The Institute for Applied Research for Business (IARB) is launching a Call for 20 Young Researchers to take part in a regional research and mentorship programme on anti-corruption, good governance, and the rule of law in South East Europe.
The activity is implemented on behalf of the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI), with the financial support of the Central European Initiative (CEI), the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Italian Ministry of Interior, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, within the framework of the regional project "EU Support to Strengthen the Fight against Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings in the Western Balkans" (EU4FAST).
About the Programme
The research process covers ten participating jurisdictions: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia. Two researchers per jurisdiction will be selected.
Each selected researcher will prepare a national research paper on a chosen anti-corruption topic. The best papers (up to 10) will be included in a regional publication and presented at the Regional Workshop, planned for April 2027.
Participants will benefit from:
- Structured mentorship and methodological guidance from an experienced research coordinator and mentor
- The opportunity for their paper to be selected for the regional publication and presented at the Regional Workshop
- A gross amount of EUR 500 per researcher for engagement in the research process
Thematic Scope
The research covers key anti-corruption themes, including national legal and policy frameworks, institutional arrangements and integrity systems, asset declaration and conflict-of-interest systems, whistleblower protection, corruption risks in border management and migration governance, and digitalisation and anti-corruption tools, among other related areas.
In their motivation letter, candidates are invited to indicate their preferred topic and research focus. Final topics will be defined and confirmed in consultation with the research coordinator during the onboarding phase.
Who Can Apply
The programme is intended for early-career researchers and professionals with an interest in anti-corruption, good governance, rule of law, or related public policy fields:
- Postgraduate students (Master's and PhD level)
- Recent graduates with a relevant academic background
- Early-career researchers
- Junior practitioners working in public institutions, civil society organisations, think tanks, or research organisations
Eligibility criteria:
- Citizenship, residence, or professional/academic affiliation with one of the ten participating jurisdictions
- A university degree, or current enrolment in a relevant undergraduate or postgraduate programme (Law, Political Science, Public Administration, International Relations, Security Studies, Economics, Sociology, European Studies, Public Policy, or a related discipline)
- Demonstrated interest in anti-corruption, rule of law, good governance, institutional reform, integrity and transparency, border security and migration governance, regional cooperation, human rights, or European integration
- Capacity for structured research and evidence-based analytical writing
- Sufficient written English proficiency to prepare a research paper and communicate throughout the process
- Availability to actively participate throughout the implementation period and meet agreed deadlines
- Commitment to high ethical standards in research
Prior research experience is not mandatory — the programme is specifically designed to support the development of young and early-career researchers through structured mentorship.
Selection Process
Applications will be assessed through a transparent, merit-based process, including an eligibility check and evaluation of the CV and motivation letter. Final selection is subject to approval by the RAI Secretariat.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a CV and a motivation letter (indicating their general thematic area of interest) by email to:
Application deadline: 31 August 2026