CFPs: Rebuilding Societies Research in Post-war Contexts (France)

Deadline: 14-Sep-2026

The “Post-war contexts: rebuilding societies” program supports interdisciplinary early-stage research on how societies transition from war to peace and rebuild political, social, economic, and cultural systems. It funds €15,000–€30,000 over three years for projects led by French-hosted researchers. The program emphasizes grassroots peacebuilding, institutional reconstruction, and collaboration with diverse societal actors.

Post-war Contexts Research Programme Overview

This initiative supports research on post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding in the 21st century. It examines how societies recover from war and rebuild long-term stability through political, economic, cultural, and social transformation.

The program prioritizes interdisciplinary approaches and encourages collaboration between academia and real-world stakeholders.

Programme Objectives

The program aims to:

• Study transitions from war to peace in modern societies
• Analyze rebuilding of social, political, and economic systems
• Understand grassroots peacebuilding and civic participation
• Examine democratic and institutional reconstruction processes
• Explore cultural, symbolic, and psychological recovery after conflict
• Investigate heritage protection and reappropriation in post-war contexts
• Analyze information flows, narratives, and media influence
• Support policy-relevant and publicly accessible research outputs

Key Research Themes

Eligible research areas include:

• Grassroots peacebuilding and “peace from below”
• Civic engagement and institutional collaboration
• Democratic and political reconstruction
• Economic restructuring in post-conflict settings
• Cultural and symbolic recovery after war
• Psychological and social healing processes
• Heritage preservation and redefinition
• Media, journalism, and information dynamics in post-war societies
• Diaspora roles in reconstruction and stabilization
• Transformation of actors in post-conflict governance
• Legitimacy-building in post-war states
• Long-term peace and stabilization mechanisms

Research Approach and Priorities

The program prioritizes:

• Early-stage interdisciplinary research projects
• Strong collaboration with societal actors
• Engagement with media, economic, and political stakeholders
• Innovative theoretical and methodological approaches
• Research with policy relevance and public impact
• Comparative and multi-level analysis (local, national, global)
• Production of accessible knowledge for public debate

Funding Details

• Total funding: €15,000–€30,000 per project
• Duration: up to 3 years
• Coverage includes:
  • Travel and accommodation
  • Workshops and working meetings
  • Multimedia and dissemination costs
• Not covered: staff salaries or personnel costs

Eligible Applicants

Applicants must meet the following conditions:

• Principal Investigator must hold a permanent position
• Must be affiliated with a French higher education or research institution
• Host institution in France must administer the project
• Teams may include:
  • Doctoral researchers
  • Postdoctoral researchers
  • International collaborators
  • Established researchers

Institutional Requirements

• Project must be hosted by a French research institution
• Formal agreement signed between FMSH and host institution
• PI acts as coordinator for the entire project
• International collaboration is encouraged but must be institutionally anchored in France

Application Criteria

Projects are evaluated based on:

• Academic originality and innovation
• Interdisciplinary methodology
• Engagement with real-world stakeholders
• Relevance to post-war reconstruction challenges
• Clarity of research design and objectives
• Potential for policy and public impact
• Feasibility within three-year timeframe

Programme Focus Areas

The program strongly emphasizes:

• Peacebuilding from below (grassroots actors)
• Reconstruction of political legitimacy
• Social cohesion and civic participation
• Role of media and information systems
• Cultural identity and heritage recovery
• Economic and institutional rebuilding
• Multi-stakeholder collaboration models
• Transformation of post-conflict societies

How the Programme Works

The process typically includes:

• Submission of early-stage interdisciplinary research proposal
• Evaluation based on originality and stakeholder engagement
• Selection of projects for multi-year funding
• Signing of agreement with FMSH and host institution
• Implementation of research activities over 3 years
• Workshops, meetings, and dissemination activities
• Production of policy-relevant research outputs

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Submitting late-stage or fully completed research
• Lack of French institutional affiliation for PI
• Weak interdisciplinary or stakeholder engagement
• Overly theoretical projects without practical relevance
• Missing alignment with post-war reconstruction themes
• Including staff costs (not eligible)

Tips for a Strong Application

To improve success chances:

• Emphasize interdisciplinary research design
• Include strong collaboration with societal actors
• Focus on real-world post-conflict challenges
• Highlight policy relevance and public accessibility
• Demonstrate methodological innovation
• Clearly define post-war context and case studies
• Ensure strong institutional backing in France

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is this research program about?
  • It studies how societies rebuild after war and conflict.
  • It focuses on peacebuilding, governance, and social recovery.
  • It supports interdisciplinary academic research.
• Who can apply?
  • Principal Investigators with permanent positions in France
  • Researchers affiliated with French institutions
  • International collaborators can be included in teams
• How much funding is available?
  • €15,000 to €30,000 per project
  • Over a duration of up to 3 years
• What costs are covered?
  • Travel and accommodation
  • Workshops and meetings
  • Multimedia and dissemination activities
• What costs are not covered?
  • Salaries and staff costs
  • Personnel expenses
• What is the key focus of the program?
  • Post-war reconstruction and peacebuilding
  • Grassroots and institutional transformation
  • Media, culture, and civic engagement

Conclusion

The “Post-war contexts: rebuilding societies” program advances interdisciplinary research on how societies recover from conflict and build sustainable peace. By supporting early-stage, stakeholder-engaged studies, it generates practical insights into political, social, and cultural reconstruction in post-war environments.

For more information, visit Fondation Maison des Science de l’Homme.