Funding announced for Official Development Assistance Challenge-Oriented Research Grants 2024

The British Academy is pleased to announce the successful investigators of the ODA Challenge-Oriented Research Grants programme 2024.

The programme supports researchers in the humanities and social sciences based in the UK and Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam and/or Least Developed Countries to develop and/or deepen international research collaborations on internationally focused ODA-eligible research projects on specific global challenges.

The 49 successful research projects under this programme will address current global policy challenges, related to themes such as antimicrobial resistance, environmental resilience and climate action, and pandemic preparedness.

The awards provide opportunities to develop and deepen international research collaborations, deliver policy relevant ODA-eligible research on specific global challenges, and engage with local and national community, societal, business and policy stakeholders to design, develop and embed the research findings.

The programme is supported under the UK Government’s International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF). The £337m fund is designed to enable potential and foster prosperity. It puts research and innovation at the heart of our international relationships, supporting UK researchers and innovators to work with peers around the world on the major themes of our time: planet, health, tech, and talent. The fund is managed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and delivered by a consortium of the UK’s leading research and innovation bodies

The 2024 ODA Challenge-Oriented Research Grants awardees are:

Please note: Awards are arranged alphabetically by surname of the grant recipient under each theme heading. The institution is that given at the time of application.

Antimicrobial Resistance

Research Team: Professor Alexandra Hughes, Newcastle University; Professor Alister Munthali, University of Malawi; Profesor Emma Roe, University of Southampton

Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance in Malawian Poultry Farming: Policy and Practice Post-Pandemic

Research Team: Dr Helen Lambert, University of Bristol; Dr Mariam Taher Amin, Assiut University; Dr Nour Alhusein, University of Bristol; Dr Amira Fathy El-Gazzer, Badr University

Exploring Social and Cultural Determinants of Antibiotic Use in Semi-Urban Egypt

Research Team: Dr Emma Laurie, University of Glasgow; Professor Shona Hilton, University of Glasgow; Dr Tiziana Lembo, University of Glasgow, Professor Stephen Mshana, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences; Dr Jeremiah Seni, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences

Antimicrobial Resistance: Rendering the Invisible, Visible in Neonatal Wards in Tanzania (ARRIVe)

Research Team: Dr Edna Mutua, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme; Professor Edwine Barasa, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme; Dr Sonia Lewycka, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit; Professor Sassy Molynuex, University of Oxford; Dr Anita Musiega, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme; Dr Hai Ngo, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit

AMR funding landscapes and their implications for AMR containment in Kenya and Vietnam.

Research Team: Professor Emily Rousham, Loughborough University; Md Mahbubur Rahman, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B)

Identifying solutions for effective One Health policy and surveillance on antibiotic resistance in Bangladesh

Culture, Heritage and Climate Action

Research Team: Professor Mark Horton, Royal Agricultural University, Dr Annalisa Christie, University of Stirling; Professor Elgidius Ichumbaki, University of Dar es Salaam

Giving Us Voice: Curating community perspectives on the impact of climate change on marine resource exploitation in Pemba, Unguja and Mafia (Tanzania)

Research Team: Professor Paul Nugent, University of Edinburgh, Dr Isabella Soi, University of Cagliari; Professor Cristina Trois, University of Stellenbosch

Living Heritage, Climate Change, and Sustainability in South African Agriculture.

Research Team: Dr Nicholas Simpson, Overseas Development Institute; Professor Joanne Clarke, University of East Anglia; Dr Moira Fitzpatrick, National Museums and Monuments; Dr Wendy Foden, South African National Park

Boosting heritage adaptation to climate change through climate literacy

Research Team: Professor Jeff Tan, Aga Khan University's Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations (AKU-ISMC); Dr Matthew Benson, Think City; Dr Yogeswary Chellappan, Think City; Professor Stephen Chia, University Sains Malaysia

Harnessing Heritage: Reducing Heat and Carbon Emissions Through the Use of Traditional Building Techniques and Materials in a World Heritage Site in Malaysia

Environmental Resilience and Climate Action

Research Team: Dr Hanane Benadi, The London School of Economics and Political Science; Dr Maha Khalil, Cairo University

Gender, Religion and Climate change: Women as Producers and Translators of Climate Knowledge and Expertise in Egypt 

Research Team: Ms Lei Bian, London School of Economics and Political Science; Engineer Madrono Cabrestante Jr., Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff; Dr Arnica De Guzman Mortillero, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff; Professor Elizabeth Robinson, London School of Economics and Political Science

Tackling climate change through health-oriented policy interventions in coastal marinescapes

