Deadline: 6-Jul-23

The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) is inviting applications for innovative research and interventions 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.

The aim of this sexual violence research agenda is to focus attention on and funnel limited resources to redress knowledge gaps.

The research agenda serves to:

• assist researchers to identify study questions within the areas of highest need;
• assist donors in shaping funding programmes that are based on research gaps and priorities, and promote best use of limited research resources; and
• inform the development of responsive and effective sexual violence services, prevention and advocacy programmes.

Priority Areas

• Priority Area 1: Nature, prevalence, social context and risk factors associated with sexual Violence
• Priority Area 2: Sexual violence prevention
• Priority Area 3: Appropriateness and effectiveness of sexual violence services
• Priority Area 4: Childhood sexual abuse
• Priority Area 5: Sexual violence in conflict and emergency settings
• Priority Area 6: HIV and sexual violence

Grant Value and Duration

• Applicants can apply for grants between $40,000 to $150,000 no longer than 18 months in length.
• The common characteristic of these awards is the provision of limited funding for a short period of time to research projects with clear, measurable outcomes.

Eligible Projects

• Types of projects that may be supported under this grant include:
  • Research projects that are either stand-alone projects or a component of a larger project that will guide efforts to effectively address or prevent VAW and VAC.
  • Qualitative studies exploring the effectiveness and process of creating change with innovative VAW and VAC prevention interventions, or studying the acceptability, impact, and process of change created by interventions that support and assist survivors of VAW and VAC.
  • Projects that aim to address the prevention and response to VAW and VAC together or simultaneously, or through a single intervention with distinct elements.
  • Projects that aim to understand how to integrate programming for VAW and/or VAC into other sectoral work and or large infrastructure development programmes.
  • Projects that develop innovative methods and tools for VAW and/or VAC research.
  • Projects that evaluate how to effectively expand tested interventions for preventing and responding to VAW and VAC.
  • Secondary analysis of existing data that provides insights into addressing VAW and VAC more effectively and sustainably.
  • Research on violence across diverse populations in situations of vulnerability, including but not limited to persons with disabilities, people living with HIV, older persons, indigenous peoples, LGBTQI+ people, refugees, internally displaced persons, and migrants.
  • Projects that enhance our understanding of sexual violence against children or adolescents, including research on interventions to prevent such violence and/or support child and adolescent survivors of such violence.
• The Global Shared Research Agenda is a valuable tool for providing guidance on research priorities identified by the field. There might be other relevant research themes in different contexts, so the GRSA should be used as a general guidance tool.

Eligibility Criteria

• Projects supported by The SVRI Research Grant should:
  • Apply feminist and women-centred research and partnerships.
  • Be conceptualised within a human rights framework.
  • Adhere to international safety standards and ethical guidelines.
  • Strive for innovation in ideas, new methodologies and partnerships, while building on evidence.
  • Emphasise collaboration, cross-sectoral approaches and multi-disciplinary perspectives.
  • Promote equitable participation and bring diverse voices from low- and middle-income countries (researchers, survivors, marginalised groups) to the field.
  • Endeavour, where relevant and appropriate, to engage the community where the research will take place.
  • Challenge the gender hierarchy that contributes to VAW and VAC in order to promote gender equality.
  • Inform policy, programmes and services and contribute to comprehensive care and support for survivors.
• Language of application: Applications in English, French and Spanish will be accepted.

For more information, visit Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI).