The Displaced Livelihoods Initiative (DLI) Grants 2026 offer up to $250,000 in funding for refugee-led organizations and researchers with lived experience of displacement, supporting innovative research and practical solutions that improve livelihoods for displaced populations and host communities worldwide.
As global displacement continues to rise, there is an urgent need for evidence-based solutions that promote economic inclusion, resilience, and sustainable livelihoods. This initiative—supported by the IKEA Foundation and implemented by Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) and J-PAL—aims to bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice by funding projects that generate actionable insights and scalable impact.
About the Program
The Displaced Livelihoods Initiative (DLI) is a research and funding program designed to advance rigorous evidence on how to improve economic outcomes for displaced populations. It supports a wide range of research stages, from early exploratory work to full-scale impact evaluations and infrastructure development.
The program places strong emphasis on supporting refugee-led organizations and researchers with lived experience, recognizing that those closest to the challenges are best positioned to design meaningful and effective solutions.
DLI funding spans multiple grant categories, including exploratory research, pilot studies, full impact evaluations, infrastructure projects, and evidence use initiatives. Additional travel grants are also available to support participation in academic and policy spaces.
Why This Opportunity Matters
Despite significant investment in displacement-related programs globally, there remains limited high-quality evidence on what truly works to support long-term economic inclusion and resilience. Many interventions lack rigorous evaluation, making it difficult for policymakers and practitioners to scale effective solutions.
This initiative directly addresses that gap by funding research that not only generates knowledge but also influences real-world policies and programs. It encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative methodologies, and the inclusion of marginalized voices in research design and implementation.
By prioritizing lived experience and local leadership, DLI promotes more equitable and context-relevant solutions that can lead to lasting change.
What Participants Will Gain
Participants in the DLI program gain access to substantial financial resources that enable them to design, test, and scale impactful projects. Beyond funding, the program provides an opportunity to contribute to global knowledge on displacement and livelihoods, influencing policy decisions and development strategies.
Grantees benefit from increased visibility within the global research and policy community, as well as opportunities to collaborate with leading institutions and experts. The initiative also supports dissemination efforts, helping researchers translate findings into actionable insights for governments, NGOs, and international organizations.
Importantly, participants can strengthen their research capacity, build long-term partnerships, and develop solutions that have tangible impact on vulnerable populations.
Who Can Apply
The program is open to researchers, nonprofit organizations, and implementing agencies working on displacement-related issues. Priority is given to refugee-led organizations and researchers who have lived experience of displacement.
Applicants are typically required to collaborate with academic researchers, particularly for larger research projects such as impact evaluations. Multidisciplinary teams and partnerships across regions are strongly encouraged.
Eligible Areas
The DLI Grants are global in scope, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries and regions affected by displacement. Projects must address challenges faced by displaced populations and host communities, regardless of geographic location.
Application Process and Deadline
The application process includes multiple stages depending on the grant type. For the 2026 funding round, applicants must first submit a mandatory Expression of Interest by May 15, 2026, followed by a full proposal submission by July 24, 2026.
Applicants are required to submit a detailed research proposal outlining objectives, methodology, expected impact, and relevance to DLI priorities. Supporting documents such as CVs and institutional affiliations are also necessary.
Given the competitive nature of the program, applicants are encouraged to clearly demonstrate the policy relevance, scalability, and evidence-generation potential of their proposed projects.
Read the official call and apply on the IPA website.
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