Research Team: Dr Leanne Proops, University of Portsmouth; Dr Tequiero Abuom Okumu, University of Nairobi; Dr Emily Haddy, University of Portsmouth

“When the donkeys start dying, the people are next”: working animals as agents of climate-related drought resilience in marginalised communities

Research Team: Dr Edgar Rodriguez-Huerta, University of Nottingham; Dr Luís Henrique da Costa Leão, Federal University Fluminense

Climate Change, Occupational Health, and Decent Work: Worker Vulnerabilities and Response in Brazilian Agriculture

Research Team: Professor Ian Scoones, Institute of Development Studies; Dr Mehmet Fatih Tatari, Bilkent University

Pastoralism and action for sustainability: Participatory planning for the governance of extensive grazing in Turkey

Research Team: Professor Catherine Sutherland, University of KwaZulu-Natal; Dr Preyan Arumugam, University of KwaZulu-Natal; Professor Mary Lawhon, University of Edinburgh; Dr Hayley Leck, International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)Dr Santiago Septien-Stringel, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Learning from Durban: Resilience, climate action and reconfigured infrastructure in changing social and environmental conditions

Research Team: Professor Celine Tan, University of Warwick; Dr Basani Baloyi, Institute for Economic Justice; Dr Gamze Erdem Turkelli, University of Antwerp; Dr Anil Yilmaz Vastardis, University of Essex; Mr Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara, Centre for Law and Economics Studies

Equity and the Global Climate Finance Architecture: An Evaluation of the Just Transition Partnership (JETP) Framework

Pandemic preparedness

Research Team: Dr Nasrul Ismail, University of Bristol; Dr Thaatchaayini Kananatu, Monash University Malaysia; Professor Pitch Pongsawat, Chulalongkorn University; Dr Elmer Soriano, University of the Philippines and Civika Asian Development Academy

Penal pandemic: A comparative study on COVID-19 pandemic experiences in Southeast Asian prisons to inform future pandemic preparedness.

Research Team: Professor Dinar Kale, The Open University; Professor Rebecca Hanlin, University of Johannesburg; Dr Ann Kingiri, African Centre for Technology Studies; Professor Theo Papaioannou, The Open University

Reimagining health-industry policy linkages in Africa for pandemic preparedness

Research Team: Dr Sabrina Li, University of Nottingham; Dr Carlos A Prete Jr, University of São Paulo

Mapping Vulnerability during Brazil's Dengue Crisis

Research Team: Dr Marco Liverani, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Dr Por Ir, National Institute of Public Health; Professor Mishal Khan, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Dr James Rudge, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Nina van der Mark, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Dr Arata Hidano, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Breaking silos: understanding and developing cross-sectoral cooperation to tackle epidemic threats

Research Team: Professor Hayley MacGregor, Institute of Development Studies; Dr Mercy Brown-Luthango, University of Cape Town; Professor Andrew Boulle, University of Cape Town; Professor Mary-Ann Davies, University of Cape Town; Dr Gareth Haysom, University of Cape Town; Professor Nicholas Nisbett, Institute of Development Studies

Strengthening community resilience for pandemic preparedness in the Western Cape, South Africa

Research Team: Dr Syed Shahid Abbas, Institute of Development Studies; Dr Esther Mokuwa, Njala University

Pandemic preparedness: Learning from the successes and failures in transdisciplinary working in Sierra Leone

Power and Voice in Climate Action

Research Team: Dr Sarah Arens, University of Liverpool; Dr Blake Ewing, University of Nottingham; Dr Bonaventure Munganga, University of Technology Sydney and University of New South Wales; Dr Emery Mushagalusa Mudinga, Institut Supérieur de Développment Rural (ISDR); Dr Nicola Thomas, Lancaster University

Re-valuing Local Knowledges: Understanding Voice, Land and Power for Climate Action in Eastern DRC

Research Team: Dr Francisco Calafate-Faria, London South Bank University; Professor Romulo Soares Barbosa, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros; Professor Klemens Laschefski, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Dr Aline Weber Sulzbacher, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri

Local, Indigenous, Quilombola and Traditional Communities and the construction of the 'Lithium Valley' in Minas Gerais, Brazil: Empowering silenced voices in the energy transition (LIQUIT)

Research Team: Dr Deena Dajani, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED); Dr Lubna Shaheen, UN-Habitat Jordan; Dr Gilbert Siame, University of Zambia

Drought in Displacement: generating evidence to inform responses to urban drought that are inclusive of displaced people

