Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced more than $5.8 million to fund partnerships in scientific cooperation on research projects to discover, test, and scale breakthrough solutions for critical challenges in international development. The Agency selected 26 research projects for awards through the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) program, a collaboration with the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The awards range in amounts from $54,000 to $300,000.

By increasing international scientific cooperation, USAID is improving the exchange of scientific data and evidence that can translate into improved policy and practice. The 26 new awards include the following:

• Creating a WhatsApp-based obstetrics system to help community healthcare workers refer, transfer, and triage patients to other clinics to reduce delays in the Republic of Ghana and Liberia;
• Evaluating the carbon flow, emissions of greenhouse gases, and the biodiversity of different mangrove ecosystems to determine the loss of benefits to people, such as food or water, in The Republic of the Philippines;
• Examining the geothermal energy potential in the Republic of Armenia to provide recommendations to promote investment in renewable energy and economic development in the country; and
• Studying the effects on biodiversity from managing and harvesting Brazil nuts (castanha-do-Pará) in the Federative Republic of Brazil.

The research projects span 18 countries, across four continents, and will investigate topics across multiple sectors, including digital technology, education, food security, and global health. A scientist in each partner country leads every project in collaboration with a researcher funded by the U.S. Government.

Since its establishment in 2011, the PEER program has helped to build the scientific and research capacity of researchers and research institutions worldwide. Currently in its ninth cycle, the PEER program has enabled more than 300 local researchers in over 50 countries to find evidence-based solutions to development challenges across regions and sectors. USAID funds the PEER program, and the National Academies manages it.

USAID is dedicated to helping governments, academia, civil society, and the private sector build resilient and sustainable societies. Research increases the commitment and capacity in our partner nations to plan, finance, and implement solutions through informed decision-making. By strengthening the ability of governmental, private-sector, and academic institutions in our partner countries to conduct research and apply science to help solve their own challenges, USAID is supporting their Journey to Self-Reliance.

To learn more about the PEER program and view a complete list of the new awardees, visit: nas.edu/peer