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JPC CALL FOR PROPOSALS
June 19, 2024 (Kingston, Jamaica)
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INTRO:
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security through the Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC) in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Compete Caribbean Partnership Facility will be hosting the Productivity Research Seminar. Research selected from this Call will be presented on a panel at the Productivity and Innovation Research Seminar. The aim of the Seminar is to highlight empirical based research on productivity and innovation drivers, techniques, and measurement at the individual, firm, national and global levels.

The objective of this Call for Proposals is to develop evidence-based policy recommendations to address factors that hamper productivity improvement and innovation; and to encourage strategies that promote sustainable productivity improvement, in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.


TOPICS:
Research should cover the Caribbean region, however priority will be given to topics that focus on Jamaica. The topics that will be considered for selection will be related to one of the following areas:
- Utilizing the Innovation, Firm Performance and Gender (IFPG) survey database to identify and analyze IFPG issues impacting productivity
- Quantifying the relationship between innovation, intrapreneurship, and entrepreneurship and total factor productivity, and/or identifying the gaps in the relationship.
- Exploring how climate change, environment, and sustainability has and will affect productivity improvements.
- Investing the applicability of specific measurement techniques and methodologies used to assess productivity at the firm, industry or national level within the region.
- Identifying and analyzing critical gaps within the innovative ecosystem that affect overall or specific productive industries.
- Exploring the role of digital transformation, research & development and/or technology in driving sustainable productivity.
- Labour productivity, labour market trends, education, skills and emerging paradigms that impact workplace productivity.

KEY DATES:
April 1, 2024 – Deadline to submit technical proposals at 11:59pm UTC
April 15, 2024 – Entrants informed of selection decision
April 19, 2024 – Virtual Kick-off meeting
May 19, 2024 – Deadline to submit first draft of paper and presentation slides
June 19, 2024 – Presentation of preliminary findings at the 2024 Research and Innovation
Research Seminar
July 26, 2024 – Deadline to submit final paper

CONTRIBUTION:
The Compete Caribbean/IDB will contribute a lump sum of US$1,000 for each selected research
study. At the discretion of the organizers, this amount may be increased to cover travel
expenses to attend the conference in June 2024. The project foresees financing 4 research
studies.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Researchers and consultants are invited to submit a technical proposal to be considered for this project. The technical proposal must be submitted in English, be no more than 5 pages long (excluding annexes) and must include the following:

1. A descriptive section that includes: (i) the research question to be answered; (ii) a general conceptual framework related to the research question; and (iii) how the proposed investigation is relevant to this call for proposals.

2. A background section that includes: (i) the proposed methodological approach to answer the research question; and (ii) the data to be used. A thorough description of the research design and of the methods used for potential data collection must be included in the proposal. If the data to be used involves data collection, specify what type of data will be collected, include a draft of the instrument and describe how this will be accomplished within the project's time frame. If the data to be used relies (fully or in part) on qualitative data already available, include a description of its content, details on the access status, and any other relevant information.

3. A final section providing a preliminary view to the nature of the conclusions that the study will yield and potential policy implications.

4. Annexes that include the following (not included within the page limit):
- CV of the research team (not included in the 5-page limit). The team leader should be
identified and emphasis should be placed on the publication record and relevant consultancy
experience.
- Annex with proposed timeframe. The timeframe should take into account that a first draft of
the paper should be ready by May 19, 2024.

5. Proposals, annexes and CVs should be sent to jpc@mlss.gov.jm with the subject line “Productivity and Innovation Research Proposal [Insert Research Lead’s Surname]”. Submissions should be made no later than April 1, 2024 at 11:59pm UTC.

CONTACT:
For further information, contact the Jamaica Productivity Centre:

Phone: (876) 676-5739-40
Email: jpc@mlss.gov.jm
Website: www.mlss.gov.jm/departments/jamaica-productivity-centre

Direct Contact Person: Mikhail-Ann Urquhart
Email: mikhail-ann.urquhart@mlss.gov.jm