USAID Long-Term Assistance and Services for Research LASER 
grants.gov  https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=299303
USAID webpage  https://usaid-hesn.forms.fm/LASER
LASER Flier    https://static.globalinnovationexchange.org/s3fs-public/asset/document/L...

Concept Note deadline Jan. 24, 2018

Only higher education institutions are eligible to apply to serve as the Prime for the LASER agreement. 
Through LASER, USAID seeks to leverage and support international university networks, inclusive of universities from both the United States (U.S) and lower-middle income countries (LMIC), to improve development research opportunities, evidence generation, and uptake by development actors and policy makers. As part of the Cooperative Agreement, USAID will support a recipient to identify new research questions, fund research activities, translate research results into development impact, and build capacity of local higher education institutions and researchers.

Additionally, USAID seeks to increase the human and institutional capacity of lower-middle income countries (LMIC) Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) through LASER. This will occur as they engage in collaborative research opportunities with U.S. researchers and receive technical assistance in research translation through the implementing HEI. The resulting LASER network will not only generate new knowledge with USAID, but will also carry forward a sustainable union of collaborating institutions characterized by equitable partnerships with developing country universities, improved academic focus on development challenges, and stakeholders that are better equipped to use research to further their development outcomes.