These calls will support innovative research that deepens our understanding of conflict-affected borderlands and how conflicts connect across borders, and the implications for peace and stability.  

What will we be funding? 

• Feminist approaches to power, agency, and response in conflict-affected borderlands
  A series of papers applying a feminist lens to the study of borderlands shaped by conflict. (Up to £15k per paper) 

• Competing centres of power in the Horn of Africa and beyond 
  A mix of papers and projects exploring the rise of multiple and competing centres of authority. (£10-80k each, depending on the scale and complexity of the project)  

• Climate change, informal trade, and instability in conflict-affected borderlands 
  A research project examining the links between climate stress, informal cross-border trade, and instability in conflict-affected borderlands. (£120k available for one project) 

• Policy responses to address conflict economies in borderlands 
  A mix of papers and projects to generate actionable insights for policy interventions in conflict-affected borderlands. (£10-80k each) 

Who should apply? 

We’ll be inviting proposals from both individual researchers and organisations, depending on the size and complexity of the project. Consortia and partnerships are also welcome to apply. 

We strongly encourage applications from researchers and research organisations based in or from countries in the Global South, either independently or in collaboration with Global North partners. We also welcome interdisciplinary approaches and collaborations between academics and policy professionals. 

Application process 

The application process will vary slightly depending on the funding call: 

• The “Rethinking power” call will follow a single-stage process, requiring only an abstract submission. 

• All other opportunities will follow a two-stage process, with select initial concept notes shortlisted for full proposal submission and final decisions.  

We anticipate that most selected projects will begin in November or December 2025. Projects will generally run for 12 months.  

Stay tuned 

Details about the themes and objectives, application process, Q&A sessions, and relevant resources will be shared when the call goes live. This page will link to all the relevant calls once available.