SPIA invites early-career researchers and PhD students to apply for small grants to study how CGIAR engages with stakeholders to inform national and regional policy. CGIAR's path from research to policy impact is long, non-linear and hard to trace, and measuring it has been a recognized gap for decades. This call asks researchers to critically examine CGIAR's policy influence pathways: from how evidence was taken up (or not) by policy actors, through to how a policy on paper translates into lived realities. We have shortlisted six cases, building directly on SPIA country studies and spanning themes of fisheries, taxation, social protection, forestry, food safety, and long-term institutional engagement across Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Vietnam. Applicants are requested to select and propose research on one case.
At a glance
Who should apply: PhD students, postdocs, and early-career researchers in political science, sociology, development studies, public policy, and public administration, with interest agricultural policy research
Grant size: Up to USD $5000 per grant
Grant period: September–December 2026, with a final report due end of January 2027
Key dates
Call opens: 6 July 2026
Informational webinar (optional): 16 July 2026 [REGISTER HERE]
Submission deadline: 7 August 2026, 23:59 CEST
Decisions: mid-to-late August 2026
How to apply
Read the full Call for Proposals for case descriptions, indicative research questions, eligibility, and submission requirements.
Application includes a short technical proposal (max three pages) and a light-touch budget, sent to spia@cgiar.org by the deadline above.
Questions?
Join the informational webinar or contact spia@cgiar.org.
