Apply for the SRHR Applied Research Centre Funding 2026: Up to £12 Million for Global Sexual and Reproductive Health Research

Introduction

The Global Research and Technology Development (GRTD) Research Commissioning Centre (RCC), co-led by 3ie and the University of Birmingham, has announced an international call for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to establish a new Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Applied Research Centre. The initiative is being implemented on behalf of the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and aims to strengthen the evidence base for sexual and reproductive health and rights, improve the use of research in policymaking, and support better health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The opportunity provides funding of up to £12 million for a research centre led by an eligible institution in a low- or middle-income country, either independently or through a qualifying institutional partnership. The selected centre will bring together multidisciplinary experts and research organisations to address persistent challenges in sexual and reproductive health services, particularly the reasons effective interventions are not consistently delivered, accessed, or used by different populations.

The initiative is designed to support policy-relevant research, evidence synthesis, knowledge mobilisation, and rapid-response research services. By strengthening collaboration between research institutions, policymakers, health professionals, and development partners, the programme seeks to improve the availability, quality, accessibility, and sustainability of sexual and reproductive health services.

Expressions of Interest must be submitted by 30 November 2026 at 17:00 GMT. Eligible institutions interested in leading or joining a research consortium should carefully review the official call documents, eligibility requirements, thematic priorities, and application procedures before submitting an application.

Overview of the SRHR Applied Research Centre Funding Opportunity

The SRHR Applied Research Centre is a major international research initiative intended to address evidence gaps and improve the practical application of research in sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The competition invites eligible academic and nonprofit research institutions to form a consortium capable of conducting high-quality research across multiple low- and middle-income countries. The consortium will be expected to generate evidence that informs policies, strengthens health systems, supports effective service delivery, and improves outcomes for populations experiencing barriers to sexual and reproductive healthcare.

The main details of the opportunity are outlined below:

• Opportunity name: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Applied Research Centre.
• Organising and commissioning bodies: Global Research and Technology Development (GRTD) Research Commissioning Centre (RCC), co-led by 3ie and the University of Birmingham, on behalf of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
• Funding type: Accountable grant.
• Maximum funding value: Up to £12 million.
• Programme period: July 2027 to March 2032.
• Application format: Two-stage competitive process, beginning with an Expression of Interest.
• Lead institution requirement: An eligible public university, nonprofit research organisation, or private university with a clearly defined nonprofit division.
• Geographical focus: At least six diverse low- and middle-income countries for the core applied research programme.
• Proposal development support: Up to £30,000 for shortlisted applicants progressing to the full-proposal stage, subject to due diligence and contracting.
• Expression of Interest deadline: 30 November 2026 at 17:00 GMT.
• Full proposal deadline: 16 April 2027 at 17:00 GMT, for applicants invited to the second stage.

The programme is intended to establish a research centre with the capacity to generate new evidence while ensuring that existing and emerging research is accessible, understood, and used by decision-makers.

Background and Rationale for the Research Centre

Sexual and reproductive health and rights are essential components of public health, individual well-being, gender equality, and sustainable development. Access to appropriate sexual and reproductive healthcare can influence maternal and newborn health, family planning, the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, and the ability of individuals to make informed decisions about their health.

Although evidence supporting the effectiveness of many sexual and reproductive health interventions in low- and middle-income countries is relatively strong, important gaps remain in understanding how to implement those interventions consistently and equitably.

In many settings, effective healthcare services may exist, but individuals cannot access them because of geographical barriers, resource limitations, weaknesses in health systems, social inequalities, or differences in the way services are delivered. Other populations may have limited awareness of available services or may encounter barriers that prevent them from using healthcare even when it is available.

The SRHR Applied Research Centre will investigate these challenges by supporting applied research that examines the relationship between evidence, policy, health systems, and actual service delivery.

