Want to know who’s funding what, and where? We map major UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) research investments, looking to support the international development research community to understand and respond to a complex and dynamic funding landscape.
Looking for open funding calls? See current UK funding opportunities in global development research here.
You can also find more information on major UK funding programmes here.
The UK government previously committed to spending 0.7% of its Gross National Income on ODA. In 2015, it adopted a greater cross-governmental approach to ODA, involving a greater number of players in funding for international development research.
By providing a comprehensive picture of the UK’s ODA research funding, we are able to analyse investments, highlight strategic gaps and opportunities, and identify future international development and research trends to our members and stakeholders.
This briefing paper summarises UK-funded contributions to the research capacity strengthening landscape in low- and middle-income countries between 2016 and 2021, along with initial policy recommendations to UK funders.
UKCDR presents a mapping and analysis of the scope and reach of UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Wellcome-funded research on climate change and international development between 2015 and 2020.
This briefing summarises the findings and recommendations of a review of UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Wellcome-funded research on climate change and international development, between 2015 and 2020.
To make best use of the expansive data in the COVID-19 Research Project Tracker, UKCDR & GloPID-R have produced a Living Mapping Review of COVID-19 funded research projects, which analyses globally funded COVID-19 related research.
UKCDR analysed 17 fellowship and scholarship schemes funded by the UK between 2014 and 2019, contributing to research capacity strengthening (RCS) in Africa. This is the first study on UK national level investments into fellowships and scholarships in Africa. The report provides a baseline of UK funding to underpin future activities under the UK Government’s new and distinctive commitment to work alongside, invest in and partner with African nations.
This report details the findings and recommendations of a review of research on the built environment and its intersection with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the global south.
This report presents an analysis of the nature and reach of UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Wellcome funding for international development research and partnership activities in Kenya between 2014 – 2019, positioned within the wider profile of the Kenyan national research and innovation system.
This report presents an analysis of the nature and reach of UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Wellcome funding for international development research and partnership activities in Nigeria between 2014 – 2019, positioned within the wider profile of the Nigerian national research and innovation system.
This report presents an analysis of the nature and reach of UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Wellcome funding for international development research and partnership activities in South Africa between 2014 – 2019, positioned within the wider profile of the South African national research and innovation system.
This paper provides a high-level overview of UK commitments and major UK-funded initiatives in international development research on AMR (2018/19). It also provides an overview of UK and global coordination mechanisms on AMR research and identifies strategic research gaps to address in the future.
Report mapping the size of the UK's investment in the priority area of affordable housing in Kenya
Official development assistance (ODA) is defined by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) as government aid that promotes and specifically targets the economic development and welfare of developing countries. It is the key measure used in practically all aid targets and assessments of aid performance (find a full definition here). All countries and territories eligible to receive ODA are on the DAC list of ODA recipients, revised every three years by OECD.
To be accepted as ODA, this funding must meet certain criteria. See the Newton Fund and Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) ODA guidance for more information and to help you understand any considerations to take into account and to decide if your work is applicable.
Independent evaluation and scrutiny of the impact and value for money of all UK government ODA is provided by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact. ICAI operates independently of government and reports to Parliament through the House of Commons International Development Committee or their ICAI Sub-Committee.