Who funds development sciences research?

You can see all the latest funding opportunities on our funding pages - ranging from major research grants and prizes, to individual fellowships, studentships and training.

UKCDS members

The 13 members who make up UKCDS all fund science research that is relevant to international development, and are committed to enhancing the impact of the research they fund on international development outcomes.  

With the exception of the Department for International Development (DFID), they are not focused on international development as their main remit. However, the research they support is often relevant to development, including research on crop science, infectious disease, climate change and low-carbon energy.

Research councils

The priority of all UK research councils is to support UK capacity to undertake excellent research. All research councils who are UKCDS members recognise that UK science can make an important contribution to international development. 

Research council funding is delivered through responsive mode and strategic programmes. Responsive mode funding supports excellent research in response to new ideas from research groups or individuals. Proposals can be submitted at any time, for any type of research within the council's remit.

Councils also regularly issue calls for proposals in specific areas for strategic programmes. This type of funding focuses on a particular area of science or policy.

See the links below for more information on the funding priorities and programmes of each research council.

• Natural Environment Research Council
• Engineering and Physical Sciences research Council
• Economic and Social Sciences Research Council
• Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
• Medical Research Council

See also Research Councils UK (RCUK) International Funding Opportunities.

Government departments

Most UK government departments, apart from DFID, play a smaller role in research for international development than the research councils. Their contribution to the international development agenda are often on a policy level. For example, the Department of Health leads the UK's global health strategy and the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has responsibility for international climate change negotiations. 

All departments have an interest in sharing their research and building international partnerships.

DFID has committed £1billion for development research over five years, 2008 - 2013. This funding will be distributed in three ways:

• Multilateral or multi-funded research programmes with other donors or funders, including funding to international research organisations such as CGIAR
• Public and private partnerships, mostly in the area of human health, with one in animal health
• Bilateral funded programmes, usually quite large contracts that are open to competitive bids; for example, Research Programme Consortia (RPCs), such as Migrating out of Poverty. RPCs have a lead organisation, which can be based in or outside the UK, and must have partner institutions in developing countries. DFID issues calls for expressions of interest when setting up a new RPC. 

More information on DFID-funded research.

The Wellcome Trust

An independent charity, the Wellcome Trust supports scientists in the UK and overseas through research grants, personal awards and long-term programmes. The trust provides funding for international development research related to public health and tropical medicine. It also offers a number of fellowships, grants and awards for medical scientists in low- and middle-income countries.

More information on The Wellcome Trust research funding schemes.

Other UK funders of research relevent to development

A number of organisations in the UK also fund development-related research, including:

• The Leverhulme Trust
• The Gatsby Foundation
• British Council 
• Royal Society
• The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

EU funding

The EU will fund over €50 billion worth of research between 2007-2013 under the umbrella of Framework Programme 7 (FP7). UKCDS is the National Contact Point (NCP) for international cooperation within the Capacities programme of FP7

You can read more about EU FP7 funding here.