The Role of FCDO in Supporting Global Health Research

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office identifies global health as an area of research interest and has plans to invest approximately £256 million in research through financial year 2029/2030. The stated investment priorities include supporting the health of women, children, and newborns; addressing emerging infectious diseases and diseases with epidemic potential; and strengthening health systems, financing, and service delivery.

The SRHR Applied Research Centre contributes to this broader research agenda and supports the objectives of the UK’s International Women and Girls’ Strategy 2023–2030.

Through this initiative, FCDO seeks to improve the connection between research findings and the decisions that shape healthcare policies and programmes. The centre will therefore be expected to produce evidence that is not only scientifically credible but also relevant to the needs of policymakers, implementing organisations, health systems, and the communities affected by healthcare inequalities.

Why Applied Research Is Important

Applied research helps explain how and why interventions work in real-world environments, including the institutional, social, economic, and geographical conditions that influence their effectiveness.

For example, a health intervention may be proven effective in a clinical or research setting but may produce different results when introduced into a health system with limited resources, staffing shortages, inconsistent supplies, or difficult geographical access.

The proposed centre will address such challenges by examining implementation barriers and identifying practical approaches that can improve access, choice, quality, and sustainability in sexual and reproductive health services.

The emphasis on applied research also means that findings should be useful to people making decisions about healthcare funding, service design, implementation strategies, and public health programmes.

Main Objectives of the SRHR Applied Research Centre

The centre is expected to pursue several interconnected objectives.

1. Address Evidence Gaps in Sexual and Reproductive Health

One of the central objectives is to investigate unresolved questions concerning the implementation and use of sexual and reproductive health services.

Although effective interventions are known, their availability and uptake can vary substantially across countries, communities, and population groups. The centre will investigate why these differences occur and what approaches may help overcome them.

Research may examine health system capacity, service accessibility, implementation practices, inequalities, contextual differences, and other factors relevant to the research priorities established by the selected consortium.

2. Improve Access to High-Quality Healthcare

The initiative aims to contribute to improvements in the accessibility, quality, and sustainability of sexual and reproductive health services.

Access involves more than the existence of a clinic or a healthcare programme. Services must also be available to the populations who need them, delivered at an appropriate standard, and responsive to people’s needs and rights.

The centre will generate evidence intended to help policymakers and implementing organisations understand which approaches can improve access to appropriate care in different contexts.

3. Strengthen Evidence-Informed Policymaking

Another major objective is to ensure that research findings are translated into information that policymakers and programme managers can use.

Research evidence can have limited practical impact when it is not communicated effectively, does not address decision-makers’ priorities, or is not available at the time decisions must be made.

The centre will therefore undertake knowledge mobilisation, communications, evidence curation, and stakeholder convening activities to strengthen the use of research in policy and programming.

4. Promote Multidisciplinary and International Collaboration

The programme will bring together experts from different disciplines and sexual and reproductive health domains in a multinational consortium.

The consortium is expected to work across at least six diverse low- and middle-income countries, with a clear rationale for country selection based on the burden of need and/or contextual opportunities.

This approach is intended to encourage research that reflects different healthcare systems and population needs rather than relying on evidence from a single country or institutional setting.

5. Strengthen Leadership by Low- and Middle-Income Country Institutions

The centre is designed to demonstrate thought leadership by low- and middle-income country institutions and promote inclusive, equitable, and mutually beneficial research partnerships.

The leadership model places eligible LMIC institutions at the centre of the initiative, supporting their role in defining research priorities, developing evidence, coordinating partnerships, and contributing to international discussions about sexual and reproductive health and rights.

6. Provide Rapid and Responsive Research Support

In addition to longer-term research, the centre will provide a rapid-response research and advisory function for FCDO.

This function will help relevant FCDO policy teams, country offices, and partners obtain timely evidence and specialist expertise when new policy questions, programming needs, or influencing opportunities emerge.

The rapid-response component is intended to complement the centre’s core research activities rather than replace them.

The Two Pillars of the Research Centre

The SRHR Applied Research Centre will operate through two complementary pillars. The proposed funding distribution is indicative and may change.