Research Team: Professor Deborah Dixon, University of Glasgow; Dr Wilfred Kadewa Malawi University of Science and Technology; Dr Marion Kajombo, Malawi University of Science and Technology; Dr Lazaros Karaliotas, University of Glasgow; Dr Sarwar Sohel, University of Glasgow; Professor Cecilia Tortajada, University of Glasgow; Dr Jiren Xu, University of Glasgow

Knowing Risk: Embedding Warning Systems and Environmental Monitoring in Community Environmental Histories and Citizen Science

Research Team: Professor Eleanore Hargreaves, University College London; Dr Dalia Elhawary, Alexandria University; Dr Richard Sheldrake, University College London; Professor Nicola Walshe, University College London

Climate change and sustainable development education in Egypt: Policy-relevant Evidence from Girls and their teachers in under-privileged urban primary Schools in Egypt

Research Team: Dr Suk-Jun Kim, University of Aberdeen; Dr Alp Arisoy, Urban.Koop; Dr Christina Ballico, University of Aberdeen; Dr David Haro, University of Aberdeen 

Futures of Listening: Water Knowledge from Two Cities

Research Team: Dr Francesca Salvi, University of Nottingham; Dr Elena Colonna, CoMeDia - Comunicação, Media e Diálogo

Empowering the future: Children voices and actions on Climate Change Education in Mozambique

Societal Challenges and Approaches to Responsible Technologies

Research Team: Professor Federico Caprotti, University of Exeter; Professor Rober Kajobe, Muni University; Dr Innocent Miria Opio, Muni University

Keeping it Cool: Innovative Cold Chain Research for Sustainable Off-Grid Livelihoods (KCOOL)

Research Team: Dr Harriet Deacon, University of Hull; Dr Leonce Ki, Nazi Boni University; Dr Bhupesh Mishra, University of Hull; Dr Kevin Pimbblet, University of Hull

Harnessing responsible use of technology for social and economic development in Burkina Faso: supporting community-led cultural heritage data governance through digital/AI literacy

Research Team: Dr Caroline Khene, Institute of Development Studies; Dr Gugulethu Baduza, Rhodes University; Dr Becky Faith, Institute of Development Studies; Dr Hafeni Mthoko, The IIE's Varsity College

Citizen Voice and Social Accountability in the Digitalisation of Social Protection in South Africa: Designing the use of responsible digital civic technology as an enabling mechanism

Research Team: Dr Beatriz Kira, University of Sussex; Dr Ivar Hartmann, Insper Institute of Education and Research; Dr Phoebe Li, University of Sussex

Platform regulation in Brazil and in the UK: designing and enforcing ‘duty of care’ frameworks 

Research Team: Professor Mirca Madianou, Goldsmiths, University of London; Dr Charlotte Hill, Chiang Mai University

Reimagining digital identity: towards responsible digital identity practices among Karen refugees in Thailand

Social Determinants of Health

Research Team: Dr Olufunke Alaba, University of Cape Town; Professor Emma Frew, University of Birmingham; Professor Victoria Estelle Lambert, University of Cape Town

Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCAs) as Communities of Practice addressing Obesity and Food Insecurity in Urban African Households (ROSCAs4FS)

Research Team: Professor Steve Cinderby, University of York, Dr Diana Archer, SEI-Asia; Dr Rachel Pateman, University of York; Dr Niramon Serisakul, Urban Design and Development Center

Evaluating fifteen-minute parks’ improvements to the social determinants of urban health and wellbeing

Research Team: Dr Dandara Ramos, Federal University of Bahia; Ms Ruth Dundas, University of Glasgow; Dr Andrêa Ferreira, Iyaleta Research Association; Dr Emanuelle Goes, Iyaleta Research Association

Teenage Fertility in Brazil: social policies, inequalities and gender violence

Research Team: Professor Seeromanie Harding, King’s College London; Dr Lydia Kaduka, Kenya Medical Research Institute; Dr Kennerdy Karani, Maasai Mara University; Dr Joseph Mutai, Kenya Medical Research Institute

Co-developing a multi-sectoral-primary care partnership to address inequalities in cardiovascular disease prevention and management in the Maasai in Kenya

Research Team: Dr Divya Parmar, King's College London; Professor Ieda Maria Ávila Vargas Dias, Federal University of Juiz de Fora; Professor Antonio Jose Grande, State University of Mato Grosso do Sul; Professor Paulo de Tarso Coelho Jardim, State University of Mato Grosso do Sul

