Global Development Lab ODA Project Accelerator

Background 
Research England has received funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to be allocated to higher education providers for financial year 2025 to 2026. This funding arises from the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) and comprises an Institutional Support Grant (ODA) funding which has been awarded to universities. 
 
Scope and use of funds 

We are inviting PIs with existing ODA compliant projects to apply for additional funding to support their work. 

The grant must only be used to fund activities that are ODA compliant, as defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). To be ODA compliant, all funded activity must have the promotion of the economic development and welfare of developing countries on the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list as its main objective; often referred to as the ‘primary purpose test’. 

An ODA project should:

• benefit a country or countries that are on the DAC list and are not due to graduate from the list for the duration of the project
• have a primary purpose of promoting the economic development and welfare of a country or countries on the DAC list
• investigate a specific problem or seek a specific outcome, of which the primary impact will be on a country or countries on the DAC list

We will also support research capacity strengthening to improve development, for example, to increase the skills and knowledge base and support the development of the research capability and infrastructure within country.

 
UK ODA funding is governed by the International Development Act 2002, and the International Development (Gender Equality) Act 2014 which requires that aid must be “likely to contribute to reducing poverty in a way which is likely to contribute to reducing inequality between persons of different gender”. 

A list of eligible partner countries can be found here: https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/oda-eligibility-and-conditions/dac-list-of-oda-recipients.html 

Please note, this call includes partners in Upper Middle Income Countries (UMICs). Please see guidance below relating to India and China.

Important: 

Where India is involved in an ODA funded project, with funding provided by UKRI, it should not be the sole or a primary beneficiary of the activity. The primary beneficiary should be another country or countries on the DAC List of ODA Recipients, though it is possible to have secondary benefits to India and the UK from ODA funding. Your ODA compliance statement should not identify India as part of your project rationale or justification.

UKRI is unable to support ODA research and innovation activities taking place in China, or where China is the direct beneficiary. This means the ODA compliance statement submitted by applicants should not identify China as part of the project rationale or justification.

Funding 
PIs with existing ODA eligible projects are invited to submit an application for accelerator funding as part of this grant. Existing projects must extend beyond the funding deadline (31 March).

Activities and spending must be completed by 31 March and have defined and realistic milestones. Costs associated to the project can be backdated/offset from 1 September 2025. We expect budget requests not to exceed £40k.
 
Draft/standalone costings are acceptable for submission given the timeframe; Worktribe is not required at this stage. Spend on equipment is permitted as part of this funding. 
 
Please note: the funding must be spent by 31 March 2026, with no possibility of extension. The Global Development Lab will check in with PIs to monitor spend, and if PIs have been unable to spend the funding, it will be reallocated to other ODA projects. 
 
The deadline for applications is 11 January 2026 (23.59). 
 
Key points: 

• Only those with existing eligible projects can apply
• A maximum of 1 project per PI can be submitted
• All spend must be ODA compliant   
• The funding must be spent by 31 March 2026; this is due to constraint in the funding received from Research England

Applications will be assessed on the following criteria:

• Ability to deliver and feasibility of proposed activity
• Quality of proposed activity
• Benefits and impact of project  
• ODA and gender equality compliance