Pillar 1: Applied Research, Evidence Synthesis, and Knowledge Mobilisation

Indicative funding allocation: Approximately 80% of the centre’s funding.

Pillar 1 will constitute the centre’s core function. Its primary purpose will be to generate, synthesise, communicate, and mobilise evidence that can improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.

The research agenda will be developed by the successful consortium and should address important gaps in applied sexual and reproductive health research while maintaining a strong emphasis on policy relevance and research uptake.

Expected areas of activity include:

• Conducting multidisciplinary applied research into important SRHR questions.
• Investigating barriers to the delivery, accessibility, and uptake of effective interventions.
• Synthesising existing research evidence to identify established findings and outstanding questions.
• Curating evidence so that useful research is accessible to relevant audiences.
• Communicating research findings through appropriate channels and formats.
• Convening stakeholders to encourage discussion, collaboration, and the practical use of evidence.
• Supporting the translation of research findings into policies, programmes, and implementation decisions.

The centre will not be expected to cover every domain of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights. Instead, the consortium will be expected to develop a coherent research programme addressing several relevant areas and the needs of its selected country contexts.

The quality of the research programme will depend on the consortium’s ability to identify important research questions, select suitable methods, work effectively with partners, and demonstrate how its findings could influence policies and services.

Pillar 2: Responsive Evidence, Advisory Support, and Rapid Research

Indicative funding allocation: Approximately 20% of the centre’s funding.

Pillar 2 will provide a responsive research and advisory service for FCDO. Its purpose is to ensure that policy teams, country offices, and partners can access relevant evidence, specialist knowledge, and rapid research when new questions or opportunities arise.

Unlike the core research pillar, which will focus on a planned programme of applied research and evidence mobilisation, Pillar 2 will respond to emerging demands.

Activities may include:

• Providing rapid evidence reviews to address specific policy questions.
• Identifying relevant research findings for emerging programme needs.
• Offering access to specialist expertise in sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Conducting responsive research where timely evidence is required.
• Supporting policy teams and country offices as they assess new developments and potential interventions.
• Helping partners understand the implications of available evidence for policy, programming, and influencing.

The rapid-response function will initially be developed as a pilot lasting approximately six to twelve months. Its design and delivery will then be refined in response to demand and lessons learned during the initial period.

The allocation of approximately 20% of funding to this pillar is indicative rather than a fixed, unchangeable requirement.

Geographical Scope and Participating Countries

The centre’s primary research programme under Pillar 1 must focus on at least six low- and middle-income countries. These countries should represent diverse contexts and be selected according to a clear rationale based on the burden of need and/or the availability of contextual opportunities for meaningful research.

The call specifically identifies Africa and South or Southeast Asia as relevant regions, while also highlighting the importance of including some fragile and/or conflict-affected settings.

This geographical approach recognises that the challenges affecting sexual and reproductive healthcare differ across countries and communities. Research conducted in varied contexts can help identify which interventions and implementation strategies are effective in particular settings and what adaptations may be necessary elsewhere.

Considerations for Country Selection

The applying consortium should explain why its proposed countries are suitable for the research programme. The rationale should be grounded in the needs and opportunities of the selected contexts.

Relevant considerations include:

• The burden of sexual and reproductive health needs.
• Gaps in the existing evidence base.
• Opportunities to improve the implementation of effective services.
• Differences in health systems and service delivery arrangements.
• The relevance of research questions to national or local policy priorities.
• Opportunities for collaboration with local research institutions and relevant stakeholders.
• The feasibility of conducting ethical, high-quality research in the proposed settings.

The call does not require the consortium to select countries exclusively from Africa or Asia. Rather, these regions are explicitly highlighted as areas of interest, and the overall selection must support the centre’s research objectives.

Pillar 2 may extend beyond the countries covered under Pillar 1, depending on FCDO and partner needs. Demand for the rapid-response function will be managed with FCDO support.

