FutureWORKS Collective: Research Proposals WCA – IDRC Funded
Submit your research proposal on the future of work in West & Central Africa. Grants CAD 40k–100k. Eligibility, themes & guidance included. Deadline Sept 30, 2025.
Invitation & Purpose
The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, in collaboration with BAME, invites research proposals under the FutureWORKS Collective (West & Central Africa), supported by IDRC. The aim is to generate rigorous, context-sensitive evidence on the future of work in this region, with emphasis on digital transitions, inclusive employment, green economies, and equitable policy.
Also Check:Applications are OPEN for the Echoing Green Fellowship 2026
Funding & Project Size
Applicants may apply for one of three funding levels:
| Project Type | Grant Amount (CAD) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Small Projects | CAD 40,000 | Shorter duration, focused case studies or pilot work |
| Medium Projects | CAD 60,000 | Broader scope, multiple sites or comparative components |
| Large Projects | CAD 100,000 | Multi-country, high-impact comparative or policy-oriented studies |
Projects should aim for value-for-money, methodological rigor, and policy relevance.
Eligibility & Application Requirements
Eligible Applicants:
- Research centers, universities, think tanks, or non-profit organizations based in West & Central Africa
- Consortia are allowed and encouraged (consortium must be region-based, not dominated by external institutions)
- Applicants must show capacity to manage grants and carry out cross-country research
Proposal Requirements:
- Demonstrated integration of gender, equity, and inclusion in research design
- Comparative or cross-country analyses are highly encouraged
- Clear research questions, hypotheses, methodology, work plan, budget, risk mitigation, and dissemination strategy
- Ethical considerations and stakeholder engagement plan
- Evidence of institutional support (e.g. letters of commitment)
- CVs / profiles of key personnel
- Budget justification, timelines, and clear deliverables
Evaluation Criteria (typical):
- Scientific quality and innovation
- Relevance to themes
- Feasibility and realism of design
- Capacity of the applicant(s)
- Integration of equity & inclusion
- Potential for policy impact and scalability
Thematic Focus Areas
Proposals should align with one or more of the following themes:
- Digital transformation, AI & automation in agri-based economies
- How digital tools, platforms, and AI can transform agricultural value chains
- Impacts of automation on rural labor, smallholder farms, agritech adoption
- Skills, laws & policies for sustainable employment
- Skill articulation in emerging sectors
- Regulatory and legal reforms to promote decent work
- Apprenticeships, lifelong learning, TVET integration
- Climate change, green economy & social protection
- Jobs in climate adaptation, resilience, renewable energy
- Social protection mechanisms under shifting climate risks
- Just transitions and green job pathways
- Inclusive labour markets for women, youth, and marginalized groups
- Barriers to participation, discrimination, informal work
- Gendered impacts of automation & climate shocks
- Strategies for inclusion (e.g. social enterprises, targeted interventions)
Cross-cutting issues (e.g. migration, urbanization, informality) may also be considered if well grounded.
Benefits & What Grantees Receive
- Financial support to execute rigorous research
- Capacity building (e.g. workshops, mentoring, peer review)
- Networking & visibility through the FutureWORKS Collective platform
- Dissemination support (policy briefs, webinars, conferences)
- Potential for follow-on funding or scaling promising projects
Timeline & Submission
- Deadline for proposals: September 30, 2025
- Proposals to be submitted via the review system (link below)
- Notification of decisions and awards expected in (to be confirmed)
- Project start dates will follow contractual processes
🔗 Apply here:
FutureWORKS Collective WCA RFP Portal
