Second Call for Proposals: ReCIPE Big Research Grants (BRG)

The Reducing Conflict and Improving Performance in the Economy (ReCIPE) programme at CEPR has launched its second call for proposals for Big Research Grants (BRGs). This funding opportunity supports ambitious, policy-relevant research that deepens our understanding of the complex relationships between conflict, economic growth, and public policy.

Key Information at a Glance

• Deadline: 27 January 2026, 23:59 (BST)

• Grant size: Up to £100,000 per project

• Funding scheme: ReCIPE Big Research Grants (BRG)

• Application portal: CEPR Hub

• Eligibility: Open to researchers worldwide, including PhD students (with appropriate experience or senior co-investigators)

---

About the ReCIPE Big Research Grants

Big Research Grants are designed to fund large-scale, high-impact research projects that cannot be adequately supported through ReCIPE’s Compact Research Grants (CRGs). Applicants must clearly justify the additional time, resources, and scope requested relative to smaller grants.

The programme seeks research that advances academic knowledge while offering clear policy relevance, particularly for countries affected by conflict and fragility.

---

Research Themes

Proposals may focus on one or more of ReCIPE’s core research themes:

• Public policies for peace

• Private and public investments and peace

• Institutions, democracy, and peace

• Geoeconomics

• Climate change, natural resources, and conflict

• Information and conflict, including social media, public opinion, big data, and forecasting

• Ethnic diversity and nation-building

• Peacemaking, peacebuilding, and post-conflict reconstruction

• Gender, inequality, and conflict

Projects that explicitly address cross-cutting priorities—such as new data generation, natural resources and climate change, and gender equality and inclusion—will receive particular attention.

---

Policy Relevance and Focus Countries

A central evaluation criterion is policy relevance for ReCIPE Focus Countries. Proposals centred outside these countries must clearly demonstrate how the findings will inform policy in one or more Focus Countries.

Given the interdisciplinary nature of conflict research, multidisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged, provided proposals maintain a clear contribution to the literature on economic growth and public policy.

---

Eligible Costs and Research Activities

Big Research Grants may be used to fund:

• Research assistance

• Data collection, construction, and/or purchase

• Stipends

• Travel to field sites (including when using secondary data)

Applicants proposing in-country activities must provide a strong justification and outline security and safety considerations. All budgets will be assessed for cost-effectiveness and value for money and must comply with the official ReCIPE BRG Budget Guidelines.

---

Eligibility and Team Composition

• PhD students are eligible to apply.

• Given the scale of funding, applications will be assessed based on demonstrated experience in large-scale research and data collection.

• PhD applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to apply with senior co-investigators to enhance feasibility and competitiveness.

---

Application Process and Compliance

Applications must be submitted via the CEPR Hub portal, using the official templates provided on the call page. Applicants are required to review and adhere to:

• ReCIPE’s Code of Conduct for Researchers

• CEPR’s Conflict of Interest, Fraud, Bribery and Corruption, and Privacy policies

Only complete applications submitted by the deadline will be considered.

---

Supporting Documents

Applicants should consult the full set of guidance and templates, including:

• Applicant Guide

• Proposal and budget templates

• Budget guidelines (2025–2029)

• ReCIPE Research Strategy

• Focus Country List

All documents are available individually or as a single downloadable zip file on the call webpage.

---

Call to Action

Researchers working on the political economy of conflict, peace, and development are encouraged to apply for this competitive funding opportunity. The ReCIPE Big Research Grants aim to support rigorous, innovative, and policy-engaged research that can inform decision-making in some of the world’s most challenging contexts.

Submit your proposal by 27 January 2026 and contribute to advancing evidence-based policies for peace and economic performance.

APPLY HERE

FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES CLICK HERE