Grant opportunity
UKRI What Works Innovation Fellowships on Violence Against Women and Girls 2026
UKRI is funding three 18-month What Works Innovation Fellowships to generate and champion evidence on preventing and reducing violence against women and girls.
- Funder
- UK Research and Innovation
- Applications close 8 September 2026 at 16:00
- Applications close 8 September 2026 at 16:00: Sep 8, 2026
- Award
- Up to GBP 220,000 full economic cost, including GBP 180,000 fellowship cost and GBP 40,000 research and collaboration costs; UKRI funds 80% FEC
- Applicant
- Researchers based at a UK employing organisation eligible for UKRI funding, with a PhD or equivalent research experience and subject or methodological expertise relevant to the selected fellowship.
- Discipline
- Social Sciences, Development and Public Policy
- Region
- United Kingdom
- Posted
- Jul 10, 2026
Call summary
Overview
The What Works Innovation Fellowships are 18-month research and innovation fellowships funded by UKRI's Research and Development Missions Accelerator Programme and hosted by three Government-backed What Works Centres.
Who can apply
Applicants must be based at a UK employing organisation eligible for UKRI funding and hold a PhD or equivalent research experience. They must have subject matter and analytical expertise relevant to the selected fellowship and be able to work with host What Works Centres and policy partners.
What it supports
- Three fellowships on violence against women and girls
- Research and innovation projects within a host What Works Centre
- National What Works Programme on tackling VAWG
- Start date 4 January 2027 and 18-month duration
Funding and duration
- Fellows can apply for up to GBP 220,000 full economic cost, consisting of GBP 180,000 for the fellowship and GBP 40,000 for research and collaboration costs.
- UKRI will fund 80% of the full economic cost; the employing organisation is expected to support the remaining 20%.
Applications close 8 September 2026 at 16:00
Applications close 8 September 2026 at 16:00: Sep 8, 2026
How to apply
Submit a CV and application statement to the relevant host What Works Centre by 16:00 on 8 September 2026. The Youth Endowment Fund-hosted fellowship uses the official PeopleHR application link.
Call details
Source-based overview
The fellowships support researchers to generate and champion rigorous, actionable evidence to prevent or reduce violence against women and girls. Fellows will work with a host What Works Centre and contribute to a National What Works Programme involving UKRI, the Cabinet Office, VAWG sector support services, universities and other What Works Centres. The three fellowship areas cover domestic abuse, economic modelling for prevention, and prevention of VAWG perpetration among young people.
Eligibility
Applicants must be based at a UK employing organisation eligible for UKRI funding and hold a PhD or equivalent research experience. They must have subject matter and analytical expertise relevant to the selected fellowship and be able to work with host What Works Centres and policy partners.
Funding and benefits
Fellows can apply for up to GBP 220,000 full economic cost, consisting of GBP 180,000 for the fellowship and GBP 40,000 for research and collaboration costs.
UKRI will fund 80% of the full economic cost; the employing organisation is expected to support the remaining 20%.
Themes and supported activities
Three fellowships on violence against women and girls
Research and innovation projects within a host What Works Centre
National What Works Programme on tackling VAWG
Start date 4 January 2027 and 18-month duration
Deadline and timeline
Applications close 8 September 2026 at 16:00: Applications close 8 September 2026 at 16:00: Sep 8, 2026.
Applicants should confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, required documents, portal steps and any institutional approvals on the official call page before submitting.
How to apply
Submit a CV and application statement to the relevant host What Works Centre by 16:00 on 8 September 2026. The Youth Endowment Fund-hosted fellowship uses the official PeopleHR application link.
Before applying, check eligibility rules, budgets, attachments, page limits, partner requirements, cost-share conditions and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration or nomination stage.