Funding sources for ICT4D Research

The UNESCO Chair in ICT4D has published a page that provides a catalog of funding for ICT4D research. This page comes in handy as funding information is haphazardly littered on newsletters, funders’ websites, social media and many other diverse sources.

Once can constantly check their page and also contact them for additions.

For our e-Agriculture community, we reproduce the list below (we are however not responsible for the up datedness of the information)

UK funding agencies

• EPSRC (physical sciences) – current funding calls
  • Cross-ICT priorities 2017-20
  • ICT strategy
  • ICT theme
• ESRC (social sciences) – current funding calls https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/funding/calls/
  • Research grants http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding/funding-opportunities/research-grants/
• AHRC (Arts/Humanities)
• Royal Society – grants schemes and awards
  • Apex awards scheme offers established independent researchers, with a strong track record in their respective area, an exciting opportunity to pursue genuine interdisciplinary and curiosity-driven research to benefit wider society
• Newton Fund aims to promote the economic development and social welfare of either the partner countries or, through working with the partner country, to address the well being of communities – currently providing funding in 18 countries
  • Current calls (often out of date)
  • New calls are posted on Twitter
  • British Council and UK Universities International run the following Newton Programmes:
    • Researcher links and workshops
    • Institutional Links
    • Newton PhD programme
    • Professional Development programme
  • British Council mostly delivered through funding from other agencies (see also Newton Fund above – there is a lot of confusion between these two sites in terms of what is purely the Newton Fund and what the British Council delivers separately from it)
  • Nuffield Foundation
  • UK Research and Innovation International Development funding
    • Global Challenges Research Fund
  • DFID funding for development research

Other sources of funding

• Asian Development Bank although mainly for programme and project implementation (which could include some research)
• EU ICT for Sustainable Growth
• FIRE: The Fund for Internet Research and Development – FIRE Africa – is one of Africa’s leading Grants and Awards programmes designed to encourage, support and develop innovative online solutions to Africa’s education, information, infrastructure and communication needs.
• IDRC/CRDI  – Canadian funding for international development with a long history of excellent support for ICT4D
• Ignite funding for innovative ideas in Pakistan
• ISOC ICT Innovation grants
• ITU ICT-DF: As a seed funding initiative, the ICT-DF seeks partnerships with ITU Members, the public and private sector, multilateral organizations, financial institutions and development agencies to cover the total resources required for projects
• SPIDER: Spider has projects, supports research and builds networks and capacity within our thematic areas Health, Education and Transparency & Accountability in Sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia and South America (mainly for people in selected developing countries and those in Swedish institutions)

Sources of information about grants

• Bond: UK network for organisations working in international development – mainly details of funding for NGOs
• NCP Brussels: aims to help identify EU funding for ICT projects
• NGO Box: online development sector platform, which has carved a niche in the field of information and partnership services in the social sector
• Research in Germany: Research funding in Germany has the goal of financing the development of new ideas and technologies. The range covers everything from basic research in natural sciences, new technologies to structural research funding at institutions of higher education
• Science: where to search for funding (mainly US)
• UKCDS – a group of 14 UK government departments and research funders working in international development.
  • Researcher hub
• University of Nairobi: Research grants for ICT4D in eastern and southern Africa
• The Impact Initiative for International Development Research
  • The Impact Lab seeks to strengthen links and create dialogue by providing an outline of the issues and clear lessons for knowledge practitioners, donors and researchers