Spotlight Research Grants Program (2026-2027: Research on Principled and Accountable Use of ICTs)

Spotlight Research Grants Program (2026-2027: Research on Principled and Accountable Use of ICTs) is sponsored by Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC) in partnership with the French Red Cross Foundation. This program supports small-scale research projects focused on the principled and accountable use of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), in humanitarian action.

Call for Applications: Research Grants on Principled and Accountable Use of Technology in Humanitarian Action - PrepareCenter Call for Applications: Research Grants on Principled and Accountable Use of Technology in Humanitarian Action GDPC Spotlight Research Grants Program Empowering emerging researchers to turn evidence into action.

Call for Applications: Research Grants on Principled and Accountable Use of Technology in Humanitarian Action The Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC) is pleased to announce the launch of its 2026 Spotlight Research Grants Program in partnership with the French Red Cross Foundation , focused on the theme of principled and accountable use of technology in humanitarian action .

This initiative aims to deepen our understanding of how ICTs including emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) can be applied humanely, ethically, and responsibly in humanitarian contexts by supporting original research in low- and middle-income countries.

The program is designed to bring diverse perspectives on the use of technology in the humanitarian field and to expand the evidence base on how technology can be responsibly used to address existing risks and find innovative solutions to longstanding humanitarian issues. Check Your Eligibility & Apply Deadline for Application Submission is 31 July 2026, 23:59 UTC .

The 2026 GDPC Spotlight Research Grants Program , in partnership with the French Red Cross Foundation , provides funding to university researchers for projects focused on principled and accountable use of technology in humanitarian action. This program specifically supports researchers from low- and middle-income countries .

Awards provide $10,000 USD for research lasting up to eight months , with a completion deadline of June 30, 2027 . This program supports applied and impactful research that can inform policy, planning, humanitarian programming, community action, and so on. Research must be original, and plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification at any stage of the grant process.

Research can be conducted in English or French. For more details, please consult the Frequently Asked Questions section. Add a header to begin generating the table of contents 2.

6 billion people globally are without internet access 27% of people use the internet in low income countries 4% of people in low income countries have 5G coverage Recent decades have seen the rapid emergence and proliferation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), transforming everyday life across the world, including the communities served by humanitarian organizations.

This shift has geopolitical and societal implications, as the power dynamics, financial flows, biases, and assumptions built into ICTs influence the systems in which they are embedded. T echnology is essential to allow humanitarians to continue to deliver on their mission and mandate, especially as needs continue to grow while resources decline.

After more than a decade of “digital transformation”, the sector has demonstrated that certain technologies can indeed be used to improve a variety of fields, such as data analytics and decision-making, from the utilization of satellite imagery to map disaster impact and response, to connectivity for sharing life-saving information; from the automation of back-office functions, to the use of mobile money to support disaster-affected communities, to technology‑enabled farming to significantly improve food production.

Broadly, these ICTs have shown that, properly employed, they can help reach populations that might otherwise be underserved and provide critical support and services that might otherwise be unavailable. It is urgent to embrace these opportunities, which have not yet been fully realized.

Yet new opportunities have also brought new risks to people’s rights, dignity, and agency, which must be mitigated, particularly in the contexts where humanitarian organizations work. Without robust safeguards, ICTs can compromise our principles and unintentionally harm the very communities we seek to protect and empower, potentially eroding their trust.

Technologies can entrench or exacerbate existing inequities, by imposing a new ‘digital divide’ between those who can, and cannot, access and leverage digital technologies to their advantage.

They can expose people and communities to new risks in online and digital spaces, such as cyber crime, a degraded information environment, the harms to mental health, and emerging technology that impacts the neutrality and impartiality of decision making, without sufficient human oversight.

ICTs can introduce new actors and tools into humanitarian action which are not bound by humanitarian principles or the “do no harm” imperative, and were not designed with crises in mind.

Public scrutiny around the potential negative impacts of ICTs on fundamental rights, conflict dynamics, the environment, and security has increased, alongside calls for greater transparency, responsibility, and accountability — especially for public and humanitarian entities.

As supply chains and markets are dominated by a few states and private companies, humanitarian use of technologies can negatively affect neutrality, impartiality, and independence.

The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement The adoption of the first IFRC Digital Transformation Strategy in 2021 has set the IFRC membership on a journey of digital transformation, committing to accountability and integrity grounded in the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement . This seeks to ensure that use and innovation of ICTs are in line with our humanitarian mission and strengthen community trust.

The framework and analysis done by the IFRC on digital maturity provides a baseline to approach gaps and opportunities with shared leadership. The ICRC’s 2025 Technology Strategy underscored that all technology choices must be measured against neutrality, independence, and impartiality, while the ICRC Data Protection Handbook incorporates technology issues such as artificial intelligence and data protection by design.

The institution's policies on Artificial Intelligence (2024) and Biometrics (2019), are grounded in the Fundamental Principles and intended to help staff to safely explore the humanitarian potential of those technologies. This research program aims to deepen our understanding of the responsible use of ICTs in humanitarian action, focusing on diverse and local perspectives.

