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Research Grants: The Strategic Partnerships for Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK) Open Call for Concept Notes

The Strategic Partnerships for Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK) award is a five-year initiative (2024-2029) funded by USAID through the Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN) in a partnership between USAID’s Bureau for InclusiveGrowth, Partnerships, and Innovation (IPI) and the Institute of International Education (IIE)
Research Grants: The Strategic Partnerships for Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK) Open Call for Concept Notes

SPARK supports high-quality, locally grounded research, which is critical to driving economic growth, solving local and global challenges, and producing sustainable development outcomes that improve lives. SPARK funds locally led research that promotes the understanding of development challenges and supports the development and dissemination of solutions that advance progress toward development goals. The advancement of research goals is realized by supporting research discovery and uptake in priority development areas through grants and capacity-strengthening support, and by cultivating equitable, sustainable partnerships between researchers and higher education institutions (HEIs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the U.S.

For the inaugural call for Concept Notes under the Research Grants: Global Solicitation #1, SPARK will fund university-based partnerships that conduct later-stage research focused on development and innovation activities that can lead to actionable programmatic, policy, or commercial impacts in topical areas critical to USAID.

Through this call for Concept Notes, SPARK aims to support research that can make a more immediate impact on the communities, sectors, and countries in which USAID works. While there is no one definition, standard, or approach to achieving this goal, illustrative examples of encompassing research definitions include:

  • Later-Stage Research. Research meant to bring known solutions, innovations, technologies, or policy-relevant data to concrete development impact.
  • Translational Research. Research that bridges the gap between basic science and real-world applications, often by translating laboratory or field-based discoveries into practice.
  • Use-Inspired Research. Research driven by potential applications to create outcomes that are useful and usable for society.


Research could focus on:

  • Conducting research relevant to policymakers, businesses, NGOs, or communities and sharing results in ways that are easily understood and used.
  • Piloting discoveries and innovations supported by previous research, like testing new technologies to assess effectiveness and feasibility before wider dissemination and implementation.
  • Commercializing research through developing market-ready products based on a research-informed prototype.


Key Information for SPARK Research Grants: Global Solicitation #1

  • Eligibility: Full-time faculty at a higher education institution in eligible countries. Please see this link for the list of countries in which USAID works that are available for potential consideration under Research Grants: Global Solicitation #1. Of note, USAID Mission review and Concurrence will still be required before an award can be made.
  • Funding: Grants of up to $100,000 for applicants who propose a partnership with a U.S.-based researcher for up to 12 months.
  • Deadline for Submission: March 4, 2025, at 11:59 PM GMT
  • Application Process: The initial step involves submitting a Concept Note. After review, select applicants will be invited to submit a Full Application.


Register today for SPARK Informational Webinars

How to Apply Webinar 1: January 27, 2025 from 10-11am ET

How to Apply Webinar 2: January 29, 2025 from 10-11am WIB (Jakarta)

Concept Note Guidelines can be found below. For additional questions, please contact SPARK@iie.org.

Please note that this Solicitation does not guarantee future funding commitments nor reimburse expenses incurred in submission preparation. Any updates or addendums will also be posted at www.iie.org/SPARK.

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