About

The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) is inviting applications for innovative research that will contribute to the prevention and response of violence against women (VAW) and violence against children (VAC) and other forms of violence driven by gender inequality in low and middle-income countries.

Scope of the SVRI Research Grant 

• The scope of SVRI funding is for research – research is “the systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge” that will advance the field on how to improve research, strengthen responses and/or prevent VAW and child sexual violence in low and middle income countries.

Funding Information

• Applicants can apply for grants between $40,000 to $150,000 no longer than 18 months in length.

Research they would like to support under this grant

• The SVRI grant calls for research that is priority driven and impactful and exemplifies equitable research partnerships and processes that promote the leadership of low- and middle-income country-based researchers. They prioritise research that is grounded in feminist principles and acknowledges and addresses imbalanced power dynamics between donors and researchers as well as in partnerships between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, and within countries and between researchers and practitioners.

• Priority setting processes provide essential direction to research funding to address knowledge gaps. Over the past 5 years, the SVRI has been working with partners to identify priorities for the field. Please refer to these agendas to guide the development of your research question – such as the Global Shared Research Agenda, the Latin America and the Caribbean agenda; the Africa Shared Research Agenda, and priorities for research on the intersections between VAC and VAW. In the absence of a set of published research priorities for your region, your topic and / or your local community, please use the literature, the needs in your own setting and your policy leads to guide and co-create your research question.

Eligibility

What do they like to see in proposals?

• In terms of selection, they like to see proposals that:

  • Are from local organizations based in LMICs; and/or multidisciplinary, multisectoral consortia, especially those led by researchers or evidence builders residing in LMICs. 

  • Embrace an intersectional approach to research and involve communities where relevant, appropriate, and ethical. 

  • Provide a clear breakdown of responsibilities for consortium proposals, ensuring equitable partnerships and including an expert in VAW/VAC research. 

  • Emphasize efforts to build the capacity of early-career researchers from LMICs. 

  • Clearly and comprehensively outline strategies for effective dissemination of findings. 

  • Provide a logical and clear budget with sound justification.

• In your proposal, please also ensure that you: 

  • Provide a clear explanation upfront on how your study builds on current evidence and shows how you have explored and built on existing research. 

  • Articulate how your research addresses a gap in the field, emphasizing advancement of knowledge on VAW/CSV research and programs in LMICs. 

  • Demonstrate how your work will strengthen policy and practice or enhance methodology within the field.

• Thus research supported by the SVRI Research Grant should: 

  • Advance the understanding and knowledge. 

  • Apply feminist and women-centred principles to research and partnerships. 

  • Promote equitable participation and bring to the field diverse voices from low and middle income countries (young researchers, practitioners, survivors, marginalised groups). 

  • Adhere to international safety and ethical guidelines. 

  • Strive for innovation in ideas, new methodologies and partnerships, while building on existing evidence. 

  • Strive to be collaborative, cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary. 

  • Where relevant and appropriate, endeavor to engage the community where the research will take place. 

  • Challenge the gender hierarchy that contributes to VAW and VAC specially child sexual violence in order to promote gender equality. 

  • Inform policy, programmes and services and strengthen access to comprehensive care and support for survivors.

Post Date: May 10, 2024