Financement FCDO de 12M£ pour le Centre de Recherche SRHR – 28 octobre 2026

Contexte

£12 Million FCDO Funding for SRHR Research 2026

Research institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have an opportunity to lead a major international research initiative through the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Applied Research Centre, commissioned by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The competition offers an accountable grant worth up to £12 million to establish a research centre focused on improving sexual and reproductive health and rights, strengthening evidence-based policymaking and addressing gaps in the delivery of effective health services across diverse country settings.

The centre will be led by an eligible LMIC institution or an eligible institutional partnership involving LMIC organisations, with the research consortium expected to work across at least six low- and middle-income countries. The initiative is designed to strengthen locally led research, support equitable international partnerships and improve the practical use of research evidence.

Expressions of Interest (EOIs) must be submitted by 30 November 2026 at 17:00 GMT.

SRHR Applied Research Centre Funding: Key Details

• Funding opportunity: SRHR Applied Research Centre
• Commissioning organisation: UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
• Research commissioning centre: Global Research and Technology Development (GRTD) Research Commissioning Centre (RCC), co-led by 3ie and the University of Birmingham
• Maximum grant value: Up to £12 million
• Funding type: Accountable grant
• Programme period: July 2027 to March 2032
• Application deadline: 30 November 2026, 17:00 GMT
• Target applicants: Eligible public universities, non-profit research organisations and qualifying private universities with clearly defined non-profit divisions
• Geographical focus: At least six diverse low- and middle-income countries
• Competition format: Two stages — Expression of Interest followed by Full Proposal
• Proposal development support: Up to £30,000 for shortlisted applicants progressing to the Full Proposal stage, subject to due diligence and contracting
• Official information: GRTD Research Commissioning Centre funding page

About the SRHR Applied Research Centre

The research centre aims to address persistent gaps in the evidence on comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights. Although evidence supports many effective SRHR interventions, important questions remain about why proven services are not consistently delivered, accessed or taken up by particular populations and in specific geographical settings.

The proposed centre will bring together researchers and institutions across disciplines and SRHR specialisms to generate policy-relevant evidence, strengthen research partnerships and support improvements in service access, choice, quality and sustainability.

The initiative also contributes to the UK’s International Women and Girls’ Strategy 2023–2030.

The selected consortium will demonstrate LMIC thought leadership while developing inclusive, equitable and mutually beneficial research partnerships. Its work will cover several areas of comprehensive SRHR rather than necessarily addressing every domain.

Missions et responsabilités

• Access to high-quality, person-centred SRHR services: Research may explore the barriers that prevent people from accessing appropriate sexual and reproductive health services, including differences in service availability, quality and uptake across population groups.
• Health systems and implementation evidence: The centre will investigate how health systems can better deliver effective interventions and services. This includes generating practical evidence that policymakers and programme implementers can use to improve service delivery.
• Equality, inclusion and rights: Research will address questions concerning equitable access to SRHR services, the protection of rights and the experiences of different population groups.
• Fragile and conflict-affected settings: The initiative highlights research in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, where health systems and access to essential services may face particular challenges.
• Digital technologies and innovation: Applicants may consider how digital approaches and other innovations can contribute to improved SRHR services and outcomes, where aligned with the consortium’s proposed research priorities.
• Pillar 1: Applied Research, Evidence Synthesis and Knowledge Mobilisation: Approximately 80% of the funding is expected to support this core function. It will generate and mobilise evidence to improve SRHR outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Activities will include multidisciplinary, policy-relevant research, evidence curation, communications and convening.
• Pillar 2: Responsive Evidence, Advisory Support and Rapid Research: Approximately 20% of the funding is expected to support rapid-response research and advisory services for FCDO policy teams, country offices and partners.

Profil recherché

• Eligible consortium leads must be a public university, a non-profit research organisation, or a private university with a clearly defined non-profit division.
• The lead institution must be registered as a legal entity in the relevant country.
• Other eligible non-profit organisations from low-, middle- and high-income countries may participate as consortium members but cannot serve as leads.
• The consortium must have at least one and no more than two lead organisations. A consortium of approximately six to eight organisations is recommended, with a maximum of ten.
• The lead must be an LMIC institution or an eligible partnership involving LMIC institutions.
• The proposed research centre must focus on at least six diverse LMICs, including countries in Africa and/or South or Southeast Asia, with some fragile or conflict-affected settings included.
• An organisation may lead or co-lead only one Expression of Interest and may participate in up to three applications in total.
• For-profit research organisations are not eligible for this competition.

Conditions et avantages

• Maximum grant value of up to £12 million for the programme period running from July 2027 to March 2032.
• Proposal development support of up to £30,000 for applicants shortlisted for the Full Proposal stage, subject to light-touch due diligence and contracting.

Dossier de candidature

• Expression of Interest (EOI) following the official application template and instructions.
• A full research centre budget is not required at the EOI stage.

Comment postuler

Eligible organisations wishing to compete should follow these steps:

• Read the updated call guidance and review the full Call for Expressions of Interest document and all eligibility requirements.
• Build an eligible consortium by identifying an appropriate LMIC lead or co-leads and assembling research and non-profit partners.
• Develop the research concept identifying priority SRHR evidence gaps.
• Review the evaluation criteria and ensure the proposal responds to all four assessment categories.
• Prepare the Expression of Interest following the official application template.
• Submit through SmartSimple: Applications must be submitted through the RCC grant management platform by 17:00 GMT on 30 November 2026. Late applications will not be considered.
• For clarification questions, use the subject line “SRHR – Request for clarification”. To request the Q&A webinar recording and slides, use the subject line “SRHR – Webinar and Slides”.