Month: November 2021


Dr Louise Ridden

Research Assistant

UCP Research Database / Creating Safer Space Working Paper

Louise obtained her PhD from Aberystwyth University, funded by the ESRC, with a thesis interested in the role of nonviolence in conflict-related knowledge production. Her research focuses on unarmed civilian protection and epistemic practices. Louise supports the Creating Safer Space network’s UCP Research Database, its Working Paper series, Newsletter, and N+ Cafés and Events.

https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/interpol/staff-profiles/listing/profile/lor17/


6. Can a PhD or Master’s student apply for funding?

Applications for funding to support PhD or Master’s projects will not be accepted.

Special rules may apply if the PhD or Master’s student is an employee of an eligible organisation, and would like to carry out a distinct research project as part of his or her work for that organisation. Please contact creating-safer-space@aber.ac.uk for more information.

PhD or Master’s students can be employed on a project as part-time or short-term Research Assistants, if this is allowed by their organisation.

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6 What kind of projects will be funded?

We provide funding for research projects. Projects must undertake a systematic investigation, of some kind, to further our knowledge or understanding of the Creating Safer Space research themes described on pages 3-5. It is not sufficient to engage in humanitarian activities to protect civilians in conflict.

We welcome the use of different research methods and approaches. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

  • Participatory Action Research or other community-based research methods
  • Arts-based and creative research methods
  • Digital methods
  • Fieldwork
  • Focus groups
  • Interview-based research
  • Quantitative surveys
  • Archival research

We particularly encourage applicants to consider participatory methodologies which mirror the community-based approach of UCP, arts-based and creative methods, or innovative digital methods to support more traditional approaches. We offer online training to enable applicants to learn about different research methods.

All projects must include some elements from the arts and humanities. This can consist, for example, in the involvement of researchers, approaches or methodologies from relevant academic disciplines (like history, social anthropology, law or media studies), the use of arts-based or other creative research methods for data generation and dissemination, or the involvement of project partners with arts and humanities expertise. Please see the FAQ for further guidance.

Projects are particularly encouraged to think about the links between research methods and project dissemination, for example by using, developing or enhancing methods that could eventually be included into UCP strategies (e.g., creative methods to explore conflict-affected communities’ experiences which could help UCP organisations better tailor their programming, or digital methods of research which could then be adapted to and adopted by protection actors).

Grant applications must demonstrate that the research, if successful, will have the potential to positively impact the lives of people living in the midst of violent conflict or affected by other forms of political violence through more protection or better protection approaches. More specifically, since our funding forms part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment, the research must have the potential to positively impact people living in countries that are eligible for foreign aid. This includes any country on the OECD DAC List of ODA Recipients (DAC list), except China, India, and any country due to graduate from the list. Please see page 5 for further information about the country focus of each grant.

Each project must produce outputs that are appropriate to the aims and target audiences of the project. Examples include academic publications (journal articles, book chapters, edited books, monographs or conference papers), websites or digital resources, policy briefings, public engagement, training materials, exhibitions, documentaries, performances or other creative outputs. Projects are especially encouraged to consider artistic or media outputs.

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

  • Research Quality and Importance:  Including the extent to which the proposal meets the specific aims of the Creating Safer Space network; the significance and importance of the project and its potential contribution to knowledge; the appropriateness of the research methods; and Official Development Assistance (ODA) compliance.
  • People:  Including the quality and importance of the research team’s work to date; the ability of the research team to bring the project to completion; and the suitability of the opportunities which the project will make available to support the development of research staff on the project.
  • Management:  Including the appropriateness of the project plan and timeframes; and the extent to which sufficient time and resources have been allocated to achieving each aspect of the project.
  • Value for Money:  Including the extent to which the likely outcome of the research will represent value for money; and the extent to which the resources requested are reasonable in the context of the project.
  • Outputs, dissemination and impact:  Including the appropriateness of the proposed plans for dissemination and impact; the likelihood that the outputs and outcomes of the project will be highly valued and widely exploited, both in the research community and in wider contexts where they can make a difference; and whether sufficient attention has been given to who the beneficiaries of the research might be and appropriate ways to engage with them throughout the project.

All projects must also evidence a commitment to gender equality, meet certain ethical principles, and safeguard researchers and research participants.

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7. What do we need to consider if our organisation is based in a country subject to UK sanctions (e.g. Myanmar, South Sudan) or would like to work with such an organisation?

