Announcement Date: January 23, 2024
The National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, in collaboration with Fondation Botnar of Switzerland and the Human Science Research Council (HSRC) of South Africa, is pleased to introduce the u’Good research program. This initiative is dedicated to exploring young people and relational wellbeing (YPRWB) in urban and peri-urban environments. The primary objective of this research program is to examine and enhance relational approaches to wellbeing, providing empirical insights into contemporary challenges faced by young people and their strategies for addressing them. The call for Expressions of Interest is now open to researchers focusing on the following 12 countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Romania, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Vietnam.
Objectives and Focus
Successful applicants for this funding opportunity will commit to achieving the following objectives:
- Test and Develop Relational Approaches to Wellbeing:
- Conceptually, methodologically, and operationally.
- Generate Empirical Insights:
- Explore key contemporary challenges to young people’s wellbeing in urban and peri-urban environments.
- Understand how young people are actively addressing these challenges.
Focus Areas
Submitted proposals should center around young people and relational wellbeing, addressing one or more of the following thematic areas:
- Young people and livelihoods
- Mental health
- Digitalization
- Climate change
Proposals may also delve into the conceptual basis of relational wellbeing.
Proposal Characteristics
Proposals should demonstrate:
- Equal partnership and sustainable collaboration among research team members and non-academic stakeholders (e.g., youth organizations, NGOs, community groups, government agencies).
- Inter-institutional and trans-sectoral cooperation.
- Balanced contributions to the proposed research.
- Gender equality.
- Focus on capacity building.
- Frequent exchange between the research team members and stakeholders.
Eligibility Criteria
- Principal investigators must hold a Ph.D.
- Investigators can be emerging researchers (up to seven years post-Ph.D.) or established researchers (eight-plus years post-Ph.D.).
- Investigators must be based at a research institution (university or public sector research institute).
- Project teams must be based in one of the 12 focus countries or affiliated with institutions in those countries.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted electronically via the NRF’s connect System at NRF Connect System. For detailed information, please refer to the Framework document.
Important Dates:
- NO late proposals will be accepted after the closing dates indicated above.👉 Learn more and submit expressions of interest by 28 February 2024: https://www.nrf.ac.za/ugood/
Funding Rules and Support
For funding rules-related queries, contact:
For application process-related queries, contact:
Technical Support:
We encourage researchers to seize this opportunity to contribute to the advancement of young people’s relational wellbeing in the Global South. Let’s work together for a healthier and more connected future.