Dear All,
We hope you are safe and well during this difficult time. We are writing to you with an update on upcoming PEDL grant calls, as well as some exciting news:
- Call for proposals on the economic impacts of coronavirus
- Announcement of two new funding initiatives under the PEDL programme
- Information for open PEDL grants affected by coronavirus
- Other upcoming calls
Call for Proposals on the Economic Impacts of Coronavirus
PEDL invites applications to this special Exploratory Research Grant call for projects addressing the economic impacts of coronavirus. These impacts are already being severely felt across the world and for many developing regions the worst is still to come. PEDL, alongside its new partner CDC Group (see below), is looking to fund research that can inform policymakers and other stakeholders on the economic impacts of coronavirus in developing countries so that the costs can be mitigated as much as possible.
Unlike usual calls for exploratory research grants, PEDL is initially requesting expressions of interest to be sent to [email protected]. We will review these as quickly as possible and then ask those most aligned with the PEDL and CDC programmes to submit a formal proposal. These will be evaluated on a rolling basis so as to allow researchers to commence work as quickly as possible.
The call will open in the next few days and we will continue to accept applications until 1 June 2020. More information is available on the PEDL website here.
Two New PEDL Initiatives
PEDL is excited to announce two new research grant funding initiatives that build on the current programme. These initiatives focus on specific areas of interest: the role of investment finance in private sector development, and climate change and private sector development.
Development Finance
CDC Group, the UK’s private development finance institution, is sponsoring a new research initiative aimed at understanding the impact of the UK’s development finance investments on private sector development. Issues of particular interest include the effect of investment on private sector growth; development of high-growth firms; and the creation of high-quality employment. Researchers may partner with specific CDC projects, or work with other partners to build our understanding of the importance of investment in private sector growth.
PEDL will organise a matchmaking workshop in 2020 to link researchers with CDC investment projects. We expect to fund roughly 25 exploratory research grants (up to £40,000) and 10 major research grants (averaging £300,000) with the funding provided for this investment finance extension. ERGs typically run for 12 months while MRGs average 36 months. The first ERG and MRG calls will open in the fall.
Climate Change
One of the PEDL’s four research themes is “Social Compliance and the Environment.” While we are beginning to see more projects related to social compliance, we have received a limited number of proposals in the environmental area, and particularly on climate change. This extension to the PEDL programme is intended to draw particular attention to these issues, which might be broadly divided into abatement and adaptation.
As the agenda on climate change and firms is not well developed, our initial budget allocation favours exploratory work. We expect to fund roughly 44 ERGs and 7 MRGs with the funding provided for this climate change extension. The first ERG and MRG calls will open in the fall.
More information on both initiatives will be available on the PEDL website when the calls open.
Information for open PEDL grants affected by Coronavirus
Due to the outbreak of coronavirus, PEDL expects there to be significant disruption to a number of ongoing projects. We want to assure our grantees that we will try to offer as much flexibility as possible so that projects can be completed. To this end, projects that foresee disruption should contact the PEDL team at [email protected] explaining why their project falls into one of the following categories:
- The project can continue in its current structure but needs to be paused;
- The project’s current focus is now infeasible and needs to be amended so that it may continue;
- The project cannot continue in any form and must be cancelled.
If you foresee no disruption, there is no need to contact PEDL. The project will continue as normal.
We know this is a busy and stressful time for everyone, therefore explanations need not be longer than a page. If there are any further details we require, we will contact you. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Upcoming Calls
- The 1st Special ERG Call on Coronavirus will open soon. All applications must be submitted before 11:59 pm BST on 1 June 2020.
- The 5th Special ERG Call for PhD Students will open end of April/early May. All applications should be submitted before 11.59 pm BST on 15 June 2020.
- The 33rd Regular ERG Call will open end of April/early May. All applications should be submitted before 11:59 pm BST on 30 June 2020.
- The 1st Special ERG Call on Climate Change will open in June. All applications should be submitted before 11:59 pm on 31 August 2020.
- The 1st Special ERG Call on Investment Finance will open in August. All applications should be submitted before 11:59 pm BST on 1 November 2020.
