PhD Research Grants

The Reducing Conflict and Improving Performance in the Economy (ReCIPE) programme has launched its second call for PhD Research Grants, inviting applications from currently enrolled PhD students. Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and managed by the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), the ReCIPE programme supports high-quality empirical research that links economic performance and policy to conflict dynamics. ReCIPE aims to advance scholarship and policy-relevant knowledge by funding innovative studies that explore the intersection of conflict, growth, and governance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This PhD grant opportunity offers up to £15,000 per award for research projects that examine how conflicts influence or are influenced by economic growth and public policy interventions. Applicants are encouraged to engage with ReCIPE’s defined thematic areas, which include: public policies for peace, investment strategies for peace, institutional structures and democracy, geoeconomics, climate and natural resource conflicts, information and media's role in conflict, ethnic diversity and nation-building, peacemaking and reconstruction, and the gender-inequality-conflict nexus. Proposals incorporating cross-cutting themes—such as climate change, gender equality, and innovative data generation—will receive special attention during review. Funding may be used for research assistance, data collection or purchase, stipends (with restrictions based on location), and travel to field sites. Even if researchers rely on secondary data, they may request travel funding for in-country engagements, though this requires strong justification and appropriate safety planning. Stipend requests are capped at £12,000 for PhD students in high-income countries and must align with ReCIPE's value-for-money principles and PhD Budget Guidelines. All budgets must be presented in GBP and follow the specified budget templates provided online. The programme places a strong emphasis on the policy relevance of the proposed research in ReCIPE’s designated Focus Countries. Applications concerning other geographies must clearly articulate the connection to policy needs in one or more Focus Countries. Applicants must also demonstrate a sound methodological approach and the feasibility of their project. Proposals are evaluated based on research quality, relevance to policy, implementation strategy, and potential to expand the field. Multidisciplinary teams are encouraged to apply, and inclusive, collaborative research involving local partners is highly valued. Applications must be submitted via the CEPR Hub portal using official templates. Required components include a proposal (with sections on methodology, work plan, outputs, ethics, and privacy), budget breakdown, CVs of all investigators, and a project abstract. The applicant's PhD supervisor must submit a letter of support no later than two weeks after the application deadline. All submissions must adhere to CEPR’s Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest, Fraud, and Privacy policies. The deadline for this second call is 6 January 2026 at 23:59 BST. All proposals are expected to be completed within 12 months from contract signing. CEPR aims to notify successful applicants within three months of the deadline. Progress reporting includes a mid-term report at seven months and a final report by month 13. Final deliverables include a research brief suitable for policy audiences and any academic papers arising from the work. All applicants are urged to consult the official Applicant Guide for detailed procedures and submission expectations.

Focus on strong policy relevance to ReCIPE Focus Countries, cost-effectiveness, and methodological feasibility.