatory reform and liberalization of utilities markets. Theme and Sub-Themes
The proposals should investigate the interconnections between the functioning of utilities in the ERF region and the regulatory and competition frameworks as well as their impact on firms’ competitiveness and economic growth. Drawing on the industrial organization literature and applied welfare economics, submissions are encouraged under the following themes or related questions, covering either one sector, one country or comparatively:

1. Regulatory regimes of utilities, firm behavior and welfare outcomes
2. Competition policy, enforcing agencies and anti-competitive behavior
3. Firm dynamics, whether large or small, covering such issues as entry and exit as well as innovation and survival.

Guidelines for Proposals 
Authors should submit a proposal of a maximum length of twenty pages. It should be structured to contain seven sections in the following format. ERF reserves the right to exclude proposals that are not consistent with these guidelines.
1. Statement of the research problem: A clear and concise description of the nature and importance of the proposed research; its scope and boundaries; its general context; and objectives with explicit reference to feasibility and policy relevance.
2. Value Added: A selective and analytical review of the relevant literature, with a view to both demonstrating knowledge of past theoretical and empirical work, as well as identifying the knowledge gap that the proposed research is intended to address.
3. Conceptual Framework and Research Methodology: A clear statement of the conceptual framework should be provided elaborating on the set of specific, identifiable and concrete questions for which the proposed research is intended to provide answers. This is to be followed by an elaboration of the research methods to be employed and why they are best suited to answer the research questions. The section should also indicate the nature of the information required and the data collection techniques, whether primary or secondary or a combination of the two. Finally, it should explain how the information will be analyzed and interpreted using quantitative and/or qualitative methods.
4. Publications and Dissemination Strategy: This section should describe the research products that will be delivered at various stages of the research process. It should also outline a strategy on how these products will be disseminated to different stakeholders (working papers, edited volumes, workshops, etc.)
5. Time Frame: A clear plan of the timing of all stages of the research project as well as any dissemination activities (including workshops), taking into account that all projects have to be completed before October 31st 2010.The timetable must specify due dates of draft and final papers as well as any planned events. The proposed events should have a description of the nature, purpose, size and proposed time period.
6. Budget: should be submitted in US dollars, itemized and inclusive of all research expenses. Research costs should be sufficiently detailed to show research compensation for various researchers, including the principal investigator. Other budget items may include travel, if necessary, research assistance, data collection, office supplies and photocopying. The purchase of equipment is not allowed under ERF grant rules. If events are planned, separate costing is required.
7. References.
Eligibility
The following eligibility criteria will be applied:

• Researchers should have expertise in the topic being researched.
• At least one of the main researchers should be from the ERF region, whether residing inside or outside the region.
• Researchers from disciplines other than economics may apply.

Selection Criteria
All proposals will be evaluated by a refereeing committee on the basis of the following criteria:

• The value added from the project in terms of contributing to existing knowledge,
• The methodological soundness, be it econometric or in-depth case studies,
• The policy relevance of the findings,
• The effectiveness of the dissemination strategy, and
• The extent to which the project involves a capacity building component.

PLEASE FORWARD YOUR SUBMISSION, TOGETHER WITH:

• AUTHOR(S)’ CV(S)
• TWO PUBLISHED PAPERS, AND
• THE PROPOSAL IDENTIFICATION SHEET (ANNEX 1) ( Click here to download the sheet )

TO: dhalaby@erf.org.eg with a cc to yfahim@erf.org.eg .
For further inquiries, please contact
Dina El Halaby,
Senior Economist,
ERF, at 7 Boulos Hanna Street, Dokki,
Cairo, Egypt.
E-mail: dhalaby@erf.org.eg