By supporting original research from low- and middle-income countries, the program seeks to expand knowledge and evidence on diverse pathways to build ethical, safe, and effective use of technology in humanitarian work, while limiting the risks to communities. The program seeks to stimulate new knowledge in priority research questions under the following topics : Community Needs & Digital Realities Topic 1.

1 Needs-Aligned ICTs: What are the priority needs and concerns of affected people regarding digital tools used in humanitarian service delivery? Topic 1. 2 Community Adaptation of ICTs: How do technologies get repurposed or reinterpreted by communities to be utilized for humanitarian purposes?

How or why do communities maintain, adapt, or abandon technologies over time? ICT Solution Feasibility & Implementation Topic 2. 1 Operational Constraints: What are the operational constraints (infrastructure, skills, funding, governance) to implementing ICT solutions in LMIC humanitarian contexts?

How do these impact successful design and use of these ICTs? Topic 2. 2 Digital Maturity Context: How do variations in digital maturity across communities and organizations affect implementation and humanitarian outcomes in different settings?

Topic 2. 3 Humanitarian Principle Alignment: How does proactive alignment of technology design and implementation with humanitarian principles affect outcomes (and address risks)? Data Protection in Humanitarian Action Topic 3.

1 Personal Data Handling: How do disaster-affected people understand, experience, and respond to the collection and use of their personal data in humanitarian programmes and how can this inform policy and practices? Topic 3. 2 Data Privacy & Accountability: What two-way communication mechanisms (feedback loops, complaint systems) are most effective for data privacy and accountability in ICT-enabled humanitarian programs?

Topic 3. 3 Community Trust: How do incidents (e.g., data breaches, misinformation) affect trust in humanitarian actors and programs? Applicants must be affiliated with an accredited university at the time of submission, including PhD candidates, post-doctoral researchers, and faculty members.

Teams of researchers are welcome to submit proposals. Researchers should come from disciplines in social sciences and humanities, such as sociology, anthropology, law, human geography, management, behavioral studies, psychology, etc. Applications are open to researchers who are nationals of low- and middle-income countries , including least developed and upper-middle-income nations. Research must be focused on these countries.

A list of eligible countries can be found here . Proposed research projects must align with one of the the program’s defined topics and clearly demonstrate how they contribute to the selected area of focus. Projects must be feasible for completion within the eight-month program timeline , running from 1 November 2026 to 30 June 30 2027.

Researchers may conduct their research in any language, but the final research paper must be submitted in English or French . If translation into English is needed, the budget proposal should include estimated costs for translation services. Eligible proposals will be reviewed by an expert panel consisting of representatives from GDPC, IFRC, and other humanitarian organizations.

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria: Scientific merit and rigor, clearly demonstrating how the proposed research advances current knowledge and fills critical gaps. Relevance and the alignment of the proposed research with one of the defined research topics, demonstrating a clear understanding of the research question and how the project contributes to the program’s overall objectives.

Potential impact and applicability of research in informing policy and practice on the principled and accountable use of technology in humanitarian action. A thorough understanding of potential ethical concerns and implications associated with the research, along with strategies to mitigate and address these issues.

Qualifications and expertise of the Principal Investigator and key co-investigators (if applicable) to carry out the proposed research. This includes an assessment of the research team’s capability and relevant experience in implementing the proposed project projects, supported by evidence of relevant skills and a proven track record in delivering similar projects.

Reasonable and realistic budget proposal , including a detailed expense breakdown. For details on eligible and ineligible costs, refer to the FAQ section of this page. A clear and achievable timeline demonstrating the ability to complete and submit the final research paper by June 30 2027, or earlier.

Cross- collaboration and partnership between stakeholders. A l etter of support from a relevant partner organization or agency should be included in the application. Be led by researchers based in LMICs.

Use community‑based or participatory methodologies. Produce outputs accessible to local stakeholders (not only academic journals). Include a letter of support from a local stakeholder with an interest in taking forward the results of the research and demonstrates who the audience is for the research (project development, program recommendations, policy changes, advocacy, etc.).

Critically assess technology , not assume its benefit. November 2026 - June 2027 Application Submission Deadline Application Review Period We strongly recommend submitting your application well in advance of the deadline and not waiting until the last days to avoid potential technical issues. The deadline for submitting applications for the current research call is 31 July 2026 (23:59 GMT) .

To determine your eligibility and receive a link to the Application Portal, click the link below. The complete application package must include: Applicant Information : This includes professional affiliation details. Project Summary : A concise project abstract and key information.

Project Description : Detail on the research background, rationale, objectives, methodology, scientific merit, broader impact, and ethical considerations. Budget: A budget proposal in US Dollars, including a detailed breakdown of expenses and budget justification. Research Team Composition: Include information about the Principal Investigator (PI) and key co-investigators, along with their CVs.

Letters of Collaboration: For projects involving partnerships with institutions or organizations outside the applicant's primary affiliation, a letter of support from each partner institution is required. Click here to determine your eligibility to apply for this grant, and receive a link to the Application Portal. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What is the funding amount for the research grants?

