Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) was an international grants program that funded scientists and engineers in USAID partner countries who collaborated with U.S. government-funded researchers to address global development challenges.
Since its launch in 2011, the PEER program supported global research partnerships that achieved advancements across the full spectrum of discovery, from building new knowledge to piloting and scaling game-changing breakthroughs. PEER lead researchers were based in USAID partner countries and worked in tandem with U.S. government-funded researchers. PEER awarded more than $111 million to over 450 researchers in 60 countries and supported 2,700 students.
PEER not only catalyzed collaborative research and elevated the use of science and technology to further USAID’s development objectives, but also built scientific research capacity and enabled collaborators to become better partners in development. By working with diverse partners through this program, the Agency was able to stay on the forefront of science and technology, incorporate breakthrough innovations, and apply the best tools to address emerging priorities. PEER supported more than 400 scientists in over 50 countries.
The PEER program was implemented by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). The partner federal agencies included: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Smithsonian, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
For more information about the PEER program, visit: nas.edu/peer.
PEER concluded 13 years of funding research, fostering academic partnerships, and supporting emerging scientists. Learn more about its accomplishments.
PEER Project Funded Summaries 2012-2024
Women in Science Mentoring Program
The PEER Women in Science Mentoring Program supports women STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) researchers in USAID partner countries to help them achieve personal and career development. Cohorts consisting of a senior woman faculty member and two to four junior faculty go through a 12-month professional development program. Mentees learn about topics such as mentoring for career success, networking, negotiation, communication skills, publishing research, and applying for research awards. The goal is to increase the number of women faculty in the STEM fields and provide women scientists skills that will allow them to remain in the scientific workforce.
Learn more about the program:
- 2019 Cohort - https://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/PEER/PGA_184663
- 2020 Cohort - https://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/peer/pga_196024
10th Anniversary
In 2021, the PEER program marked its 10th year of supporting global research collaborations. Read about the program’s impacts in various countries:
Learn about the impact of PEER: https://www.nationalacademies.org/resource/peer-10th-anniversary
Gusti Mahardika, Universitas Udayana (Indonesia)