CFPs: Climate and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Deadline: 12-Apr-2026

The Climate and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Research Grant funds research on how climate change affects SRHR, with priority areas including maternal health, gender-based violence, contraception, and abortion care. Eligible research teams in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can apply for up to USD 55,000 to generate community-centred evidence that informs policy and strengthens resilience.

About the Grant

This grant supports research on the links between climate change and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

The aim is to produce actionable evidence that can:

• Inform SRHR policy

• Strengthen community resilience

• Support adaptation planning

• Improve understanding of lived experiences in climate-affected settings

Funding Available

• Maximum grant per team: USD 55,000

• Covers the full study duration

Priority Research Areas

Applications should focus on one or more of these SRHR themes:

• Maternal health

• Gender-based violence (GBV)

• Contraception

• Abortion care

Grant Objectives

The call aims to:

• Generate community-centred evidence on climate impacts on SRHR

• Support participatory research with climate-affected communities as co-researchers

• Inform National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) or Humanitarian National Adaptation Plans (HNAPs)

• Strengthen country-level SRHR policy

• Build SRHR research capacity in LMICs

• Promote participatory and mixed-methods research

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants are research teams based in LMIC institutions or organisations.

Eligible Applicants Include

• Community organisations

• Civil society organisations (CSOs)

• Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with research or evidence-generation functions

• Universities

• Research centres

• Public health institutes

• Multi-institutional consortia led by in-country institutions

Key Eligibility Rules

Applicants must meet these core requirements:

• The Principal Investigator (PI) must be based in the eligible country

• The core research team must also be based in the eligible country

• International collaboration is allowed, but the project must be locally led

• No more than 15% of the total grant can go to high-income country institutions or individuals

Why This Grant Matters

This call is important because it addresses an under-researched area: how climate change directly affects SRHR outcomes.

It is especially valuable because it:

• Centres community voices

• Supports locally led research

• Connects evidence to policy and adaptation planning

• Builds research capacity in LMICs

• Encourages practical, policy-relevant findings

How to Apply

Simple Steps

1. Confirm country eligibility
   Ensure your institution and core team are based in an eligible low- or middle-income country.

2. Choose a priority theme
   Focus on:

   • Maternal health

   • GBV

   • Contraception

   • Abortion care

3. Design a participatory study
   Use approaches that involve climate-affected communities as active participants or co-researchers.

4. Build a strong research team
   Multi-institutional partnerships are welcome, but leadership must remain in-country.

5. Plan the budget carefully
   Keep the total request within USD 55,000 and ensure high-income country partners receive no more than 15%.

6. Show policy relevance
   Explain how findings can inform:

   • SRHR policy

   • NAPs

   • HNAPs

   • Community resilience strategies

Tips for a Strong Proposal

• Use participatory and mixed-methods approaches

• Clearly link climate impacts to specific SRHR outcomes

• Show strong community engagement

• Explain how findings will support policy or adaptation planning

• Keep leadership and ownership clearly local

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting a project that is not LMIC-led

• Treating communities only as subjects instead of co-researchers

• Weak connection between climate change and SRHR

• Exceeding the 15% cap for high-income country partners

• Proposing broad topics without a clear focus area

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Climate and SRHR Research Grant?

It is a research funding opportunity supporting studies on how climate change affects sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

2. How much funding is available?

Each research team can request up to USD 55,000.

3. What topics are prioritized?

Priority areas include:

• Maternal health

• Gender-based violence

• Contraception

• Abortion care

4. Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include LMIC-based research teams, universities, NGOs, CSOs, research institutes, and in-country led consortia.

5. Can international partners be involved?

Yes, but the PI and core team must be based in the eligible country, and no more than 15% of the grant can go to high-income country partners.

6. What kind of research is preferred?

The call prioritizes community-centred, participatory, and mixed-methods research that can inform policy and adaptation planning.

Conclusion

The Climate and SRHR Research Grant is a strong opportunity for LMIC-based research teams to generate practical evidence on how climate change affects maternal health, GBV, contraception, and abortion care.

With up to USD 55,000 available, the grant is best suited for locally led, participatory, policy-relevant research that strengthens both SRHR outcomes and climate resilience.

For more information, visit WHO.