The research grants are US$ 10,000. What languages are supported? While applications must be submitted in English, the research may be conducted in any language.

Final reports must be submitted in English or French. What specific expenses can be covered by the research grant funding? Eligible and Ineligible Costs Guidelines The grant funds may only be used for expenses directly related to the proposed research project .

Below is a breakdown of eligible and ineligible costs: Funds may be used to compensate part-time staff, office staff, graduate students, and other personnel directly supporting the research project. Funds may NOT be used to supplement the salaries of full-time scientists, administrators, or administrative staff not directly engaged in the project. Data Collection & Analysis: Survey or interview costs, including participant incentives.

Leasing or renting equipment for the duration of the project. Purchase of equipment that remains in the department to enhance long-term research capacity. Software or tools needed for data collection, analysis, and conducting the research.

Costs for data collection unrelated to the project or non-essential software. Equipment or software that will become the personal property of an individual researcher after the project’s completion. Travel essential to the project, using the most economical mode of transport.

Airfare at economy rate (if possible), with further details provided in the final contract. Transportation between the airport and hotel by the most economical means. Rental or hiring of vehicles for fieldwork in remote locations.

Costs for airport taxes, visas, and necessary inoculations. Per diems may be provided to project team members for necessary travel requiring overnight stays, covering accommodation and daily allowances. Upgrades to business or first-class airfare.

Personal phone calls during travel. Excess baggage fees, unless related to project-specific items. Personal side trips or unrelated travel.

Administrative overhead or indirect costs, up to 8% of the total grant. Overhead or indirect costs exceeding the 8% limit, or unrelated general institutional expenses. Costs for printing, copying, communication, and rental of meeting rooms for project-related activities.

Entertainment, hospitality, or social event costs unrelated to research dissemination. What should my budget proposal for the research project include? The budget proposal for the research project should be in US dollars and should include a breakdown of expenses.

For exchange rate information please see Oanda Currency Converter . Can generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools be used in proposal preparation and/or research projects? Researchers are allowed to use AI tools as a supportive aid for improving writing.

However, all intellectual contributions and research outcomes must be the result of human effort and expertise. If generative AI (GenAI) tools are used, researchers must clearly indicate in the project proposal the extent and manner in which these tools contributed to the development of their proposal or research deliverables.

Proposers are fully responsible for ensuring the accuracy and authenticity of their work, even when AI tools are used. Any breach of research integrity—such as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism—whether in proposals or final reports funded by GDPC, may result in disqualification at any stage.

Since GenAI tools can create risks of research misconduct, proposers and awardees must ensure that the integrity of their work and the reporting of research results are maintained. How are low- and middle-income countries determined for the purposes of this research grants program?

Low- and middle-income countries for this research grants program are defined based on the country classifications provided by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). I am originally from a low- or middle-income country but currently reside in a high-income country. Can I still apply for the research grants program?

Yes, you are eligible to apply for the research grants program if you are if you are a national of a low- or middle-income country , even if you currently reside in a high-income country. However, please keep in mind that your research project must focus on addressing issues within a low- or middle-income country context. Can international collaborations be part of the research proposals?

Yes, international collaborations and partnerships between various institutions are allowed. A letter of support from a relevant partner institution should be included in the application. Can I collaborate with researchers from institutions in high-income countries?

While the program is primarily focused on researchers from low- and middle-income countries, collaborations with researchers from high-income countries or institutions are not explicitly prohibited. However, the primary applicant must be from a low- or middle-income country , and the research should primarily address the needs and challenges of communities in those countries.

Can I submit my research findings to academic journals or conferences? Yes, researchers are encouraged to disseminate their research findings through academic journals or conferences. Publishing your findings in reputable journals or presenting them at conferences can contribute to the expansion of the evidence base and knowledge in the field.

However, it is important to ensure that any publication or presentation acknowledges the support received from the Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC) and French Red Cross Foundation. Are there any restrictions on the research methods or approaches that can be used? No, there are no specific restrictions on the research methods or approaches that can be used.

Researchers are encouraged to approach their projects with creativity and innovation and choose their preferred methods and approaches. However, it is important to ensure that the chosen methods and approaches are appropriate for addressing the research questions and objectives outlined in the proposal. Are there any specific ethical considerations or guidelines that need to be followed in the research?

While the program does not provide explicit guidelines on ethics, it is important for researchers to ensure that their studies adhere to ethical principles. This includes obtaining informed consent from participants, protecting their privacy and confidentiality, and minimizing any potential harm or risks associated with the research.

Researchers should also consider the ethical implications of their research on the communities and ensure that their work promotes inclusivity and respect. If the researcher's university requires Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, verification of this approval must be submitted to GDPC once it is obtained. Can the research project be an extension of an ongoing study or does it have to be a completely new research project?

The program welcomes both completely new research projects and extensions of ongoing studies. However, if it is an extension of a previous study, the proposal should clearly outline how the new research project builds upon and expands the existing work. More questions?

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