Partnership to Advance Research and Scientific Evidence (PARSE)

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The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to implement the Partnership to Advance Research and Scientific Evidence (PARSE), a project to generate evidence-based research to counter crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. Expected results from this project are twofold. First the project should generate the identification of priority research themes, areas, or questions. Second, the project will enable the production of select synthesis reports and novel studies. Both results must fill public knowledge gaps by providing methodologically rigorous, relevant, actionable, and contextually diverse (international) insight on “what works best” to advance sustainable and effective criminal justice systems, approaches, and practices. Through actionable AND scientifically substantiated knowledge, the project results should be able to inform strategies or approaches to improve civilian security, mitigate internal and transnational threats and risks, and contribute to stable criminal justice institutions amongst U.S. partners abroad. Applicants must be able to generate results that clearly, concretely, and compellingly convey evidence-based findings to non-scholarly audiences within the rule of law community. These audiences include but are not limited to law enforcement and justice sector officials as well as other decision makers and practitioners involved in policy formulation, program design, and strategic/operational/project/tactical implementation. Resulting research should also be framed by the possibility to extrapolate and adapt evidence-based and actionable findings to multiple countries and/or contexts. Additionally, the selected applicant (qualifying organization) should expect to work in close cooperation with INL. To achieve this level of cooperation, INL expects, among other mechanisms, to hold weekly or bi-weekly meetings with the qualifying organization. Finally, contingent upon performance, relevance, and fund availability INL will consider the expansion of the project to develop additional research products and results (refer to Project Expansion Section).