Thematic Research Priorities

The call identifies several thematic areas of interest. Applying consortia are expected to identify their own research priorities and develop questions relevant to the countries and contexts in which they operate.

The following themes are particularly important.

1. Access to High-Quality, Person-Centred SRHR Services

This theme focuses on understanding how individuals can obtain appropriate sexual and reproductive healthcare that responds to their needs and circumstances.

Person-centred services should consider the experiences, preferences, and rights of the people using them. Research in this area may investigate obstacles to access, variations in service quality, differences between population groups, and ways of improving healthcare delivery.

The purpose is to generate evidence that can help healthcare providers, policymakers, and implementing organisations make services more accessible, responsive, and sustainable.

2. Strengthening Health Systems and Generating Implementation Evidence

Health systems play a critical role in determining whether effective interventions can be delivered consistently.

Research under this theme may examine how health system arrangements influence the availability, delivery, and uptake of sexual and reproductive health services. It may also investigate the practical conditions needed to implement proven interventions in different contexts.

Implementation evidence can help decision-makers understand not only whether an intervention works, but also how it can be delivered effectively under real-world conditions.

3. Equality, Inclusion, and Rights in SRHR

Sexual and reproductive health research must consider inequalities that affect people’s ability to obtain healthcare and exercise their rights.

This thematic area encourages research into barriers affecting different population groups and the ways in which policies and services can respond to those barriers.

The objective is to strengthen the evidence available to decision-makers seeking to improve equitable access, protect rights, and ensure that healthcare interventions are appropriate to the needs of diverse populations.

4. Research in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings

Fragile and conflict-affected environments can create additional challenges for healthcare delivery, research, and the continuity of essential services.

The call highlights the importance of research in some of these settings, recognising that evidence generated in more stable environments may not fully explain the needs and constraints present in crisis-affected contexts.

Consortia considering such settings should ensure that their research plans are appropriate to the local circumstances and comply with applicable ethical, safeguarding, and research standards.

5. Digital Technologies and Innovation

Digital technologies and innovation are another area of thematic interest.

Research in this area may explore how technological approaches can contribute to the delivery, accessibility, management, or use of sexual and reproductive health services. The exact questions and methods will be determined by the applying consortium in line with the call’s objectives and the needs of the proposed research settings.

Digital innovation should be considered within the broader context of health systems, service quality, access, rights, and implementation.

Understanding the Scope of Comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

The call defines comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights as covering several important areas of healthcare and support.

These include:

• Contraceptive services: Services related to contraception and informed reproductive choices.
• Maternal and newborn care: Healthcare supporting women during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as the health of newborns.
• Prevention and treatment of HIV: Research and services addressing HIV prevention and treatment.
• Prevention and treatment of other sexually transmitted infections: Healthcare relating to sexually transmitted infections other than HIV.
• Comprehensive sex education: Education that supports informed understanding of sexual and reproductive health.
• Safe abortion care: Research and services relating to safe abortion care.
• Prevention, detection, and treatment of infertility: Healthcare addressing infertility and related reproductive health needs.
• Prevention, detection, and treatment of cervical cancer: Research and services addressing cervical cancer across relevant stages of care.
• Counselling and care for sexual health: Support and healthcare addressing sexual health needs.

The centre is not expected to cover every one of these areas. Its research programme should instead address several relevant domains through a coherent set of research priorities.

Gender-based violence is not included within the call’s definition of comprehensive SRHR for this centre. However, the centre is expected to work closely with the FCDO-supported GBV What Works Centre.

This distinction is important for applicants when designing their research agenda, defining the boundaries of their programme, and explaining how their work will complement other relevant initiatives.

Funding Amount and Financial Support

The SRHR Applied Research Centre offers an accountable grant of up to £12 million. The grant is intended to support the establishment and operation of the selected research centre over the programme period from July 2027 to March 2032.

The opportunity is designed to support a substantial, coordinated research programme rather than a small, isolated research project. Applicants should therefore consider whether their proposed consortium has the institutional capacity, expertise, partnerships, and governance arrangements necessary to deliver a programme of this scale.

