Deadline: February 16, 2025
Applications are open for the Moving Minds Alliance Research Fellowship Program 2025-2026. The Moving Minds Alliance Research Fellowship Program supports local researchers in the Global South to carry out studies on issues related to young children (aged 0-8 years) and their caregivers in emergency contexts.
It offers an opportunity to be part of a global community of researchers who are advancing knowledge and evidence in this field, while working with the MMA Research Forum team. It also offers the opportunity for Fellows’ research to be disseminated widely through the MMA Network, and through the Research Forum on Young Children in Emergencies. They are now seeking applications for the 2025-26 Fellows cohort, with five positions available to conduct research related to the theme: Early Childhood Development in Climate Emergencies.
Benefits
As a Fellow, you will be supported to carry out relevant (to your country or local context) studies with young children and families over a 12-month period by:
- Providing a one-time stipend of US$5,000 to be used toward research activities.
- Convening a community of practice of researchers around the world who are focusing on young children and families in climate emergency contexts.
- Providing opportunities for knowledge sharing, mentoring, and dissemination of your research to a global audience (through learning events and webinars to which you will be invited to share your findings.
Eligibility
- Open to Fellows at any stage of their career (however they strongly encourage those in early stages of their work to apply), and can include students, researchers or practitioners from non-governmental organizations, (NGO) and civil society backgrounds.
- The Fellowship aims to support individuals from diverse nationalities.
MMA is committed to recruiting Fellows who are:
- Born into, live in, or have worked in a country affected by climate crisis (this can include lived experience of climate displacement or rebuilding, particularly in the Global South).
- Have some level of experience with conducting research and research analysis, but ideally suited to applicants who are in their early careers and/or have experience and knowledge gained through volunteer work, community projects, grassroots initiatives, or non-traditional research roles.
- Have deep connections with communities and local organizations serving young children, particularly in ECD support or early learning.
- Willing to periodically engage with research mentors and Research Forum mentors throughout the duration of the Fellowship, and participate in learning events/webinars to share their work.
Selection Criteria
Key criteria for selection include:
- Originality: What gaps do your research fill in the current research landscape on young children, caregivers, and their communities in climate emergencies or children living in climate vulnerable areas?
- Potential to inform programming and policy: are the issues relevant across contexts?
- Alignment to thematic priorities outlined above, within the context of climate emergency, disaster, or displacement for young children (aged 0-8) and their caregivers and communities
- Feasibility of research within the 12-month time frame, with a final report to be completed and
submitted by mid-April, 2026
Application
During the application process, you will be asked for the following information:
- Information about your research plan:
- Topic and title (if possible)
- Location of study
- Target population and sample size
- 1-3 Key research questions
- Methodological approach
How you plan to include voices of affected children, caregivers, or communities in your
research
- A brief CV (no more than two pages)
For more information, visit MMA Research Fellowship.
