Thursday, October 1, 2026

CfPs: 12th Edition of Graduate Research Meet 2027 | 19-20 January, IIT Guwahati

12th Edition of Graduate Research Meet 2027
Theme: "People, Voices, and Possibilities - Reimagining Knowledge and Inquiry"
Dates: 19-20 January 2027
Organized by the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) at the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, India

Since its inception, GRM has provided a platform for scholars carrying out pioneering research in the field of Humanities and Social Sciences. The GRM team encourages scholars to submit abstracts in the range of 500-800 words containing 3-5 keywords that align with the theme and related sub-topics. 
The last date for submission of abstracts is 27th October 2026, 11:59 PM.

About GRM: The disciplines of Humanities and Social Sciences are constantly engaged in exploring how human life and social worlds are shaped, reshaped, and transformed within their specific historical, social, cultural, and material contexts. They offer numerous ways to ask questions, produce knowledge, and make sense of the world we live in by examining the conditions that influence what people can think, say, and do. These conditions open possibilities to reinterpret varied experiences and negotiate change in order to inquire into the circumstances in which knowledge is reimagined to harness the inclusive, equitable and productive voices of all. Within these shifting contexts, new perspectives can emerge, established assumptions can be reconsidered, and intellectual breakthroughs can occur. While conventional frameworks of knowledge production and modes of inquiry continue to offer important conceptual and methodological foundations for research, they are also being challenged by new perspectives, voices, and practices, through and beyond familiar frameworks. Heterodox methods of doing research—acts of thinking, speaking, theorising, and being—are gaining popularity while remaining committed to objectivity and truth. The 12th Edition of the Graduate Research Meet aims to examine these critical junctures, consider alternatives, and explore possibilities within and beyond paradigms. By foregrounding diverse perspectives and voices from the margins, this conference seeks to contribute to the urgent work of imagining and enacting more just and liveable futures. We invite scholars to join this conversation, engage in discussions and deliberations, and take part in an extensive dialogue across the disciplines of Archaeology, Development Studies, Economics, English, History, Linguistics, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.
Note: GRM is exclusively for active doctoral scholars; entries from graduate, postgraduate and post-doctoral scholars will be automatically rejected. The GRM team also discourages the use of Artificial Intelligence in the entries; Abstracts found with substantial AI usages will be rejected. Please visit iitg.ac.in/grm for more information.

Call for Papers: Financing MSMEs for Sustainable Growth amid Global Uncertainty

Call for Papers: Financing MSMEs for Sustainable Growth amid Global Uncertainty
Micro, Small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) contribute significantly to employment, innovation, and economic growth globally. However, many MSMEs continue to face financing constraints due to information asymmetry, limited collateral, high transaction costs, and perceived credit risk. These constraints can limit their ability to invest, expand, innovate, and improve their competitiveness (ADB SME Monitor 2025).
Given the bank-centered financial system developed in developing Asia, credit guarantee schemes (CGSs) have become a critical instrument for enhancing MSME access to finance by sharing credit risk between financial institutions and guarantee providers. By facilitating lending to firms that may otherwise struggle to access credit, CGSs can help address financing gaps and support MSME development.
At the same time, MSMEs face growing pressure and increasing opportunities to invest in green technologies, energy efficiency, cleaner production, and climate resilience. Such investments often require substantial upfront investments, while their financial returns may be uncertain or realized over a longer period. This creates an important opportunity to examine how CGSs can evolve beyond their traditional role in facilitating access to finance and contribute to sustainable investment, resilience, and long-term MSME competitiveness (Yoshino, Taghizadeh-Hesary, and Shinozaki 2026).
This edited volume, jointly organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Tokai University Research Institute for Environment and Sustainability (TRIES), brings together academic and policy perspectives on the evolving role of credit guarantee schemes in MSME finance. With a particular focus on financing sustainable and resilient MSMEs, the volume examines how credit guarantee schemes can help address financing constraints while supporting sustainable investment, climate resilience, green transition, and long-term competitiveness. It explores emerging approaches to guarantee design and pricing, credit risk assessment, sustainability-oriented finance, financial innovation, and the use of CGSs to mobilize finance for sustainable and resilient MSMEs.

Tentative Table of Contents (Indicative Only)
Authors are welcome to propose chapters on related topics that align with the overall theme of the volume. Contributions are not limited to the chapters listed below, and proposals addressing emerging issues at the intersection of MSME finance, credit guarantee schemes, and sustainability are strongly encouraged. Economy-specific case studies and comparative cross-economy analyses are also welcome, particularly those that provide practical insights and policy lessons from different institutional and economic contexts in developing Asia and the Pacific.
  • Part I. MSME Finance, Credit Guarantees, and Sustainable Development
  • MSME Financing Constraints and the Role of Credit Guarantee Schemes
  • Credit Guarantee Schemes and Sustainable MSME Finance: Concepts and Emerging Trends
  • Credit Guarantees, Financial Inclusion, and Inclusive Sustainable Growth
  • Measuring the Financial Health, Sustainability, and Resilience of MSMEs
  • Part II. Credit Guarantee Design and Risk-Based Financing
  • Optimal Credit Guarantee Fees and Risk-Based Pricing for MSMEs
  • Optimal Credit Guarantee Ratios and Risk Sharing
  • Sustainability-Adjusted Credit Risk Assessment for MSMEs
  • Integrating ESG and Sustainability Indicators into MSME Credit Scoring
  • Sustainability-Adjusted Credit Guarantee Pricing and Incentives for Sustainable Investment
  • Part III. Green Finance and Sustainable MSME Investment
  • Financing MSME Investment in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
  • Credit Guarantees for Cleaner Production, Resource Efficiency, and the Circular Economy
  • Financing MSME Climate Adaptation and Resilience
  • Green Lending and Sustainable Finance for MSMEs: The Role of Credit Guarantees
  • Part IV. Innovation, Institutions, and Global Experiences
  • Emerging Models for MSME Risk and Sustainability Assessment: Artificial Intelligence, Alternative Data, and Digital Technologies
  • Digitalization, FinTech, and the Transformation of MSME Credit Guarantees
  • Public, Private, and Hybrid Credit Guarantee Models for Sustainable MSME Finance
  • Green Credit Guarantee Schemes in Developed Economies: Institutional Models, Innovations, and Lessons
  • Green Credit Guarantee Schemes in Emerging and Developing Economies: Lessons and Challenges
  • The Role of Multilateral Development Banks in Financing Sustainable and Resilient MSMEs
  • The Future of Credit Guarantee Schemes: Financing Sustainable, Resilient, and Competitive MSMEs

Submission Guidelines
Researchers, policymakers, practitioners, financial-sector professionals, and development experts are invited to submit an extended abstract in English. The extended abstract should be approximately 500 words and include:

Chapter title
  • Author(s)
  • Affiliation(s)
  • Background and motivation
  • Research methodology
  • Expected findings
  • Policy implications

KEY DATES:

    Abstract Submission Deadline:
    15 December 2026
    Notification of Acceptance:
    30 December 2026
    Full Chapter Submission:
    31 March 2027

SUBMISSION:

Please submit abstracts to: 

With copy to:

Email Subject: Book Chapter Submission: Credit Guarantee Schemes and MSME Finance in Asia and the Pacific

REGISTER YOUR SUBMISSION HERE: Register online