Strengthening Economic Evidence for Climate-Resilient Development in Africa
The Raising Adaptation Impact and Ambition (RAIA) project has opened a call for funding proposals to support high-impact research on the economics of climate change adaptation in Africa. This opportunity targets institutions with the expertise and partnerships needed to generate policy-relevant economic evidence that informs national adaptation planning and budgeting.
RAIA is a UK Aid–funded climate adaptation initiative under the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) Research Programme. The project is led by UN Environment Programme in partnership with SEI Africa, and seeks to bridge the science–policy divide by ensuring research directly supports real-world decision-making.
About the RAIA Project
RAIA addresses persistent gaps in economic evidence, research capacity, and policy tools that limit effective climate adaptation in lower-income countries. The project focuses on strengthening the capacity of economic researchers to co-create policy-relevant analysis with key stakeholders—particularly ministries of finance—so that adaptation strategies are equitable, inclusive, and financially sound.
Funded research will be country-specific and designed to support governments in making informed financial decisions, integrating climate adaptation into national planning, and improving budgeting processes. Selected research teams will work closely with finance authorities and other stakeholders to ensure findings are practical and actionable.
Grant Details
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Funding amount: USD 80,000–120,000 per project
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Project duration: Approximately 11 months
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Number of grants: 10–12 projects
Thematic Areas
Proposed research may focus on one or more of the following areas:
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Quantifying the economic costs of climate impacts and adaptation responses
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Identifying financial, economic, regulatory, or market-based instruments to support climate action
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Supporting the tracking, allocation, and value capture of adaptation finance
All proposals must integrate distributional impacts, gender equality, and social inclusion considerations.
Eligibility Overview
Eligible lead applicant organizations include universities, academic institutions, policy or economic research institutions, parastatal bodies, think tanks, and independent research entities. Government ministries are not eligible to apply as lead applicants.
Applicants must be legally registered and based in an African country, demonstrate relevant experience in climate and economic research, and show an existing partnership or prior collaboration with a Ministry of Finance or similar national finance authority.
Key Dates and Deadline
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Call opens: 12 February 2026
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Information session: 18 February 2026, 11:00 EAT
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Submission Deadline: 5 March 2026, 23:59 EAT
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Notification of results: 23 March 2026
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Contract signing: 1 April 2026
For more information about this internship, click here.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should download and review the Terms of Reference (ToRs) and submit their completed application through the official application portal. Early preparation is encouraged to ensure alignment with RAIA timelines and requirements.
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