NIHR: Global Health Research - Health Policy and Systems bands 1 to 3. Deadline: 18 June 2025
ABOUT
The NIHR Global Health Research (GHR) Health Policy and Systems (HPS) programmes will be looking for applications to this annual funding opportunity. GHR-HPS funds research to improve the understanding and effectiveness of health systems and health policy in low and middle income countries (LMICs) on the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list. Research must address evidence needs relating to health systems that are locally identified and prioritised, and must promote health equity, aligning with the aims of Sustainable Development Goal 3. Applications can span from broad, ambitious programmes of research to projects with a narrower scope.
All applications must make clear:
- what will change as a result of the research, and how the change will be enacted
- what health service, system or policy area will be influenced and how it will be done
The GHR-HPS programmes replace the previously run Global Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) Programme and now commissions research through 3 programme bands.
This is a 2 stage (outline application then full application) researcher-led opportunity.
Webinar
In anticipation of this new HPS funding opportunity, a series of webinars to build capacity in the field of HPSR will be delivered by the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research at WHO, in partnership with NIHR. These will cover key HPSR theories, frameworks and research designs and the broader systems perspectives to consider when undertaking HPSR, as well as innovative methodological approaches and frontier topics. The first webinar will be held via Zoom at 11am (UK time) on 20 January 2025 – register to attend the Building capacity in HPSR webinar – Alliance for HPSR at WHO, in partnership with NIHR.
NIHR will then be running a dedicated webinar to support you with your application to GHR-HPS bands 1 to 3 in March 2025 – date to be confirmed. Further details and sign up information will be added to the funders webpage.
Eligibility
There are 3 bands of funding based on the scale and ambition of the proposed research, the maturity of partnerships, teams’ experience and expected capacity strengthening plans. Researchers from high income countries are not eligible to apply as Sole Lead. See Leadership model on funders webpage for more details.
NIHR will consider applications in any field of applied global health policy and systems research. This includes applications from experienced health systems and health policy researchers, or those who are new to research. All applications must benefit people living in one or more Official Development Assistance (ODA)-eligible country.
Amount
Through this opportunity, funding ranges from £0.25 to £4 million, over a period up to 5 years, depending on the band applied for.