The call also provides proposal development support for applicants that progress to the full-proposal stage.

Proposal Development Grants of Up to £30,000

Applicants shortlisted after the Expression of Interest stage may receive up to £30,000 to support the development of their full proposals.

This support is subject to light-touch due diligence and contracting with the Research Commissioning Centre.

The proposal development grant is intended to help shortlisted consortia prepare their full applications. It should not be confused with the main grant of up to £12 million, which relates to the establishment and operation of the successful research centre.

Budget Requirements at the Expression of Interest Stage

Research Centre budgets are not required when submitting an Expression of Interest.

A budget template is available for reference, but applicants must submit their EOIs through the designated grant management system and comply with the requirements in the official call guidance.

Budgets will be assessed during the full-proposal stage for shortlisted applicants. Consequently, applicants should focus at the initial stage on presenting a clear research vision, demonstrating eligibility, explaining the consortium structure, and establishing the relevance and quality of the proposed programme.

Funding Period

The proposed programme period runs from July 2027 to March 2032.

Funding agreements could be extended if additional funding becomes available in the future. However, applicants should not assume that an extension is guaranteed.

The main programme arrangements, funding conditions, and delivery expectations will be governed by the applicable agreement and FCDO requirements.

Who Can Apply? Institutional Eligibility Requirements

The opportunity is designed for eligible institutions and institutional consortia rather than individual applicants seeking personal research funding.

The proposed research centre must be led by a single eligible low- and middle-income country institution or by a qualifying partnership involving LMIC institutions and, where applicable, a high-income country institution.

The lead institution must be an academic or nonprofit research institution registered as a legal entity in the relevant country.

Official opportunity and application page: https://www.grtd.fcdo.gov.uk/

Eligible Consortium Lead Organisations

The call states that a consortium lead must be one of the following:

1. A public university.
2. A nonprofit research organisation.
3. A private university with a clearly defined nonprofit division.

The lead institution or institutions must satisfy the eligibility requirements described in the official call documents.

For-profit research organisations are not eligible to lead or participate as eligible research organisations under the clarification issued on 8 October 2026. Applicants should consult the latest version of the call guidance for the precise eligibility rules.

Consortium Members

Other nonprofit organisations in low- and middle-income countries and high-income countries may participate as consortium members, although they cannot act as leads under the stated eligibility rules.

The recommended consortium size is six to eight organisations, with a maximum of ten.

The consortium should bring together complementary expertise and capabilities appropriate to the proposed research programme. Its members should collectively demonstrate the capacity to conduct high-quality research, engage relevant stakeholders, manage collaborative work, and support the use of findings in policy and practice.

Lead and Co-Lead Restrictions

An organisation may lead or co-lead only one Expression of Interest. However, it may participate in up to three applications in total.

These restrictions are important for institutions considering multiple partnership arrangements. Before submitting an application or agreeing to join another consortium, organisations should confirm that their planned participation complies with the rules.

Legal Registration and Nonprofit Status

The lead must be a legally registered institution in the relevant country and must fall within one of the eligible institutional categories.

Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate their legal status, organisational structure, and eligibility in accordance with the official guidance and any subsequent due diligence requirements.

The call’s eligibility rules should be reviewed in full before a consortium is finalised. Meeting the general institutional categories does not automatically guarantee eligibility for the competition.

How Applications Will Be Evaluated

Expressions of Interest will be assessed against four criteria, each carrying an equal weighting of 25%.

1. Alignment with the Call Scope and Intended Impact — 25%

Applications must demonstrate a strong connection to the objectives, thematic interests, geographical scope, and intended impact of the SRHR Applied Research Centre.

The proposed programme should explain the problem it intends to address, why the research is important, and how its findings could contribute to improved sexual and reproductive health outcomes.

2. Research Quality — 25%

The quality of the proposed research is a central evaluation consideration.

