As part of the Nigeria Watch project, the French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA-Nigeria) is offering 20–25 research grants. Nigeria Watch is a database that monitors and compiles violent deaths occurring in Nigeria since 1 June 2006 (see www.ifra-nigeria.org/research-programmes/nigeria-watch/). IFRA-Nigeria invites researchers in the social sciences and the humanities to carry out research on selected topics from the database (see below for the list of topics).

The deadline for submissions is 15 April 2014

Each selected researcher will be required to develop a comprehensive 20–30-page essay that includes a bibliography, an executive summary (2 pages maximum), and data, graphs, and maps extracted from the Nigeria Watch database—except for the “Invisible Violence” project, whose topics deal with LGAs where no violent deaths have been recorded in the database since 2006. The aim in topics 15–24 is to understand whether this absence of recorded deaths results from shortcomings in the gathering of data or an actual absence of lethal violence. The “Invisible Violence” project will require substantial fieldwork in the concerned LGAs.

Application process

Each applicant must submit a CV and a research proposal of 500 words on a specific topic. Proposals must be sent to all the following recipients: 

• a.adams@ifra-nigeria.org 
• marc-antoine.perouse-de-montclos@ird.fr 
• m.reinert@ifra-nigeria.org

Available grants

The amount for each grant will be decided on a case by case basis, depending on the nature of the research, but should follow the scale below: 

• Data Analysis: up to 160,000 NGN (One Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira) 
• Invisible Violence: up to 270,000 NGN (Two Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira) 

Selected candidates will be announced on 30 April 2014 and subsequently invited to participate in a short training on the use of the database.

List of topics

1. Land pressure in the Niger Delta (Delta, Bayesla, Rivers, Akwa Ibom): Lethal violence per LGA, total surface per LGA, surface without water per LGA, n° inhabitants per LGA. 
2. Maritime piracy and lethal violence offshore: Detailed analysis per incident, evolution, political context, links with violence onshore. 
3. Muslim vs. Christian violence: Patterns, mapping, evolution, analysis nationwide. 
4. Witchcraft and cult societies: Detailed analysis per incident, patterns, mapping, evolution, analysis nationwide. 
5. Cattle grazing and rural violence: Patterns, mapping, evolution, analysis nationwide. 
6. Car accidents: Patterns, mapping, evolution, analysis nationwide. 
7. Violence against women: Detailed analysis per incident, comparison of witchcraft with other types of violence. 
8. Oil distribution and oil production: Patterns, mapping, evolution, analysis nationwide. 
9. Land conflicts: Patterns, mapping, evolution, analysis nationwide. 
10. Market violence: Patterns, mapping, evolution, analysis nationwide. 
11. Political violence within the PDP/between parties: Patterns, mapping, evolution, analysis nationwide. 
12. Political violence, electoral processes: Patterns, mapping, evolution, analysis nationwide. 
13. Killings by the security forces: Patterns, mapping, evolution, analysis nationwide. 
14. Oil companies: Patterns, mapping, evolution, analysis nationwide. 
15. Project “Invisible Violence” in Akwa Ibom: Fieldwork Okobo, Urue-Offong/Oruko and Udung Uko LGAs on undocumented lethal violence since 2006. 
16. Project “Invisible Violence” in Enugu: Fieldwork Aninri and Isi-Uzo LGAs on undocumented lethal violence since 2006. 
17. Project “Invisible Violence” in Osun: Fieldwork Egbedore and Ifedayo LGAs on undocumented lethal violence since 2006. 
18. Project “Invisible Violence” in Kwara: Fieldwork Isin and Oke-Oro LGAs on undocumented lethal violence since 2006. 
19. Project “Invisible Violence” in Kogi and Nasarawa: Fieldwork Bassa, Mopu-Muro and Omala LGAs (Kogi) and Awe and Toto LGAs (Nasarawa ) on undocumented lethal violence since 2006. 
20. Project “Invisible Violence” in Taraba and Adamawa: Fieldwork Jada and Teungo LGAs (Adamawa) and Sardauna and Ussa LGAs (Taraba) on undocumented lethal violence since 2006. 
21. Project “Invisible Violence” in Katsina: Fieldwork Baure, Ingawa, Mani, Kurfi, and Matazu LGAs on undocumented lethal violence since 2006. 
22. Project “Invisible Violence” in Kebbi and Sokoto: Fieldwork Sakaba LGA (Kebbi) and Gudu, Gwadabawa, and Illela LGAs (Sokoto) on undocumented lethal violence since 2006. 
23. et 24. Project “Invisible Violence” in Gombe, Borno, Yobe and Jigawa: Fieldwork Nafada LGA (Gombe), Kwaya Kusar and Nganzai LGAs (Borno), Karasuma, Machina, Nguru, Yunusari, and Yusufari LGAs (Yobe), and Auyo, Gwiwa, Gagarawa, Gumel, Kuagama and Yankwasi LGAs (Jigawa) on undocumented lethal violence since 2006.

The research outcomes will be compiled in an edited volume in one of IFRA-Nigeria’s book collections.