We are Elrha, a force for change in the humanitarian community. The research and innovation we support equips the humanitarian community with the knowledge of what works, so people affected by crises get the right help when they need it most.
Our purpose is clear: to empower the humanitarian community to improve humanitarian response. We make this happen by supporting and championing the outcomes of robust research and proven innovations.
We empower the humanitarian community. Find out how we can support you...

R2HC aims to improve health outcomes by strengthening the evidence base for public health interventions in humanitarian crises.

This grant programme is an ‘Open Call’, with proposals sought that address specific or multiple public health issues by gathering evidence with the potential to contribute to improved public health outcomes in humanitarian contexts.

The Humanitarian Health Evidence Review demonstrated how few rigorous research studies have been conducted in humanitarian contexts across multiple fields of public health. This fund provides a unique opportunity to generate high quality evidence that can add to the global evidence base and shape.humanitarian response.

All proposals will be expected to demonstrate the potential scale and impact of the proposed research and, to do this, you might like to consider adopting the following approaches:

  • Comparative (multi-country) research
  • Research that is replicable in multiple contexts
  • Multi-sector integrated responses
  • Research that advances new methodological approaches in challenging context
  • Research outcomes that are clearly linked to improving humanitarian responses.

Open call for research

This is an Open Call but applications must have a research team including both a research institution and an operational humanitarian organisation to be eligible. We will consider applications from any legally registered not-for-profit body across the globe.

What defines a 'humanitarian crises'

'Humanitarian crises' for the purpose of the programme includes natural disasters, conflicts, or complex emergencies, either at the regional, national or sub-national levels, within lower or middle income countries.

Type of studies considered

Proposed research methodologies should be of a standard such that final papers will be publishable in peer-reviewed academic journals. Robust innovative methodologies that advance research in humanitarian settings are encouraged. Primary and/or secondary data collection approaches will be considered.

Our Annual Call has a two-stage selection process: an initial Expression of Interest stage, and a subsequent Full Proposal stage for shortlisted applicants.

Seed Funding is separately available to shortlisted applicants to strengthen their research partnerships.

Successful Full Proposals will have up to 24 months to complete the research and a further 12 months is available for research uptake activities.

Full guidelines and FAQs will be published when the next Call is launched. Below are some links to our last Call for reference:

  1. Call 6 Guidelines / Sixième appel propositions: conseils pour les candidats (please note Call 6 is now closed, these guidelines are for reference only)
  2. Call 6 FAQs / Sixième appel propositions: foire aux questions (please note Call 6 is now closed, these FAQs are for reference only)
  3. Humanitarian Health Evidence Review
  4. Updated Ethics Tool and introduction to the tool.
  5. Research Uptake and Guidance Note
  6. Evidence Review of Gender-Based Violence Research Methodologies (if conducting a relevant project)

Commonly Asked Questions

How do I apply?

Please note this call is currently closed. Please check back soon or contact us for more information.

What is Seed Funding?

A key requirement for applying to R2HC for funding is the existence of a research partnership that includes a humanitarian organisation and an academic institution. In order to develop these partnerships, we offer Seed Funding to all applicants successful at the Expression of Interest stage.

Seed Funding is a unique feature of the programme, enabling shortlisted applicants to develop their research partnerships, while preparing their full proposals. We strongly encourage recipients to use these funds to bring together their research team members to work out respective roles and responsibilities. This provides research consortia with the best chance of success once funded.

What is the value of Seed Funding?

Feedback from past Seed Funding recipients in the 2018 Seed Funding Survey underlines its value:

  • 71% of respondents gave 5 Stars for the value of Seed Funding
  • 93% said the grant was a vital source of support to undertake the seed activities

“The funds were essential for us to bring our vision together. Working with a practitioner/research humanitarian organisation with great skills but no experience with this complex methodology. Without being together and walking through the study we were not able to make the progress we needed to get to strong agreement and commitment to the study…”</font color>

For many, the £10,000 available provides the first opportunity for the research partners to meet in person. Some choose to meet at the proposed research location. Dr Sarah Paige, from the University of Wisconsin, shared a fascinating insight into her visit to Sierra Leone which was undertaken to formalise partnerships with in-country organisations.

Some recipients decide to collect preliminary data to strengthen their research question and proposal content. The International Medical Corps, in partnership with College Dublin and other partners, produced a Policy Brief following a mini-study on Community Health Workers in Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey, as a result of their seed funding.

See our Annual Call projects
Optimising a community-based model for case identification, monitoring, and prevention of hypertension and diabetes among Syrian refugees in Jordan

The project will investigate and improve a community health worker (CHW) based model for non-communicable disease (NCD) care in a humanitarian emergency.
Humanitarian Emergency Settings Perceived Needs Scale (HESPER SW)

The Humanitarian Emergency Settings Perceived Needs Scale (HESPER) aims to provide a quick, scientifically robust assessment of perceived needs of people affected by humanitarian emergencies or disasters.

Evaluating the Psychological and Social Impact by Promoting Positive Masculinity

The Living Peace intervention (LPint) in Eastern DRC works with men who are perceived as violent by their communities.

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