Applicants should demonstrate a coherent research agenda, appropriate methods, a clear understanding of the evidence gaps, and a credible approach to generating useful findings.

The proposal should establish how the research will respond to relevant questions and produce evidence that can inform policy, programming, or implementation.

3. Expertise and Capabilities of Consortium Leads and Members — 25%

The evaluation will consider the expertise and capabilities of the proposed lead institutions and consortium members.

Applicants should show that their partnership has the necessary research experience, institutional capacity, subject knowledge, and complementary skills to deliver the programme.

The proposed consortium should also demonstrate why its members are appropriate for the selected countries and research priorities.

4. Consortium Structure and Governance Arrangements — 25%

Applications must explain how the consortium will be organised and governed.

A credible governance structure should make the roles and responsibilities of participating institutions clear and establish how decisions, coordination, accountability, and collaborative work will be managed.

Given the scale and multinational nature of the programme, applicants should pay particular attention to demonstrating a practical and effective partnership structure.

The official call document contains the detailed evaluation criteria and should be consulted when preparing an application.

Application Process: How to Apply for the SRHR Applied Research Centre

The competition follows a two-stage application process. Institutions must first submit an Expression of Interest, and only shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit full proposals.

Stage 1: Submit an Expression of Interest

Eligible organisations wishing to apply must submit their Expression of Interest through the RCC’s SmartSimple grant management platform.

The EOI must be submitted by 17:00 GMT on Monday, 30 November 2026.

Late submissions will not be considered. Applications that fail to conform to the guidance in the call document will be rejected without appraisal.

Applicants should therefore begin preparing well before the deadline, allowing sufficient time to establish consortium arrangements, confirm eligibility, review the application guidance, and ensure the submission is complete.

At this stage, applicants should pay particular attention to:

• Confirming that the proposed lead institution meets the eligibility requirements.
• Identifying appropriate consortium members.
• Developing a clear research vision aligned with the call.
• Selecting relevant thematic and geographical priorities.
• Explaining the intended impact of the proposed research.
• Establishing the consortium’s expertise and governance arrangements.
• Following the submission instructions in the latest call document.

A Centre budget is not required at the EOI stage.

Stage 2: Shortlisting and Full Proposals

After the EOIs have been assessed, applicants will be notified of shortlisting decisions.

Only shortlisted consortia will be invited to submit full proposals. The full-proposal stage will require further development of the research programme and supporting application materials in accordance with the official guidance.

Shortlisted applicants may be eligible for proposal development grants of up to £30,000, subject to due diligence and contracting with the RCC.

Full proposals will be assessed before the preferred bidder is selected and the accountable grant is signed.

Official Application Resources

Applicants should use the official GRTD/RCC opportunity page to access the current call documents and application materials, including:

• The Call for Expressions of Interest, updated 8 October 2026.
• The RCC application template, provided for reference.
• The proposal development grant budget template.
• The RCC SmartSimple Grant Management System.
• The grant management system user guide.
• Proposal development grant applicant guidance.
• The GRTD Approach Paper.
• The FCDO Programme Operating Framework.
• FCDO eligible-cost guidance.
• The FCDO Accountable Grant Arrangement template.
• The FCDO budget template for the full-proposal stage.
• Supporting research, ethics, safeguarding, due diligence, and open-access guidance.
• The published frequently asked questions.

Official opportunity and application page: https://www.grtd.fcdo.gov.uk/

Applicants should navigate to the SRHR Applied Research Centre call on the official GRTD website and follow the provided link to the SmartSimple grant management platform. The EOI application should be submitted through that platform, not by sending the application template directly by email.

Important Application Deadlines and Timeline

Applicants should pay close attention to the published timetable. Missing a deadline may prevent an otherwise eligible organisation from progressing in the competition.

