Dear Partners,
We are pleased to share a new Call for Proposals under the Citizen Security Research Initiative (CSRI), launched by Innovation for Poverty Action (IPA). The CSRI supports rigorous research projects that generate actionable evidence to inform policies and programs aimed at building safer communities and strengthening justice and law enforcement systems.
This call is destined to research projects addressing organized crime, drug trafficking and production, crime and violence prevention, and institutional strengthening of criminal justice and law enforcement systems. The initiative funds several types of research projects, including pilot studies, full impact evaluations, research infrastructure initiatives, and foundational studies.
Why is this relevant for Lebanese universities/ researchers?
This call targets specifically researchers and academic institutions in several countries, including Lebanon. The program encourages research in countries facing complex security and governance challenges, making Lebanon a relevant context for impactful studies. The initiative provides substantial grants that can support a variety of research activites, making it easier for you to make a proposal in accordance with your current activities.
Projects must involve implementation partners (such as civil society organizations, government institutions, or multilateral organizations), thus encouraging Lebanese researchers to develop their experience working directly with policy actors and practitioners.
Eligibility
Applicants must be researchers affiliated with a university who either hold a PhD or are currently pursuing one. They should demonstrate experience in field research and the application of impact evaluation methodologies in relevant sectors.
Proposals must include implementation partners, such as civil society organizations, governmental entities, or multilateral organizations collaborating on the study. Each proposal must designate an organization capable of receiving and managing sub-award funding, as IPA cannot issue grants directly to individuals.
Details
Funding amounts:
Pilot studies: up to USD 75,000
Full impact evaluations: up to USD 400,000
Infrastructure and public goods: up to USD 250,000
Foundational/contextual research: up to USD 75,000
Application deadline: 15 April 2026
Contact: justice@poverty-action.org
Next Steps
Researchers or university teams interested in applying are invited to:
Review the full call documentation at the link above.
Identify potential implementation partners (NGOs, government agencies, or international organizations) relevant to the proposed research.
Develop a research concept aligned with the CSRI thematic priorities and using rigorous evaluation methods.
Prepare and submit the proposal before the deadline.
We encourage interested Lebanese universities and researchers to explore this opportunity and consider forming collaborative research partnerships to address critical citizen security challenges.