All project activities must comply with UK sanctions requirements. You must ensure that no project funds are transferred to any individuals or organisations on UK Sanctions Lists under any circumstances. For example, if you hold a workshop or a conference, you must check in advance that none of the invited speakers or participants are on any UK lists of financial sanction targets or proscribed terrorist groups. You are also required to check that you do not use your funding to purchase any items that are subject to sanctions (e.g. dual-use civilian-military equipment, such as drones).

We would very much like to work with eligible organisations in Myanmar and South Sudan, but please bear in mind that we can only support your project if our bank allows us to transfer you funding. We believe this will be possible in certain circumstances, but we cannot guarantee that it will be possible before we try.

Please contact us before preparing an application involving organisations in the following countries: North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, or Crimea (Region of Ukraine). We might not be able to transfer funding to these countries.

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7 What can the funds be used for?

Projects are welcome to apply for the funding required to support the proposed research activities, within to the funding limits described for each grant on page 5. Examples of eligible costs include:

  • Funding to cover the time that Principal and Co-Investigators commit to the project.
  • Employment of a Research Assistant to help with the research.
  • Professional development activities for project staff (e.g., funding for a Research Assistant to participate in an academic conference or a methods training related to the project).
  • Travel and subsistence for research activities (e.g., fieldwork, workshops, interviews, or visits to archives).
  • Travel and subsistence to communicate the research (e.g., to present the project findings at an academic conference or to organise a dissemination workshop for the local community).
  • Consumables for research activities (e.g., materials necessary to undertake creative research methods).
  • Consumables for dissemination activities (e.g., to set up an exhibition or to design a policy paper).
  • Translation or interpretation (e.g., to support research engagements or to translate project findings into languages spoken by local communities).
  • Publication (e.g., to ensure journal articles are freely accessible).
  • Indirect costs (overheads) associated with the project.

Applicants are required to demonstrate that any resources requested are reasonable in the context of the proposed research, and that the expected outcomes of the project are worth the funding requested.

Organisations in countries on the OECD DAC List of ODA Recipients (except China, India, or countries due to graduate from the list) will receive funding to cover the full costs of the project (100%). Organisations in the UK will receive funding in accordance with standard procedures for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) grants, in other words 80% of full economic cost, with the recipient organisation required to cover the balance.

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Laura Jiménez

University of Antioquia, Colombia
Research assistant – Latin America

Laura Jiménez Ospina is the research assistant for Creating Safer Space activities in Latin America. She supports the Colombian work packages teams in data collection, data processing, and report writing.


8. Does my nationality matter?

Individuals of any nationality are normally welcome to apply for funding. What matters is the nationality of your employer, not your own personal nationality.

For example, you cannot be the Principal Investigator on a project if you are a citizen of the Philippines, but an employee of a Canadian university. This is because a university in Canada is not eligible to be the Lead Organisation for the project.

But if you are a Canadian citizen working for a university in the Philippines, you are eligible to apply for funding.

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8 How do I apply for funding?

Applicants are required to send us an application form and specific supporting evidence. The application must be completed in full, and all requirements must be met. Please send the application form and the supporting evidence to creating-safer-space@aber.ac.uk by midnight (UTC) on 15 April 2022.

The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) contains detailed guidance on how to answer each question on the application form. We reserve the right to reject applications that do not meet the requirements or that have not been received by the stated deadline.

Applications should normally be submitted in English. We expect English-speaking Co-Investigators to help with translation or proof-reading, where this is possible. Applications in Spanish are also welcome, but please contact creating-safer-space@aber.ac.uk at least one month before the application deadline, so that we can make the necessary arrangements for Spanish-speaking reviewers. 

Please be aware that writing a grant proposal takes a long time. It normally takes at least two months, but we recommend that you start as soon as possible to increase your chances of success. Please subscribe to our newsletter to find out about workshops on how to write grant applications.

We would like to support potential applicants to connect with each other. Creating Safer Space hosts regular events, such as research cafés and training workshops. These present a good opportunity to meet others in the field. Events are advertised on our website and via our newsletter.

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9. Do we need to be able to speak English to apply?

There is no requirement for Principal or Co-Investigators to speak English, but we will unfortunately not be able to provide the same level of service to speakers of other languages.

The grant is administered by Aberystwyth University in the UK, and information about grant conditions, contracts, and reporting requirements will be provided in English. We are happy for you to contact us in other languages, and we will use Google Translate to translate your messages. We cannot be held responsible for any misunderstandings that arise from mistranslations, but we will do our very best to address any misunderstandings that do occur.

Applications can be submitted in English or Spanish only.

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