Milestone	Indicative date
Competition launched	30 September 2026
Virtual question-and-answer webinar	6 October 2026
Deadline for submitting questions	6 November 2026
Expression of Interest deadline	30 November 2026, 17:00 GMT
Shortlisting decisions communicated	8 January 2027
Due diligence and contracting for proposal development grants completed	26 January 2027
Full-proposal phase launched	1 February 2027
Full-proposal deadline	16 April 2027, 17:00 GMT
Funding decision for preferred bidder	28 May 2027
Accountable grant signed	Early June 2027
Research Centre programme period begins	July 2027

The dates are indicative and may be revised. Applicants should check the official opportunity page for the latest announcements and updated guidance.

Deadline for Questions

Questions concerning the competition must be submitted by Friday, 6 November 2026.

Applicants can contact the RCC team at rcc@3ieimpact.org, using the subject line:

SRHR – Request for clarification

The RCC team will not respond to individual queries directly. Instead, it will update the published frequently asked questions so that relevant information is available to all applicants.

Webinar Recording and Slides

A question-and-answer webinar was held on 6 October 2026, from 11:00 to 12:00 British Summer Time (10:00 to 11:00 GMT).

Organisations wishing to access the recording and slides should contact the RCC team at rcc@3ieimpact.org using the subject line:

SRHR – Webinar and Slides

The webinar materials may help applicants understand the requirements and clarify questions about the application process.

Ethical Standards, Safeguarding, and Funding Compliance

Successful recipients will be required to comply with relevant FCDO policies and standards.

These requirements are important because the research centre will operate across multiple countries and address sensitive health-related topics involving individuals and communities.

The call specifically recommends reviewing guidance concerning:

• Ethical research, evaluation, and monitoring activities.
• Safeguarding requirements for external partners.
• Safeguarding in international development research.
• Due diligence for external partners.
• Open access to research outputs.
• Government Social Research assurance and ethical review.
• Fraud reporting for FCDO-funded grants.
• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement 2015.
• UK government guidance on aligning international support with the clean energy transition.
• The UK’s environmental principles policy statement.

The full call guidance contains the wider set of requirements applicable to FCDO-funded research.

Applicants should consider these requirements during programme design rather than waiting until after selection. The proposed consortium must be capable of managing the relevant ethical, safeguarding, financial, environmental, and administrative responsibilities.

Practical Tips for Preparing a Competitive Application

Because the competition is intended to establish a substantial multinational research centre, prospective applicants should approach the EOI as a strategic institutional application rather than an individual project proposal.

The following considerations can help organisations prepare a stronger submission.

1. Develop a Clear Research Vision

The proposed programme should identify the evidence gaps it intends to address and explain why those gaps matter for sexual and reproductive health outcomes.

A clear research vision should connect the selected research questions to the call’s thematic priorities, the needs of the proposed countries, and the centre’s intended impact.

2. Build a Complementary Consortium

The recommended consortium size is six to eight organisations, with a maximum of ten.

Applicants should identify partners that bring relevant expertise and complementary capabilities. These may include research institutions with country-specific knowledge, multidisciplinary research experience, and the capacity to engage policymakers or other relevant stakeholders.

The consortium should also demonstrate meaningful LMIC leadership and partnerships that are inclusive, equitable, and mutually beneficial.

3. Justify the Country Selection

The core research pillar must focus on at least six LMICs.

Applicants should explain why each proposed country is relevant to the programme, using the burden of need and/or contextual opportunity as the basis for selection. The research plan should demonstrate how the chosen countries collectively support the proposed questions and intended impact.

4. Demonstrate Policy Relevance

The call places strong emphasis on research uptake and policy relevance.

Applicants should explain how their research could inform policy decisions, programme design, health system improvements, or implementation strategies. They should also consider how evidence will be communicated and mobilised so that it can be used by relevant audiences.

5. Establish Effective Governance

A multinational consortium requires clear coordination and accountability.

Applicants should define the proposed roles of lead institutions and members and explain how the consortium will make decisions, coordinate activities, and maintain effective collaboration throughout the programme.

