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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant aims to fund new networks led by UK research organizations. The core objective is to maximize international partnership brokering and networking policy opportunities for UK arts and humanities research, specifically focusing on the intersection of cultural heritage and climate change. It is a preparatory step towards the future Horizon Europe 'Resilient Cultural Heritage Partnership'.

Target Recipients: UK research organizations, including universities and other eligible research bodies.
Size: The grant does not specify organizational size requirements based on employee count for lead applicants, but it is geared towards established research institutions.
Sector Focus: This is a SECTOR-SPECIFIC grant, primarily targeting the Arts and Humanities sector, with a strong focus on Cultural Heritage and its interaction with Climate Change and Policy Development.
Geographic Scope: The lead applicant must be based in the UK. Projects are required to establish networks that include at least one European partner and in-country partners from Official Development Assistance (ODA) eligible countries (specifically those on the Development Assistance Committee, DAC, list, with a particular emphasis on Low and Middle Income Countries, LMIC).
Key Filtering Criteria: UK research organization lead, focus on cultural heritage and climate change policy, mandatory international collaboration (European and ODA-eligible partners).
Grant Frequency and Program Context: This is a new funding opportunity within an ongoing UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment program, managed by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and co-funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It serves as a strategic stepping stone towards the development of the Horizon Europe 'Resilient Cultural Heritage Partnership'. While the broader program is recurring, this specific call is presented as a preparatory, one-time opportunity.

Financial Structure

This grant provides financial support for networks focused on cultural heritage and climate change policy.

Total Fund: The overall budget allocated for this funding opportunity is £300,000.
Award Range: Individual projects can request between £45,000 and £60,000 as the full economic cost (FEC).
Currency: All financial amounts are in GBP (Great British Pounds).
Funding Rate: The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) will fund 80% of the full economic cost (FEC) of your project. This means applicants are expected to cover the remaining 20%.
Co-financing Requirements: A co-financing contribution of 20% of the full economic cost is required from the applicant's organization.
Eligible Costs (with special provisions):
Project Staff Salaries: Costs for the project lead, project co-leads (UK and international), and a mentor (if applicable) can be claimed. Mentor time should be built into the budget as a directly allocated cost.
International Project Co-leads: Costs for international project co-leads based in developing countries (on the DAC list) can be claimed at 100% FEC under 'exceptions'. Notably, there is no 30% limit on these total costs for individuals from DAC list countries.
Third Sector/NGO Partners: Costs for third sector/NGO partners may also be funded at 100% FEC. Normally, these are subject to a 30% overall limit of the total award's 100% FEC; if this limit is exceeded, a full justification of their intellectual and practical contribution is required. Staff salaries for third sector/NGO organizations are not expected to exceed one FTE each year.
LMIC Indirect and Estates Costs: For overseas organizations within DAC list (LMIC) countries, a contribution towards indirect and estates costs can be claimed, calculated at up to 20% of the total eligible direct costs directly relating to the LMIC project co-lead's activities. These costs must be included within the overall £60,000 FEC limit.
Inclusive Participation Costs: Costs to support inclusive participation in development impact activities (e.g., translation, carer support) are eligible for both UK and LMIC partners.
Significant Travel: Justification is required for significant travel for fieldwork or collaboration, but not for regular travel between collaborating organizations or to conferences.
Equipment: Justification is required for any equipment costing more than £25,000.
Consumables: Justification is required for consumables beyond typical requirements or in exceptional quantities.
Ineligible Costs:
Infrastructure Costs: Costs for structural alterations to venues/sites for improved accessibility (e.g., to make permanent structural changes) are not funded.
Basic Office/Facilities for Non-DAC International Co-leads: Estates/indirect/overhead costs cannot be requested for international project co-leads employed by academic organizations not based in a DAC list country (i.e., research organizations in developed countries and their subsidiaries). Direct costs to cover basic office and facilities (e.g., library access) and minor/day-to-day consumables (e.g., photocopying, telephone calls) are also generally not eligible for these partners.
Partners from Graduating DAC List Countries: Partners from countries graduating from the DAC list will be costed under standard AHRC policy, not the enhanced funding available to other DAC list country partners.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for this funding opportunity, your organization and project must meet the following hard criteria:

