The Small Research Grants (SRG) programme, administered under the auspices of the Structural Transformation and Economic Growth (STEG) initiative, has launched its tenth call for proposals. This initiative is facilitated via the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), which is currently hosting application materials due to scheduled maintenance on the primary STEG website. The SRG programme is designed to fund innovative research projects that delve into the dynamics of structural transformation and economic growth, particularly within the context of low- and middle-income countries.
Applicants may seek funding amounts ranging from £10,000 to £25,000, which may cover a variety of eligible expenses including research assistance, data collection or purchase, travel to field sites, and potentially stipends or teaching buyouts. STEG considers travel to field sites as a valuable opportunity for direct engagement with local contexts and policymakers, especially for those researchers with limited prior exposure to the regions they intend to study. These grants aim to catalyse empirical and theoretical work in key areas that contribute to understanding long-term development processes and constraints.
The programme explicitly supports research aligned with STEG’s broad thematic interests, such as systemic patterns of structural change, as well as cross-cutting issues including gender, inequality and inclusion, and climate change. In particular, this round of SRGs highlights several preferred research directions. These include data-focused projects that curate or harmonise macro-relevant datasets, empirical or model-based investigations into the effects of artificial intelligence and automation on labour markets in low-income settings, and gender-focused economic studies. Proposals that address incomplete or disrupted research due to aid funding cuts may also receive priority.
While SRGs are open to a broad pool of researchers, PhD students are also eligible to apply under this programme and may apply for dedicated PhD Research Grants, which offer funding up to £15,000. These grants are functionally equivalent to SRGs in terms of permitted expenditures and scope. Applicants are encouraged to consult the SRG documentation and frequently asked questions to understand eligibility and geographic criteria, application components, and guidelines for successful submission.
Submissions must be made via the official SRG Application Form hosted on the CEPR Hub. Required templates for proposals are available for download on the SRG and PhD funding page. The deadline for submission is 23:59 GMT on Tuesday, 6 January 2026. Contracts for awarded projects are expected to be finalised within one month following notification, with funded research projects intended to be completed within a 12-month timeframe.
Funding decisions are typically issued within three months of the submission deadline. While STEG aims to provide feedback wherever possible, the high volume of submissions may limit its ability to offer tailored responses, particularly for applications declined at the first review stage. Any queries should be directed to the STEG Team via the contact email provided on the CEPR website.
Focus on empirical grounding, alignment with STEG themes, and addressing gender/climate/inclusion issues.
