2025 Spring Development Economics Challenge
Description
The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) is pleased to announce our Spring 2025 Development Economics Challenge Grants. CEGA has created three distinct applications for different eligibility groups.* Please select the application that aligns with your status:
- UC Berkeley PhD Candidates
- PhD candidates at CEGA-affiliated universities other than UC Berkeley
- Faculty awards at any CEGA-affiliated university
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.
Note: This call for applications is part of a repeating program to fund research across all three categories and there will be a similar RFP released in Fall 2025.
*If you want to be considered for more than one opportunity, please make sure to submit separate applications for each.
University of California, Berkeley PhD Candidates
We offer two types of awards to support original research led by UC Berkeley PhD students. $180,000 will be made available for UCB PhD students in Spring 2025:
(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 6, 2025 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.
Submit Application Here
PhD Candidates at CEGA-Affiliated Universities NOT Berkeley
We will offer two types of awards to support original research led by PhD students at CEGA-affiliate universities* (not UCB). $100,000 will be made available for non-UCB PhD students in Spring 2025:
(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 6, 2025 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.
Submit Application Here
*CEGA Affiliated Universities: University of California system (Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Diego), California Institute of Technology, California Polytechnic State University, Claremont Graduate University, Loyola Marymount University, Naval Postgraduate School in Monterrey, Oregon State University, Stanford University, University of British Columbia, University of Oregon, University of San Francisco, University of Southern California, University of Washington, Washington State University
Faculty at CEGA-Affiliated Universities
We will offer awards to support original research led by faculty at CEGA-Affiliated universities (Faculty Affiliate status for the main applicant is required). $80,000 will be made available for Faculty Affiliates in Fall 2024:
(1) Up to $20,000 for early-stage 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/or other required deliverables.
Deadline: April 6, 2025 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Eligibility Criteria: Faculty at CEGA-Affiliated universities.*
Application Process: Please complete the Application Form. Applications must include a proposal describing the research (no more than 2 pages) and a budget. All materials must be submitted in a single PDF file through the appropriate link at our online portal, Submittable.
Please email Sam Bordia (bordia@berkeley.edu) with any inquiries.
*CEGA Affiliated Universities: University of California system (Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Diego), California Institute of Technology, California Polytechnic State University, Claremont Graduate University, Loyola Marymount University, Naval Postgraduate School in Monterrey, Oregon State University, Stanford University, University of British Columbia, University of Oregon, University of San Francisco, University of Southern California, University of Washington, Washington State University
