Implementation and Policy
Implementation and Policy supports researchers working with governments and NGOs on policy and implementation studies to inform high-impact decisions and improve poor people’s lives in poor countries.
Funder: Weiss Fund for Research in Development Economics
Due Dates: November 1, 2026 (Rolling, under $25,000) | February 1, 2027 (Rolling, under $25,000) | May 1, 2027 (Rolling, under $25,000)
Funding Amounts: Typically up to $100,000; up to $150,000 for exceptional proposals; requested project period
Summary: Supports policy research with governments and NGOs working at scale, and implementation studies informing immediate, high-impact decisions.
Key Information: Corresponding PIs must meet the Fund’s institutional, affiliation, or nomination eligibility rules.
Description
The Weiss Fund’s Implementation and Policy program supports research addressing important policy questions with governments or NGOs working at scale, alongside research and implementation studies needed for immediate, high-impact decisions. Administered at the University of Chicago and funded by the CRI Foundation, it aims to improve poor people’s lives in poor countries, including through long-term benefits.
Original research, cross-disciplinary work, policy-relevant replication, and studies challenging conventional wisdom are welcome. Projects may examine health, education, civil society, service provision, or the economic effects of aid and capital inflows. Expected impact per dollar spent is the overriding priority, with attention to marginal impact, pathways to scale, and dissemination that helps donors, governments, and NGOs improve programming. Prospects for publication in top journals do not directly enter funding decisions.
