The initial project scope and design, together with profiles of NGOs interested in participating, should be encapsulated in a project document. It could be useful in the preparation of such a document to solicit inputs from the advisory body and also from those NGOs or others who participated in the IISD project, in order to benefit from their experience. Such a document should still have flexibility at this stage, allowing for substantial review and inputs from the implementing agencies through the first workshop by which time it would have to be frozen. Such a document should be accompanied by background literature.

The country research proposals to be discussed, revised and finalized at the workshop could contain the following main components, preferably in about 10-15 concise pages.

• Statement of the problematic as applied to that particular country: e.g. in the case of ASALs, the extent of ASALs in the country, the main ecosystem problems, the main problems relating to sustainable livelihoods in those areas; an indication of the size of the problem nationally (area and numbers of people affected; severity of problem). Brief statement of the relevant stakeholder and policy matters. Brief statement of the state of "contemporary knowledge" and how it will add value to local knowledge.
• Statement of the research area(s) and site(s) selected and their representativeness; results of preliminary reconnaissance; background and thumbnail of the area's ecosystem, social and micro-economic characteristics; indications that adaptive strategies may be identified that may lead to or promote sustainable livelihoods; proposed sites, including sketch map(s); risks and alternative sites.
• Major questions about adaptive strategies and sustainable livelihoods that the research will answer. There must be a sense of structured investigation and realism here. The proposal should (a) clarify the key variables to be investigated; (b) identify knowledge gaps; and (c) prioritize these gaps that are most important to fill. Note that it is very likely that participatory research in communities will throw up additional variables for investigation that had not been thought of at the outset.
• A preliminary rapid literature review to identify policy issues, extent to which major questions can be answered from literature, areas for particular field investigation.
• Field methodology, including preparation of the community for the field work. This includes not only formal permissions and clearances, but some thought given on how to translate the central project concepts of "adaptive strategies" and "sustainable livelihoods" into terms and concepts readily understood by local people. Formal protocols and informal requirements (e.g. support from locally influential people) required for field research clearances and the extent to which these have already been satisfied. Rationale for mix of research methods selected that are most appropriate to generating information in a cost-effective way. Team training in participatory methods where required (some team members, particularly those with technical or natural sciences backgrounds, may need systematic exposure to the logic, methods and styles of participatory research methods, and adequate time to become proficient in their use). Entry points into communities. Indication of how field methodology is likely to lead to answers to major questions. How the community will participate in the research and why they should wish to do so.
• Brief statement about how policy issues arising from the fieldwork will be researched, and how close links will be maintained with the findings of the field study. Identification of authors, process of identifying issues for research, forum for dealing with conflicting stakeholder issues (e.g. national or regional seminar to finalize and present policy response; advocacy issues).
• Identification of the interdisciplinary team to undertake the research (an annex could encapsulate the organizational and individual credentials and relevant experience) and a brief statement of in-country project management. How different disciplinary investigations will be combined.
• Work plan, including a statement of the overall strategy for sequencing or linking research, particularly where more than one site or area is involved. For example, sites could be studied in parallel or in sequence. Careful thought must be given to maintaining the policy study-field investigation link. Timetable and key benchmarks linking with project at international level, e.g. visits from international coordinator, workshops or meetings to share and compare results. Work plan for use/dissemination of policy outputs in-country.
• Outputs (local and national) and use of outputs. How local communities will benefit from the project and own the results. Prospects for resourcing follow-up (targeted community development initiatives to strengthen adaptive strategies). Use of policy outputs.
• Indicators of sustainable livelihoods, particularly those that can be measured at community level.
• Budget (include agency guidelines for format).