British Academy ODA Research Management Capacity Strengthening 2026

The British Academy funds partnerships between research offices and research-management functions (including finance, HR and legal) in ODA-eligible countries and the UK. The aim is lasting institutional change: policies, systems and training that make equitable international research collaboration easier. The call is funded by the UK International Science Partnerships Fund, and all proposals must be ODA-eligible.

Malawi qualifies as a Least Developed Country and is named in the scheme notes. The Lead may be of any nationality but must be based in a research office or research-management function (including HR, finance or legal) at an eligible university or research institute in the UK, Brazil, South Africa, Kenya, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Ghana, the Philippines, Vietnam or an LDC, in a post lasting the full award. A lead based in an LDC must include at least one co-applicant from a research-management function at a UK institution. Academics heavily involved in research management may apply if they justify their role. One bid per Lead; no one may be a co-applicant on more than two.

Institutional research-management capacity: policy frameworks, systems, training programmes and working practices across research office, finance, HR and legal functions that support equitable international research partnerships. No disciplinary restriction.

Assets, computer hardware, PhD studentships, overheads and indirect costs. Projects that only bring research offices together, without finance, HR or legal functions, will not be supported.

Application process

Applications must be submitted online using the British Academy's Grant Management System (GMS), Flexi-Grant®. An overseas lead institution must be approved as eligible at least two weeks before the deadline (organisation-account request by 18 November 2026) and must complete the due-diligence section. Submit for institutional approval at least five working days before the deadline.

The deadline for submissions and UK institutional approval is Wednesday 2 December 2026, 17:00 (GMT).

Scheme Guidance Notes

Please read the scheme and application guidance notes in full before applying.

Frequently asked questions

Please refer to the FAQs page for answers to the most frequently asked questions about the scheme.

Timeline:

Call opened: 25 Sep 2026 | Flexi-Grant organisation registration (overseas lead): 18 Nov 2026, 17:00 GMT | Deadline: 2 Dec 2026, 17:00 GMT | Results: March 2027 | Start: by 31 Mar 2027