ODA Global Innovation Fellowships: C40

The objective of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) 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 C40, in their South Africa office. 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, 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:

• Cities, Climate & Housing
• Cities, Climate & Health
• Cities and a Green & Just Transition

C40 is a global network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities that are united in action to confront the climate crisis.  Mayors of C40 cities are committed to using an inclusive, science-based and collaborative approach to cut their fair share of emissions in half by 2030, help the world limit global heating to 1.5°C, and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities. C40 supports mayors to do this by:

• Raising climate ambition through 1.5°C climate action plan support, high-impact accelerators and fostering innovation.
• Building equitable and thriving communities via global and regional programmes.
• Building a global movement through robust international advocacy and diplomacy.
• Scaling up climate action and sharing best practices across high-impact sectors.
• Facilitating access to finance for investment in green jobs and projects that improve resilience in cities.

The aim is to have a mutually beneficial partnership between the fellowship award holder and C40, with each able to take advantage of fresh perspectives and expand their networks and reach. It will enable the award holder to strengthen and create new links across policy and academia, enabling knowledge mobilisation and translation, and the opportunity to develop new approaches and solutions to policy challenges through providing a different perspective.

The Academy is offering up to one to two one-year fellowships hosted in C40,’s office in South Africa. These are offered as awards for up to £150,000 for 12 months in duration (with Full Economic Costing at 80%).

Applications must be submitted by 27 November 2024, 17.00 (GMT).