ODA Global Innovation Fellowships 2024

The objective of the ODA (Official Development Assistance) Global Innovation Fellowships is to provide opportunities to UK-based early- and mid-career researchers from across the humanities and social sciences to develop their skills, networks and careers in the creative and cultural, public, private and policy sectors to address challenges that require innovative approaches and solutions. Through the ODA Global Innovation Fellowships, researchers in the SHAPE community will be supported to create new and deeper links beyond academia, so enabling knowledge mobilisation and translation, as well as individual skills development.
Career stage
Early-career, Mid-career
Earliest start date
1 Mar 2025
Scheme opens date
13 Jun 2024
Deadline date
06 Nov 2024 - 17:00 GMT
Duration of award
12 months
Contact details

[email protected]

The British Academy will be running a series of online information sharing webinars about this programme, which will each include a Q&A session. These are scheduled to take place on:

9 July, 14.00-15.00

12 September, 10.00-11.00

In order to participate, and for the webinar to be structured as effectively as possible for you, we ask that you submit a short paragraph outlining your proposal and any questions that you may have, as well as indicate that the applicant and their partner organisation can attend the week before the webinar. To submit that information and register to attend the webinar, please contact: [email protected]

Scheme overview

The objective of the ODA (Official Development Assistance) Global Innovation Fellowships is to provide opportunities to UK-based early- and mid-career researchers from across the humanities and social sciences to develop their skills, networks and careers in the creative and cultural, public, private and policy sectors to address challenges that require innovative approaches and solutions. Through the ODA Global Innovation Fellowships, researchers in the SHAPE community will be supported to create new and deeper links beyond academia, so enabling knowledge mobilisation and translation, as well as individual skills development.

This is the first call for this ODA strand of the programme, offering opportunities for ODA Global Innovation Fellowship award-holders to embed themselves with a partner organisation. The partner organisation must be based in any of the following countries: Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam and any country from this list of Least Developed Countries. Applications that are not considered ODA-eligible will not be taken forward through the assessment process.

This programme is part of the £337m International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), which is designed to enable potential and foster prosperity. It puts research and innovation at the heart of the UK’s international relationships, supporting UK researchers and innovators to work with peers around the world on the major themes of our time. It is managed by the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and delivered by a consortium of the UK’s leading research and innovation bodies. In the context of this call, funding from the International Science Partnerships Fund is funded by ODA therefore applications for this funding must be ODA-eligible.

Applications are invited in any of the following areas:

  • Environment, sustainability and nature
  • Transformative technologies
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Cities and urbanisation
  • Global order, geopolitics and international affairs

Successful candidates will be selected on the basis of the quality and interest of the activity or range of activities and outputs proposed in the application. Award-holders will be expected to play a role in promoting the approaches and methods that are the focus of their award, and consider the potential for engagement between academic and non-academic environments. Eligible activities and outputs can involve, but are not limited to:

  • Evidence notes – reports, notes and responses to key challenges/approaches for developing connections with policy leaders or innovators
  • Data analysis – identifying and analysing datasets that may be relevant to enhancing understanding and framing new solutions
  • Case studies – exploring practical or policy-orientated solutions, engagement between academic and non-academic environments and the wider benefits to individuals/communities/regions
  • Briefings/blogs/podcasts/videos and other outputs to reach a variety of audiences and environments, including policymakers (where relevant)
  • Conferences/workshops/webinars/toolkits and other training opportunities which enable knowledge exchange

Scheme opens date: 13 June 2024

Application deadline: 6 November 2024

Starting period of award: ODA Global Innovation Fellowships are expected to commence by September 2025. An earlier start date of March or April 2025 may be possible, in this case the applicant will need to explain how they will plan and manage their relocation on this faster timeline.

Level of award: These Fellowships are offered as awards for up to £150,000 for 12 months in duration (with Full Economic Costing at 80%).

For full information on the ODA Global Innovation Fellowships Scheme, please view our scheme notes.

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