Deadline: 08-Aug-2025
The UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub (UKHIH) has announced a new Call for Proposals for a research and learning initiative focused on understanding and influencing how humanitarian decisions are made in real-world contexts. This initiative is part of UKHIH’s mission to support a stronger environment for humanitarian research and innovation.
The goal is to provide UKHIH and Elrha grantees with practical, evidence-informed insights into the complex systems that influence humanitarian decision-making. This includes analyzing how political, institutional, and behavioural factors shape actions and choices within the humanitarian sector.
The objectives of this commission include generating insights into the informal and formal factors that influence decision-making, building on existing literature to contextualize findings, and producing accessible resources that help grantees navigate these systems. The research will also complement Elrha’s Research for Impact Framework by clarifying how strategies can be adapted across various contexts.
Recognizing the diversity within humanitarian systems, the research will explore different settings and operational models, especially in regions like East Africa and the Middle East where related frameworks have been previously implemented. Outputs will include a learning product mapping decision-making structures and a practical resource offering guidance for navigating complex humanitarian environments.
To ensure relevance, the research may focus on specific areas where UKHIH and Elrha grantees are active, with selected case studies reflecting various decision-making levels. A case study approach will be used to identify patterns and practical insights from different operational realities, including clusters, country-level mechanisms, donor groups, and agencies.
This work must build directly on prior research to avoid duplication. An early targeted literature review will ensure that existing knowledge is integrated and extended. The outputs should provide value not only for ongoing programming but also for future commissioning efforts.
The total contract value is expected to be up to £40,000 GBP. The project must begin no later than September 2025 and be completed by January 2026. Only providers available within this timeframe should apply.
Bidders must submit clear, concise evidence of their ability to meet the proposal requirements. The service provider must be legally registered in any country and may belong to any type of organization—whether private, nonprofit, academic, or otherwise.
Proposals must include a methodology that outlines a scoping phase, key informant interviews, a literature review, and case profiling. Findings will be synthesized across cases to create learning outputs, and co-design sessions will be used to test and refine these resources. Ethical, inclusive, and collaborative approaches are essential throughout the process.
Quality assurance is a key requirement. Proposals must show how the relevance and accuracy of outputs will be maintained, how feedback loops will be integrated, and how outputs will be validated before finalization.
Applicants must demonstrate that their team includes experienced personnel with strong backgrounds in humanitarian systems, applied research, policy analysis, and stakeholder engagement. Experience in coordination mechanisms, behavioural insights, and research uptake frameworks is preferred. Teams must also be skilled in communication and committed to ethical research practices.
For more information, visit UKHIH.
