Applicants are invited to apply for the 2019 Knowledge Management Fund with an aim to diversify thinking and evidence in the Security & Rule of Law (SRoL) field, particularly in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings (FCAS).
The Knowledge Management Fund is the Knowledge Platform’s instrument to financially support activities arising from its network. The small-scale grants awarded by the Fund offer a low barrier to entry for innovative, agile and experimental proposals.
Funding Information
The KMF is a €300,000 annual fund that awards grants of up to €15,000 for events, research ideas and other initiatives that contribute to improving the quality of knowledge generated by the SRoL field, and its subsequent uptake.
Thematic Headlines
Change and Learning Processes
This headline explores how change and learning happens in the field of SRoL. Specifically, this theme will help shed light on the exact mechanisms by which people, organizations and institutions working on SRoL change and learn. This can be in a number of ways: within programs, through feedback loops between practice and policymaking, and how learning and knowledge that has been gained or generated is identified and used. Example areas for investigation might include (but are not limited to):
how people, organizations and institutions practically diverge from established and conventional practices.
how research methods and partnerships adapt more effectively to fragile contexts.
how they can combine qualitative and quantitative approaches in measuring change.
why barriers exist to more adaptive programming approaches and what can be done to overcome them or use the opportunities that do exist.
Projects under this headline should produce knowledge about change and learning processes relevant for and shareable with the wider KPSRL community.
Examining and Improving Policy
There is an increasing focus on and demand for evidence and research in policymaking, including in the field of SRoL. While new evidence is being generated every day, there are still many evidence gaps on the assumptions that underpin policy within the SRoL field. These might include the assumed positive effect of particular sectors, such as the private sector, on peace and stability, or the assumed positive impact of specific policies. There are also policy gaps rather than evidence gaps. This headline aims to explore these issues by focusing on the SRoL policies of programming and policy actors. Projects under this headline could focus on (but are not limited to):
generating new evidence or identifying ‘what works’ within the SRoL field, with the aim of informing policy
helping programming and policy actors develop and improve their SRoL policies
disseminating existing evidence to a wider policy and practice audience
measuring the impact of policies
testing the quality of evidence available for policymakers and practitioners
Projects under this headline should identify a specific policy (gap) or policy area of a SRoL programming or policy actor where possible, and produce findings relevant for the wider KPSRL community.
Project Strands
The KMF is made up of three strands to which applicants may apply: Events, Research, and Innovation. Each strand funds different kinds of activities and initiatives that, collectively, aim to produce original insights to help the KPSRL improve the quality and use of knowledge and learning in programming and policy. The KMF is interested in three dimensions of knowledge: production, dissemination, and use. Each application must:
generate new research – it fills gaps where there is insufficient knowledge or expertise available
link existing knowledge and actors – it addresses a lack of awareness or understanding of existing knowledge
break down the barriers for learning and change within or between people, institutions and organizations – it addresses use of what knowledge and learning already exists, which is either ignored or not made available to policymakers and programmers.
Eligibility Criteria
The grant is open to any consortium or individual with the ambition to improve policies, programs or knowledge in the field of security and rule of law in fragile and conflict-affected countries. Think-tanks, (I)NGOs, academics, universities, private sector organizations, government institutions, journalists, independent researchers, data specialists, learning experts, and PhD candidates are all welcome to submit proposals.
Partnerships between individuals and organizations are highly encouraged, particularly partnerships that link people from different global regions.