Multimorbidity and social inequalities among indigenous communities in Brazil

Research Team: Dr Megan Schmidt-Sane, Institute of Development Studies; Dr David Kaawa-Mafigiri, Makerere; Ms Tabitha Hrynick, Institute of Development Studies; Mr Nelson Sande Kakande, Joint Clinical Research Centre

Tackling inequities in HIV/AIDS treatment ‘failure’ and mortality in Kampala, Uganda through participatory research with young men on the social determinants of health

Women and Climate Action

Research Team: Professor Gill Allwood, Nottingham Trent University; Dr Helen Kezie-Nwoha, Women's International Peace Centre; Dr Sarah Ssali, Makerere University

Localising National Gender and Climate Policy in Uganda

Research Team: Professor Tamsin Bradley, University of Portsmouth; Professor Kyoto Kusakabe, Asian Institute Technology; Dr Zara Martin, University of Portsmouth; Dr Louis Netter, University of Portsmouth

Women-led Responses to the intersectional impact of the climate crises, gendered inequalities, poverty and conflict in Myanmar and Nepal

Research Team: Dr Lora Forsythe, University of Greenwich; Dr Renata Giannini, Instituto Ze Claudio and Maria; Professor Roselle L K Rivera, University of the Philippines

Entangled forests: Women’s climate action in the Brazilian Amazon and the Philippines

Research Team: Dr Lisa Jones, University of Hull; Dr Hue Le, Vietnam National University - The Central Institute for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (CRES); Dr Katie Parsons, Loughborough UniversityMs. Thu Vo, Vietnam National University - The Central Institute for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (CRES)

SHEroic Journeys: Vietnamese Women's Eco-Trekking Tales for Climate Action

Research Team: Dr Jiban Karki, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine; Dr Situ KC, PHASE Nepal; Dr Mandira Lamichhane Dhimal, PHASE Nepal; Dr Rachel Tolhurst, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM); Dr Lana Whittaker, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM)

Developing women’s role in policy-making processes: shaping gender equity and inclusiveness in climate action for health and wellbeing in Nepal

Research Team: Dr Helen Longlands, University College London; Professor Relebohile Moletsane, University of KwaZulu-Natal; Professor Elaine Unterhalter, University College London; Dr Rosie Peppin Vaughan, University College London

Women, climate action and education: building women’s leadership in collaborative action for green transformation through education in South Africa

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Led by or Actively Involving Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities

Research Team: Dr Debashree De, Essex Business School; Dr Shoba Arun, Essex Business School; Dr. Malesios Chrysovalantis, Agricultural University of Athens; Ms. Julie Green, Olam Agri-NSCT; Professor Jean M. SOGBEDJI, University of Lome; Professor Arun Thankom, Essex Business School

‘Greening’ White Gold: Co-Creating Climate-Friendly Practices through Regenerative Agriculture among Togo Cotton Farming Communities

Research Team: Dr Hong Ching Goh, Universiti Malaya; Professor Lota Alcantara-Creencia, Western Philippines University; Professor Melanie Austen, University of Plymouth; Dr Soon Loong Lee, Universiti Malaya; Dr Radisti A. Praptiwi, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN); Universitas Esa Unggul

PANACEA: Participatory Approaches for Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation and Mitigation, and Empowering Southeast Asian Coastal Communities

Research Team: Dr Marco Haenssgen, Chiang Mai University; Dr Elizabeth Auclair, CY Cergy Paris University; Dr Anne Hertzog, CY Cergy Paris University; Dr Prasit Leepreecha, Chiang Mai University; Dr Peter Petkoff, University of Oxford; Dr. Mukdawan Sakboon, Chiang Mai University; Dr Ivo Vlaev, University of Warwick

Towards Heritage-Sensitive Climate Change Mitigation Policy: Impulses from Indigenous Practice in Thailand.

Research Team: Dr Pamela Katic, University of Greenwich; Dr Iffah Farhana, Universiti Teknologi MARA; Dr Nurfashareena Muhamad, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Approaches for engaging with Indigenous knowledge processes and holders for disaster risk resilience: The case of the Tasik Chini Biosphere Reserve, Malaysia.

Research Team: Dr Adriana Portella, Heriot-Watt University; Dr Dayse Albuquerque, Federal University of Amazonas; Dr Sinval Cantarelli Xavier, Federal University of Rio Grande; Dr Silvia Helena Cardoso, Federal University of the South and Southeast of Para; Mr Miguel Canas Martins, Yakã InstituteDr. Eduardo Rocha, Federal University of Pelotas; Mr Concita Guaxipiguara Sompre, Indigenous State School Tatakti Kyikatêjê

Amazon Indigenous Wisdom: Shaping Climate Solutions in Brazil