Compact Research Grants (CRGs) of between £10,000 and £25,000 are the primary funding vehicle of ReCIPE.
Research may address conflict-related topics within one or more of ReCIPE’s nine research themes. ReCIPE will also give particular encouragement to proposals which address three cross-cutting development issues that are simultaneously related to conflict and economic performance. These issues are directly and indirectly connected to ReCIPE’s main research themes.
CRGs can fund research assistance, data collection and/or purchase, and potentially research stipends/teaching buyouts (if sufficiently justified). Grants can also support travel to field sites, even when secondary data is utilised. While we view this kind of travel (with the possibilities for field visits and conversations with policymakers) as particularly valuable for researchers who lack prior experience in the countries that they intend to study, applicants proposing in-country activities will need to strongly justify the activities and outline relevant security and safety considerations.
Please note that cost effectiveness and value for money are important evaluation criteria and submitted budgets must adhere to the CRG Budget Guidelines. When in-country activities or travel are part of the grant proposal, the researcher(s) may be required to sign an institutional rather than individual contract. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the specific country and circumstances.
The first call for CRG funding will be launched in 2025, with additional information released at the time.
Country and Policy Relevance
Please note that an important criterion for funding of proposals is the relevance to policy in low-income countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Proposals focused on middle-income countries need to make a clear case for the relevance of the research to policy in specific low-income countries. Proposals are also evaluated on the extent to which the research findings (including those from comparative work or from studies in other geographies) might be relevant to policy in specific Sub-Saharan countries.
All funded projects, regardless of location, will have to discuss within their final report and research summary the potential lessons for policymakers in low-income and Sub-Saharan countries.
Eligibility
We welcome applications to our CRG calls from researchers all over the world, and encourage applications that propose collaboration between researchers from lower- and higher-income countries.
In view of the current political situation and the imposition of economic sanctions on various Russian entities by Western governments, we are not currently able to accept proposals for projects that include researchers or members of the research team who are based at Russian institutions.
Principal investigators applying to CRG calls should currently have a PhD or be enrolled in a PhD programme. In exceptional circumstances, we will consider applications submitted by principal investigators who do not fit these criteria; however, they must be able to demonstrate a history of high-quality academic and/or policy-relevant research. Although there are no formal qualification requirements for co-investigators, co-investigators on ReCIPE-funded projects usually have a PhD or are enrolled in a PhD programme. The knowledge, expertise, and qualifications of the entire research team will be taken into account when evaluating the proposal.
PhD Letters of Support
For all PhD students acting as principal investigators, we require a letter of support from your PhD supervisor no later than two weeks after the deadline. A PDF of the letter can be sent to the ReCIPE Team at [email protected].
In-country Research
For research projects conducting in-country studies in conflict or post-conflict settings, additional restrictions may apply. Funding decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the country’s current situation, applicable sanctions, and any necessary risk assessments and requirements.
Researchers whose proposals rely on the collection of data in-country will be required to outline in their proposal the implications for the project of potential delays and the alternatives to face-to-face fieldwork. This can be included in the methodology section of the proposal template.
Any fieldwork will need to be cleared by the researcher’s university and, where possible, in-country IRBs. Decisions on fieldwork should follow the advice of governments and should especially consider the security situation of the location. Crucially, any proposal that includes face-to-face interaction should also briefly make clear how the researchers intend to ensure the safety of researchers and any participants involved in the study.
Grant contracts
CRGs are designed to be contracted directly with individual researchers. The individual researcher is responsible for receiving, spending, and reporting on the funds. However, when in-country activities or travel are part of the grant proposal, the researcher(s) may be required to sign an institutional rather than individual contract. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the specific country and circumstances. In other circumstances where an individual contract raises significant complications, and for projects with in-country research elements in conflict/post-conflict setting, we can consider alternative mechanisms. All contracts are non-negotiable, and no overhead fees can be taken. Please look at our individual contract template before applying.
Call and Grant Timeline
We aim to issue funding decisions within three months of the deadline for receipt of proposals. Successful proposals are then announced on the ReCIPE website, together with a description of the work supported, no later than one month after contract signature.
A CRG is intended to be completed within 12 months.
More detailed information on the call and grant timeline can be found in the CRG Applicant Guide.
Evaluation and Selection
Evaluation and selection are based on the following criteria:
- Quality of the proposed research
- Relevance to policy
- Feasibility and credibility of the proposal
- Value for money
- Contributions to expanding the field
More detailed information on the weighting of these categories and the evaluation and selection process can be found in the CRG Applicant Guide.
Further information
More information, including an Applicant Guide, Budget Guidelines, and FAQs will be available shortly. For further queries, please contact the ReCIPE Team at [email protected].