Call for Grant Applications Research/Studies on Human Rights and the Environment

4 min read

1. Introduction

Sahmakum Teangtnaut (STT) is located in Phnom Penh. STT was founded in 2005 and officially registered in 2006 as a local NGO supporting urban poor communities. “Teang Tnaut” means “palm leave” and palm leaves are used by poor communities to build roofs, and walls for their houses. This is simplistic name was chosen to forever remind STT that its work serves the poorest number of societies. STT started as a small NGO that focused on technical upgrades in poor communities but over the past decade, many communities have been affected by development, eviction, and relocation. As a result, STT has since grown to produce community maps, and research advocacy in order to achieve its goals of helping poor communities realize their rights to land and housing. STT efforts in Phnom Penh alone have reached 270,000 people. STT and its partners have helped communities express their concerns to national and international media donors as well as national and international NGOs.

2. Background 

Development is increasing at an unprecedented rate, in Phnom Penh, leading to long-lasting environmental and social impacts. Wasteful and unsustainable housing for the rich, which is routinely undertaken prior to conducting comprehensive environmental and social impact assessments, is undermining the enjoyment of decent housing for the urban poor and contributing to the current climate crisis.

Cambodia comprises the largest youth and adolescent population in the South East Asian region. The involvement of young people in social and environmental development issues has been observed via social media and in groups throughout Phnom Penh. As a result, the youth are critical players in the building and strengthening public outreach and awareness on urban and environmental issues in Phnom Penh, and manifest great potential to drive economic and social development.

We are interested in original research proposals analyzing one of the topics below, from a human rights and environmental perspective:
– Poverty and Human Rights
– Rights of Persons with Disabilities
– Women’s Rights
– Environment and Human Rights
– Environment and sustainability
– Trash in Phnom Penh
– Flooding in Phnom Penh
– Good governance of communal development plans in the urban poor community
– Economic of urban poor in Phnom Penh
– Other topics related to Environment and Human rights

3. Purpose

This project will aim to build the capacity of groups who are generally not given a voice, such as the members of the urban poor and the youth so that they are able to raise their concerns to people outside the community to know their problems and could find the solutions as soon as possible, and one more thing, we want community members or youths could make the report/ research paper as their advocacy tools to make their activities in the community more strangers.

4. Sahmakum Teang Tnaut will be Offers:

– Research grant: 800 USD to conduct individual research or group research.
– Technical support and monitoring during the research.
– Opportunity to be supported by STT to disseminate the paper via a soft launch on STT’s website.

5. Eligibility

Applicants are to meet the following criteria:

– Be nationals of Cambodia
– Community members or youths from poor communities
– Applicants must have reached at least year two of a relevant university bachelor program, or be
– Pursuing a graduate degree
– A candidate has the right to research only one topic

6. Deliverables expected from the researchers

The researchers are expected to join the various training and meetings organized by STT and produce the following deliverables. 

7. Timeline

No.	Activity	Date
1	Announcement	08 to 20 February 2023
2	Orientation Meeting	23 February 2023
3	Submitting Application	28 February 2023
4	Shortlist candidates and Interview candidates	01- 03 March 2023
5	Inform successor candidates	06 March 2023
6	First meeting and signing agreement	09 March 2023
7	Providing technical support by STT	13 – 15 March 2023
8	First Draft submission	3 April 2023
9	STT gives the feedback comments	17 April 2023
10	Second submission	20 May 2023
11	STT gives the feedback comments	4 June 2023
12	Final Paper submission	19 June 2023
13	Reflection meeting with all grantees	3 July 2023