Eligible Lead Organization Types: You must be based at a UK research organization eligible for Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funding. This typically includes universities, research institutes, and certain public sector research establishments.
Project Lead and Co-Lead Requirements:
The project lead and any project co-leads must be employed and supported by an eligible organization for at least the duration of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) support.
While no specific qualification (like a PhD) is strictly required, you must possess the appropriate skills to lead the project in line with UKRI's terms and conditions. Applications are welcomed from individuals working as archivists, curators, librarians, technicians, and practitioners, indicating that practical and professional experience is valued as equivalent to academic qualifications.
Early Career Researchers (as defined by AHRC) are particularly encouraged to apply and may include a mentor within the application budget.
The project lead must be primarily based and permitted to work in the UK during the project's duration.
Consortium Requirements: This grant explicitly requires a consortium. Projects must form new networks or strengthen existing ones, comprising:
UK institutions (lead applicant).
At least one European partner.
In-country partners from Official Development Assistance (ODA) eligible countries (i.e., those on the DAC list). Specifically, the grant mentions that costs for partners in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC) have special provisions.
Community practitioners, researchers, and policymakers are also expected to be part of these networks.
Geographic Location Requirements:
The lead organization must be UK-based.
The project must be primarily based and permitted to work in the UK.
Required international collaboration with European and ODA-eligible countries (DAC list, especially LMIC).
ODA Compliance: The proposed work must be Official Development Assistance (ODA) compliant. This means its primary objective must be directly relevant to, and promote the economic development and welfare of, a country or countries on the DAC list. Projects that do not meet ODA compliance will be rejected.
Exclusion Criteria: You are not eligible if:
You are a researcher who does not have a PhD or equivalent experience. (Note: While a PhD is not mandatory, demonstrably equivalent experience is required).
The application proposes project studentships (funding PhD study).
You are attempting to resubmit a previous UKRI application to this specific funding opportunity.
The project is UK-only focused; international partnerships with European and ODA-eligible countries are mandatory.
The research does not promote a DAC list country.
The project involves the provision of direct development aid or emergency assistance, supplies, or equipment.

Application Process

Applying for this grant requires careful attention to deadlines and specific submission procedures, all managed through the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service.

Application Timeline and Deadlines:
Publication Date: 24 July 2025
Opening Date: 5 August 2025, 9:00am UK time
Closing Date: 14 October 2025, 4:00pm UK time (This is a hard deadline; applications will not be accepted after this time. Be aware of internal institutional deadlines, which may be earlier.)
Project Start Date: Projects must start by 1 February 2026.
Project Duration: Projects will be funded for up to 12 months and must be completed by 31 January 2027.
Assessment Timeline: UKRI aims to complete the assessment process within 5 months of receiving your application.
Application Procedure and Platform:
Platform: Applications must be submitted via the new UKRI Funding Service. The Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system is NOT used for this opportunity.
Registration: Ensure your organization is registered on the Funding Service. If not, allow at least 10 working days for your organization to be added.
Submission Process: The project lead is responsible for completing the application on the Funding Service. The completed application must then be sent to your research office for checking and final submission to UKRI. Only the lead research organization can submit.
No Changes After Submission: Once submitted, applications cannot be changed or returned for amendment.
Required Documentation and Materials:
Summary: Up to 550 words, in plain English, suitable for public release, covering context, challenge, aims, objectives, and potential benefits.
Vision: Up to 500 words, explaining what you hope to achieve, emphasizing quality, timeliness, impact, EDI integration, and alignment with grant objectives.
Approach: Up to 2,000 words, detailing how the work will be delivered, including effectiveness, feasibility, risk management, methodology, and a comprehensive project plan with milestones and timelines. Also requires a detailed one-page A4 plan for data acquisition and management.
Applicant and Team Capability to Deliver: Up to 1,650 words (1,150 for R4RI modules + 500 optional additions), showcasing the team's experience, skills, leadership, and contribution to a positive research environment using the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format.
Ethics and RRI (Responsible Research and Innovation): Up to 500 words, addressing ethical implications, data handling, and management strategies.
International Collaboration: Up to 500 words, detailing international involvement, including countries of partners.
Official Development Assistance (ODA) Compliance Eligibility: Up to 500 words, explaining how the proposal meets ODA criteria, focusing on benefits to DAC list countries.
ODA Gender Equality Statement: Up to 400 words, outlining considerations for gender equality throughout the project.
Resources and Cost Justification: Up to 1,000 words, justifying the budget and demonstrating optimal resource use for achieving outcomes.
Project Partners: Details of contributing organizations, contact information, type, and monetary value of contributions (direct/indirect).
Project Partner Letters (or Emails) of Support: A single PDF upload containing letters from each named partner. Each letter should confirm commitment, explain value/relevance/benefits, describe additional value, and be limited to 2 sides of A4 per partner. Enter 'attachment supplied' in the text box.
Visual Elements: Images can be included in some sections (Vision, Approach, Ethics & RRI) to convey important visual information, with descriptive captions. Text, tables, or excessive images are not permitted within image fields.
References: Included within the word count of the respective question section. Hyperlinks are permitted for references but not for extending application content.
Types of Support Offered: This opportunity provides monetary funding (FUNDING). It also implicitly supports networking (through the requirement for new networks and partnerships), capacity building (encouraging early career researchers, focus on skills development), and research and development activities focused on policy impact.
Post-Award Requirements: If successful, formal collaboration agreements will be required for project partners for audit purposes.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be assessed by an expert panel based on the following criteria. There is no pre-panel peer review stage.

