The call "Research in Crisis-Affected Contexts 2025" is now open
The call for projects “Research in Crisis-Affected Contexts: Continuity, Participation, and Reconstruction” aims to foster impactful partnerships that bridge academic inquiry with practical and policy-oriented solutions. It seeks to catalyze meaningful, context-aware collaborations between researchers in Switzerland and partners in the MENA region, both during crises and in support of long-term recovery and stability efforts.
Open to all disciplines, the call prioritizes projects involving institutions in fragile or crisis-affected settings across the region. Relevant themes include (but are not limited to) access to essential services (health, education); multifaceted impacts of crises on populations; social, economic and political reforms; peace and reconciliation; sustainable management of natural and cultural resources; strengthening of local capacities; link between research and public policy.
Main applicant
Q: Can a researcher outside Switzerland apply as the main applicant for a Leading House call?
A: : No, the main applicant is the Switzerland-based principal investigator. Each project may have only one main applicant. The researcher in the partner country is the co-applicant. At least one eligible co-applicant from a partner institution in the MENA region is required.
Q: What are the eligibility requirements for the main applicant and the co-applicant(s)?
A: Applicants must have at least three years of research or relevant professional experience and hold a permanent position (or a contract covering the entire duration of the project) at their institution. In the case of fixed-term positions (e.g., postdoctoral researchers), proof of employment for the full project period must be provided.
Project team composition
Q: Can a project include collaborators in Switzerland?
A: Yes. While only one main applicant is allowed on the Swiss side, other collaborators based in Switzerland may participate in the project.
Q: Can a project have multiple co-applicants or collaborators in the MENA region?
A: Yes. Several co-applicants may be involved on the partner side in the MENA region, provided they all meet the eligibility requirements of the call. It is also possible to include collaborators (not co-applicants) from more than one university or public research institute within the same partner country.
Responsibilities
Q: Who bears the main responsibility for the awarded project?
A: The Switzerland-based main applicant bears the responsibility for the project including its technical, administrative, and financial coordination, as well as timely delivery of activity and financial reports. The Swiss main applicant is legally bound to the Leading House via a contract signed by them and the Leading House.
Multiple applications
Q: Can a single principal investigator be allocated more than one grant from the LHMENA?
A. A principal investigator based in Switzerland may hold up to two LHMENA grants simultaneously. Applicants who already coordinate two ongoing LHMENA projects are not eligible to apply for an additional grant until at least one of their current projects has been completed.
Q: Can a single principal investigator submit more than one application to the same LHMENA call?
A: Yes, a principal investigator based in Switzerland may submit more than one application to the same call, provided that each proposal involves a different partner institution in the MENA region.
Eligible disciplines and fields of research
Q : Which disciplines are eligible? Are there priority disciplines?
A. All disciplines are eligible for this call. Relevant thematic areas are given in the text of the call.
Q. How can I apply?
A: Applications must be submitted on the https://hes-so.k-review.com/ platform. For guidance on how to use the K-review platform, please refer to the user guide on the application procedure.
Q: In what language do I have to apply?
A: All information submitted in the application, including supporting documents, must be in English. Applications submitted in other languages will not be considered eligible.
Q: I just found out about the call but it is past the submission deadline. May I still submit my application now for future consideration?
A: No, you may not. Please check the Leading House homepage for more information on upcoming calls.
Q : Can the Leading House help me find a partner in Switzerland or in a partner country?
A: A specific matchmaking procedure for this thematic call for proposals will be set up by the LHMENA. Researchers based in Switzerland are invited to register on a list to express their interest and specify the topics and countries with which they are willing to collaborate. This list will then be published to enable potential partners in the MENA region to contact them to initiate collaboration.
Salary costs
Q: Can the grant be used to pay salaries?
A: No, the grant cannot be used to pay salaries, nor is it meant to be a scholarship. There is an exception for the work-related institutional costs in Swiss universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education. The grant can be used to pay project-related costs (e.g., travel and accommodation for field research), provided these are clearly justified in the proposal. The outsourcing of project-tasks (e.g., data collection and processing) can only be covered in exceptional cases (see below). Please refer to the call guidelines for more information and a complete list of eligible costs.
Funds transfer
Q: Is it possible to transfer the awarded grant directly from the Leading House to the partner country?
A: No, all grants are transferred from the Leading House to a project account at the university/institution of the Switzerland-based main applicant who is then responsible for disbursing the dedicated portion of the grant to the co-applicant in the partner country, if applicable.
Q: Is there a limit to how much of the grant a Switzerland-based main applicant can transfer or spend in the partner country?
A: There is no fixed percentage set for the share of the grant that can be allocated to the partner country. However, the call guidelines clearly define which types of costs are eligible for each category of partner. Please consult the call text for detailed information on eligible expenses.
Outsourcing and subcontracting costs
Q: Can the grant be used to pay for outsourcing in the partner country?
A: Activities that cannot be conducted by the Swiss partner, in particular those that must be conducted in the partner country (field work, data acquisition, interviews, surveys, translation), can be outsourced to the partner(s) in the MENA region or to third parties. Maximum 20% of the overall grant can be used for this budget line.
In-cash, in-kind, and third-party contributions
Q: What is the difference between in-cash, in-kind, and third-party contributions?
A:
- In-cash contributions are monetary contributions made by the Swiss and partner institutions to effectively complement the project.
- In-kind contributions are contributions made by the Swiss or partner institutions without any (cash) money being paid towards the project (e.g., salaries, free use of infrastructure, hardware, provision of goods).
- Third-party contributions are contributions made by the external partner(s) through effective cash payments (e.g., grants, scholarships, awards).
Cost sharing
Q: How much do research partners in Switzerland and partner countries have to contribute financially to the research?
A: Each partner is expected to make a financial and/or in-kind contribution to the research budget. In most cases, an equitable share of in-cash and in-kind contributions are expected and evaluated as part of the review criteria. Proposals which do not mention any contributions will be considered as ineligible.
Q: How are applications evaluated?
A: The Leading House evaluates all applications in accordance with principles of fair competition to ensure an equal opportunity for all applicants. The evaluation process includes a first formal eligibility check by the Leading House. All eligible applications are then forwarded to external reviewers who will conduct the review in accordance with international peer-review standards. Further information regarding the evaluation criteria and specific evaluation processes can be found in the specific call guidelines.
Q: What kind of report is required for the grant my research group was awarded?
A: In fulfilment of the grant agreement/terms of contract, the Switzerland-based main applicant must submit both an activity and a financial report to the Leading House. For specific details regarding the reporting format, content, and deadlines specific to each call, please refer to the grant agreement and call guidelines.
Q: I want to be notified of upcoming Leading House calls. How should I do?
A: You can write to the Swiss Leading House MENA and ask to be added to our mailing list in order to receive notifications on our next calls. Additionally, a consolidation of funding opportunities for all five Leading Houses along with SNSF and other funding bodies in Switzerland can be found on the research.swiss platform