Call for Proposals: Research Grant Program (Cambodia)

The DW Akademie Research Grant 2026 provides funding of up to EUR 12,000 to support research on youth development and societal participation in Cambodia. The grant is open to eligible organizations legally operating in Cambodia and aims to generate evidence that strengthens youth participation in policymaking, supports civil society advocacy, and promotes inclusive governance through publicly accessible research.

About the DW Akademie Research Grant

The DW Akademie Research Grant is a funding opportunity designed to strengthen evidence-based policymaking by supporting high-quality research on youth participation and societal engagement in Cambodia. The programme seeks to empower young people aged 15–35, particularly women and members of marginalized communities, by producing research that informs public dialogue and policy development.

The initiative also supports civil society organizations (CSOs), grassroots organizations, think tanks, academic institutions, and media practitioners by providing reliable evidence that can be used to advocate for greater youth inclusion in decision-making processes.

Selected projects are expected to conduct comprehensive research, publish findings, and present results in accessible formats that reach policymakers, youth organizations, civil society, media professionals, and the wider public.

Funding Amount

Successful applicants may receive:

Up to EUR 12,000 per project.

The funding supports research implementation, publication, dissemination, and related project activities.

Programme Objectives

The grant aims to:

Strengthen youth participation in policymaking.
Support evidence-based policy advocacy.
Empower young people in Cambodia.
Promote inclusive governance.
Generate research on youth development.
Strengthen the role of civil society organizations.
Support media engagement on youth issues.
Encourage public dialogue based on research findings.
Increase participation of marginalized groups, especially women.
Improve access to research for policymakers and communities.

Research Focus Areas

Research proposals should examine one or more aspects of:

Youth participation in policymaking.
Youth development.
Civic participation.
Social inclusion.
Democratic participation.
Civil society engagement.
Youth leadership.
Public policy.
Governance.
Community participation.
Gender inclusion.
Media and civic engagement.
Evidence-based advocacy.
Participation of marginalized groups.

Projects should contribute practical knowledge that supports more inclusive policymaking in Cambodia.

Target Beneficiaries

The programme primarily benefits:

Young people aged 15–35.
Women.
Marginalized communities.
Civil society organizations.
Grassroots organizations.
Civil society initiatives.
Media practitioners.
Policymakers.
Academic and research communities.

Research should generate evidence that can improve opportunities for these groups to participate meaningfully in public decision-making.

Eligible Expenses

Grant funding may support a range of research-related costs, including:

Data collection and research activities.
Field research expenses.
Interview-related travel.
Catering for research activities.
Per diem costs.
Research subscriptions.
Editing services.
Graphic design support.
Publication costs.
Public presentation of research findings.
Small equipment such as microphones.
Software required for research.
Teaching and learning resources.
Books and reference materials.
Internet and communication costs for meetings.

All expenses should be directly related to the approved research project.

Expected Project Outputs

Each successful project is expected to produce:

One comprehensive research study.
Evidence-based analysis on youth participation in policymaking.
Policy recommendations.
Publicly accessible research publications.
Presentations of research findings.
Resources that support advocacy by youth organizations, civil society organizations, and media practitioners.

Research outputs should be presented in formats that are understandable and accessible to a broad audience.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include organizations that are legally operating in Cambodia, such as:

Registered civil society organizations (CSOs).
Grassroots civil society organizations.
Non-profit businesses.
Think tanks.
Academic institutions.

Applicants must also:

Be legally registered in Cambodia.
Be eligible to receive international public funding.
Have experience managing public grants.
Demonstrate experience conducting research.
Show expertise in youth empowerment and policymaking.
Have strong research and data management capacity.
Understand Cambodia’s civil society environment and political context.

How to Apply

Organizations interested in applying should follow these steps.

Review the official grant guidelines and eligibility requirements.
Identify a research topic related to youth participation and policymaking in Cambodia.
Develop a research methodology and implementation plan.
Prepare a realistic project budget.
Explain how the research will contribute to evidence-based policymaking.
Describe how findings will be published and shared publicly.
Demonstrate organizational research experience and capacity.
Complete the official application form.
Submit all required supporting documents before the deadline.
Respond to any requests for clarification during the assessment process if required.

Application Components

A strong proposal should generally include:

Organizational profile.
Legal registration details.
Research proposal.
Research objectives.
Methodology.
Implementation timeline.
Budget and budget justification.
Publication and dissemination plan.
Organizational experience.
Monitoring and evaluation approach.
Supporting documentation requested by the programme.

Selection Criteria

Applications are expected to be evaluated based on:

Relevance to programme objectives.
Quality of the proposed research.
Innovation and originality.
Organizational experience.
Research methodology.
Capacity to manage public funding.
Expertise in youth participation and policymaking.
Dissemination strategy.
Potential policy impact.
Value for money.

Projects with strong evidence-based approaches and clear plans for public engagement are likely to be more competitive.

Why This Grant Matters

Young people play a critical role in shaping Cambodia’s future, yet many face barriers to meaningful participation in policymaking. High-quality research can provide evidence that supports better policies, stronger civic engagement, and more inclusive governance.

The programme helps:

Increase youth participation in public decision-making.
Strengthen evidence-based policymaking.
Support civil society advocacy.
Improve public understanding of youth issues.
Promote gender equality and inclusion.
Strengthen collaboration between researchers, media, and civil society.
Generate practical policy recommendations.
Encourage transparent and participatory governance.

By funding research and public dissemination, the programme helps create informed dialogue and supports policies that better reflect the needs and aspirations of Cambodia’s young people.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid these common mistakes.

Submitting research that is unrelated to youth participation or policymaking.
Providing an unclear research methodology.
Failing to explain the expected policy impact.
Preparing unrealistic budgets.
Omitting publication and dissemination plans.
Demonstrating insufficient organizational research experience.
Failing to show expertise in Cambodia’s policy or civil society context.
Submitting incomplete application documents.

Strong proposals should combine rigorous research methods, practical policy relevance, and clear strategies for communicating findings to stakeholders.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the DW Akademie Research Grant?

It is a grant programme that supports research on youth development and participation in policymaking in Cambodia, helping generate evidence for more inclusive governance and public policy.

How much funding is available?

Successful applicants may receive up to EUR 12,000 per research project.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include registered civil society organizations, non-profit businesses, think tanks, and academic institutions legally operating in Cambodia that meet the programme’s eligibility requirements.

What topics should the research cover?

Research should examine youth participation in policymaking, youth development, civic engagement, social inclusion, governance, or related issues affecting young people in Cambodia.

What expenses can be funded?

Funding may cover research activities, interviews, travel, editing, graphic design, publication costs, software, small equipment, internet costs, teaching resources, books, and public dissemination of research findings.

What outputs are expected from successful projects?

Each project should produce one comprehensive research study, policy recommendations, publicly accessible publications, and presentations that share findings with youth, civil society organizations, media practitioners, and policymakers.

What makes a strong application?

A competitive proposal demonstrates a clear research question, strong methodology, organizational experience, practical policy relevance, effective dissemination plans, and the potential to improve youth participation in policymaking.

Conclusion

The DW Akademie Research Grant 2026 offers organizations in Cambodia an opportunity to conduct impactful research that strengthens youth participation in policymaking and supports evidence-based governance. With funding of up to EUR 12,000, the programme enables civil society organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions to produce high-quality research, publish accessible findings, and contribute to meaningful dialogue on youth development, inclusion, and democratic participation. By supporting research-driven advocacy, the initiative helps create a stronger foundation for policies that reflect the voices and aspirations of Cambodia’s young people.