GCF Research Awards 2025/2026

GCF is now accepting applications for funding to support research in economics or multi-disciplinary research between economics, social sciences, management, and/or humanities.

The GCF Research Awards 2025–2026 will prioritize economic research and multidisciplinary studies that bridge economics, social sciences, management, and/or humanities, with a strong emphasis on advancing economic development. The overall focus of this program is to promote high-quality research concerning development issues, which generate evidence that can be utilized to address socio-economic challenges in Sri Lanka.

Individual Grants

• The researcher should hold a Ph.D. from a reputed university in the area of economics. A qualification less than a Ph.D. can also be considered if the researcher has a track record of successful research and publications and/or successful policy development and implementation.
• The research can be based on the generation and analysis of primary data or the analysis of secondary data.

Team Grants

• The team should consist of at least 3 researchers.
• The team leader: should have (a) either a Ph.D. in Economics or (b) a Ph.D. in a relevant field such as Mathematics, Statistics, Management, the Social Sciences, or Humanities, from a reputed university, and a track record of successful research and publications.
• The team members: Researchers with a Ph. D qualification with expertise in economics or a complementary discipline. A qualification of less than a Ph.D. can also be considered if the researcher has a track record of successful research and publications and/or successful policy development and implementation. If the team leader is not an economist, the team must include at least one researcher with a Ph.D. in Economics.
• The research can be based on the generation and analysis of primary data or the analysis of secondary data.

• Any topics in economics.

      OR

• Multi-disciplinary economic research with a strong focus on advancing economic development

Click here to download topics prioritized by the GCF

Funding is available to support research activities within a 12-month timeframe from signing of the contract.

·     Interested researchers or research teams are requested to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). The EOI should include the title of the research, a brief abstract summarizing the proposed project, and the curriculum vitae (CV) of the researcher(s) involved in the project.

·     The Foundation will inform the applicants whose EOIs qualify as potentially promising research. Upon receiving notification of selection, the invited individuals or teams will be requested to prepare a detailed proposal. The completed EOIs should be emailed to  gcf.researchgrants@gmail.com on or before May 25th, 2025.

Click here to download proposal Guidelines

If you have any questions or require further information about GCF Research Awards 2025-2026 please reach out to GCF Research Unit:

Phone: +9411 269 3035

Email: research@gcfsl.org