The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Merit Review Process

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) employs a merit review process to ensure scientific excellence and impartiality in awarding grants. Proposals are evaluated based on scientific excellence—specifically interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity—and societal impact, including co-design with stakeholders and the inclusion of underrepresented groups. The review process involves a combination of expert panels, external written reviews, and internal reviews by the IAI Directorate and its advisory committees. Rather than ranking, proposals are categorized as "fund", "fund if possible", or "do not fund/decline", with final funding decisions based on merit, available budget, portfolio, and geographic balance.

• The IAI evaluates research proposals based on two primary criteria: scientific excellence, which must include interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity, and impact, which considers the integration of disciplines to solve complex problems, co-design with stakeholders, expected policy outcomes, and the inclusion of underrepresented groups.
• The merit review process utilizes three types of review: expert panels (virtual or in-person), external ad-hoc written reviews, and internal reviews conducted by the IAI Directorate, the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), and the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC).
• The IAI Directorate is responsible for ensuring that peer-review committees are representative of different regions, disciplines, and gender balance, and that they include groups historically underrepresented in science.
• Proposals are not ranked but are instead placed into categories: "fund", "fund if possible", or "do not fund/decline". Final funding decisions are determined by the IAI Directorate based on the merit review, available funds, portfolio, and geographic balance.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (n.d.). The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Merit Review Process. https://iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI-MeritReview_En.pdf

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Merit Review Process. n.d. https://iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI-MeritReview_En.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Merit Review Process |url=https://iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI-MeritReview_En.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearchndinteramerican, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Merit Review Process}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, url = {https://iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI-MeritReview_En.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }