2026 Spring Development Economics Challenge (UCB Students)
Photo credit: Michelle Layvant
Description
The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) is pleased to announce our Spring 2026 Development Economics Challenge Grants. While past rounds of the Development Economics Challenge have been open to students and faculty at affiliated universities, unfortunately, this round is only open to PhD students at UC Berkeley.
University of California, Berkeley PhD Candidates
We offer two types of awards to support original research led by UC Berkeley PhD students. $100,000 will be made available for UCB PhD students in Spring 2026:
(1) travel grants up to $5,000 for scoping and/or short-term fieldwork;
(2) seed grants up to $20,000 for extensive, longer-term projects.
Proposed research must involve rigorous evaluation of programs or policies designed to alleviate poverty and promote social or economic development in low- and middle- income countries. Grant funds may be used to cover travel and lodging, data collection or access, data analysis, and related activities. Grants may not be used for researcher salaries nor for F&A/Overhead/Indirect Costs.
Researchers that have previously received CEGA funding are eligible for additional CEGA funding if they have completed requested retrospective surveys, interim and final reports, and other required deliverables.
Deadline: April 26, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Eligibility Criteria: Doctoral students at UC Berkeley can apply. Each application must include a nomination from a CEGA faculty affiliate sponsor. The nomination must be emailed to Sam Bordia (bordia@berkeley.edu) by the submission deadline (simply stating, “I have reviewed the proposed research and agree to nominate the applicant for this award” is adequate).
Application Process: Please download and complete the Application Form. Applications must include a proposal describing the research (no more than 2 pages) and a budget. All materials should be submitted in a single PDF file through our online portal, linked below.
Please email Sam Bordia (bordia@berkeley.edu) with any inquiries.