6. Prepare for Due Diligence and Compliance

Applicants should review the relevant legal, organisational, financial, ethical, and safeguarding requirements before applying.

Early preparation can help institutions identify missing documentation, assess whether they have the necessary administrative capacity, and ensure that their partnership arrangements comply with the competition’s rules.

7. Use the Latest Application Guidance

The call document was updated on 8 October 2026, including a clarification that for-profit research organisations are not eligible.

Applicants should always use the latest version of the guidance and check the official page for any subsequent changes to the requirements or timetable.

8. Plan for the Full-Proposal Stage

Although budgets are not required at the EOI stage, shortlisted consortia will need to prepare full proposals.

Institutions should consider early on how they would develop a detailed research plan, demonstrate value for money, establish the necessary management arrangements, and justify the proposed programme’s resource requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SRHR Applied Research Centre opportunity?

It is a competitive funding opportunity to establish a multinational applied research centre focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights. The centre will generate and mobilise evidence to improve services and support evidence-informed policy and programming in low- and middle-income countries.

How much funding is available?

The accountable grant is valued at up to £12 million. Shortlisted applicants progressing to the full-proposal stage may also receive up to £30,000 in proposal development support, subject to due diligence and contracting.

What is the application deadline?

The Expression of Interest deadline is 30 November 2026 at 17:00 GMT. Only shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit full proposals, which are due on 16 April 2027 at 17:00 GMT.

Can an individual researcher apply independently?

The opportunity is structured around eligible institutions and institutional consortia. An individual researcher cannot apply as a standalone personal grant applicant under the stated institutional framework. Researchers may participate through eligible organisations.

Can a for-profit research company lead the consortium?

No. The clarification issued on 8 October 2026 states that for-profit research organisations are not eligible for this call. Applicants should consult the latest official guidance for the complete eligibility rules.

How many organisations should a consortium include?

The recommended consortium size is six to eight organisations, with a maximum of ten. The consortium must also comply with the specific rules governing lead organisations, co-leads, and members.

How many countries must be included?

The core applied research programme under Pillar 1 must focus on at least six diverse low- and middle-income countries. The country selection should have a clear rationale based on the burden of need and/or contextual opportunity.

Is a budget required with the Expression of Interest?

No. Research Centre budgets are not required at the EOI stage. Budgets will be assessed during the full-proposal stage for shortlisted consortia.

Does the centre need to cover every area of sexual and reproductive health?

No. The centre is not expected to cover every domain of comprehensive SRHR. It is expected to address several relevant areas through a coherent research programme aligned with the call’s objectives.

How can applicants ask questions?

Applicants should send questions to rcc@3ieimpact.org using the subject line “SRHR – Request for clarification.” Questions must be submitted by 6 November 2026. The RCC will publish responses through the FAQs rather than responding to individual queries.

Conclusion

The SRHR Applied Research Centre represents a significant opportunity to strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights research, improve the use of evidence in policymaking, and support more effective healthcare services across low- and middle-income countries.

With an accountable grant of up to £12 million and a programme period extending from July 2027 to March 2032, the initiative is designed to support a substantial multinational research partnership led by eligible institutions in low- and middle-income countries. Its two-pillar structure combines long-term applied research and knowledge mobilisation with responsive evidence and advisory support for FCDO.

The opportunity places particular emphasis on research quality, policy relevance, international collaboration, equitable LMIC leadership, and effective consortium governance. Eligible institutions should therefore focus on building complementary partnerships, identifying meaningful research priorities, justifying their geographical focus, and demonstrating how their proposed work could contribute to improved access, choice, quality, and sustainability in sexual and reproductive health services.

The most important immediate step is to review the latest official call documentation and submit a complete Expression of Interest through the RCC’s SmartSimple grant management platform before 30 November 2026 at 17:00 GMT. Institutions that meet the eligibility requirements and can demonstrate the research capacity and partnership structure needed for this ambitious programme should consider preparing early to make the most of this funding opportunity.

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