This call aims to foster impactful partnerships that bridge academic inquiry with practical and policy-oriented solutions. It seeks to catalyze meaningful, context-aware collaborations between researchers in Switzerland and partners in the MENA region, both during crises and in support of long-term recovery and stability efforts.
This call prioritizes projects involving institutions in fragile or crisis-affected settings while remaining open to all countries in the region (Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen) whose proposals meaningfully address the theme. Multilateral and
interdisciplinary collaborations are strongly encouraged.
For the purpose of this call, key terms are understood as follows
- Continuity: Supporting the sustained functioning of essential services, institutional roles, and societal structures during crises through research-informed, adaptive, and humancentered approaches that enable systems and communities to maintain core functions and respond effectively to disruptions.
- Participation: Ensuring local voices, knowledge, and perspectives are meaningfully included in the research process, and that research itself contributes actively to societal recovery, policy, and positive change.
- Reconstruction: Encompassing both physical and non-physical dimensions, including rebuilding infrastructure as well as institutional, social, and relational components, such as restoring trust, repairing the social fabric, and revitalizing civic life.
Eligibility
Open to all disciplines, the call prioritizes projects involving institutions in fragile or crisis-affected settings across the region. Relevant themes include (but are not limited to) access to essential services (health, education); multifaceted impacts of crises on populations; social, economic and political reforms; peace and reconciliation; sustainable management of natural and cultural resources; strengthening of local capacities; link between research and public policy.
Evaluation and selection
- Accuracy of the research plan and application
- Feasibility of the project
- Relevance to the thematic scope
- Impact of the expected outputs
- Budget adequacy
- Involvement of relevant stakeholders, when applicable
- Contributions by all involved partners, including funding and in-kind contributions
- Expertise and complementarities of the partners
Grant sum
The maximum amount for a grant is CHF 20’000. The grant will be disbursed in two instalments:
80% after signing the grant contract and 20% after approval of the final report. At the end of the
project all funds received and unspent must be reimbursed to the LH MENA.
Project duration
Up to 12 months