Vision (500 words):
Quality and Importance: Whether the proposed work is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond its field.
Advancement of Understanding: Its potential to advance current understanding, generate new knowledge, thinking, or discovery.
Timeliness: Its relevance given current trends, context, and needs.
Impact: Expected impact on world-leading research, society, the economy, or the environment.
EDI Integration: How Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) considerations are embedded into and guide the project's aims, stakeholder engagement, events, and networking.
Concept and Coordination: Clear description of the project's concept, context, and coordination function.
Alignment: How well the application aligns with the funding opportunity's objectives.
Research Challenges: Clear statement of the research challenges to be addressed.
Approach (2,000 words):
Effectiveness and Feasibility: Whether the design of the approach is effective, appropriate, and feasible, identifying and managing risks.
Methodology: If applicable, clearly written and transparent methodology.
Building on Previous Work: How previous work is built upon and progressed.
Translation to Outcomes: How outputs will be maximized into outcomes and impacts.
Research Environment: Contribution of the applicant's and team's research environment to the work's success.
EDI Operationalization: How EDI is built into the formation, operation, and governance of the network.
Project Plan: Detailed project plan including milestones and timelines.
Data Management: Detailed plan for data acquisition and management (additional one-page A4).
Partnership Management: How the partnership will be planned, managed, and enable stakeholder collaboration.
Sustainability Plan: Future plans for sustaining the partnership beyond the grant or funding research from it.
Applicant and Team Capability to Deliver (1,650 words):
Relevant Experience: Evidence of relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to deliver the proposed work.
Skills Balance: The right balance of skills and expertise across the team.
Leadership and Management: Appropriate leadership and management skills, and approach to developing others.
Positive Research Environment: Contributions to developing a positive research environment and wider community.
R4RI Format: Use of the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format to showcase skills and contributions.
Ethics and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) (500 words):
Identification and evaluation of relevant ethical/RRI considerations.
Plan for managing these considerations.
For data, legal and ethical considerations of collection, release, and storage, and compliance with information standards.
Project Partner Letters of Support: Assessment of commitment, value, relevance, benefits from partners, and additional value they bring (uploaded as a single PDF, 2 sides A4 limit per partner).
Official Development Assistance (ODA) Eligibility (500 words):
Identification of DAC list country(ies) directly benefiting.
Direct and primary relevance to the development challenges of these countries.
Expected promotion of economic development and welfare.
Appropriateness of the activity to address the development need.
Approaches to deliver development impact during and beyond the project, including beneficiary engagement.
ODA Gender Equality Statement (400 words):
Measures for equal and meaningful opportunities for different genders (project development, participants, beneficiaries).
Expected impact (benefits and losses) on different genders.
Impact on relations between genders.
Risk mitigation and monitoring for negative consequences on gender equality.
Measurement of outcomes/outputs disaggregated by age and gender (where disclosed).
Resources and Cost Justification (1,000 words):
Justification for more costly resources (staff, significant travel, equipment >£25k, exceptional consumables, facilities/infrastructure, 'Exceptions', international collaboration costs).
Overall demonstration that resources are comprehensive, appropriate, justified, and represent optimal use for intended outcomes and impacts.

Compliance & Special Requirements

This grant has several critical compliance and special requirements, particularly due to its Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding and focus on international collaboration.

Official Development Assistance (ODA) Compliance: This is a non-negotiable requirement. Your project's primary objective must directly promote the economic development and welfare of countries on the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list. Proposals that are not fully ODA compliant will be rejected. This includes ensuring your project focuses on challenges specific to partner countries, not broader global issues, and that any benefits to the UK or high-income countries are secondary.
Paris Agreement Alignment: ODA spending for this grant must align with the Paris Agreement. This means:
Using an appropriate carbon price in relevant bilateral program appraisals.
Ensuring any investment support for fossil fuels is in line with Paris Agreement temperature goals and transition plans.
Implementing a proportionate approach to climate risk assurance.
Ensuring relevant programs do not undermine countries' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and adaptation plans.
Gender Equality Requirements: All ODA funding must adhere to the International Development (gender equality) Act 2014. Applicants must provide a comprehensive Gender Equality Statement demonstrating:
Measures for equal and meaningful opportunities for people of different genders throughout the project (development, participants, beneficiaries).
Expected impact (benefits and losses) on different genders.
Impact on relations between genders.
Mitigation and monitoring of risks/negative consequences on gender equality.
Measurement of outcomes/outputs disaggregated by age and gender (where disclosed).
Ethical Standards and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI): Applicants must identify and manage all relevant ethical and RRI implications, including legal and ethical considerations for data collection, release, and storage (e.g., consent, confidentiality, anonymization, security). The grant also emphasizes adhering to formal information standards.
Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I): UKRI expects funded organizations to conduct international collaborations with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. Applicants may be asked to demonstrate how their projects comply with TR&I principles, identifying potential risks and mitigation controls.
Intellectual Property Policies: While not explicitly detailed, UKRI's standard IP policies would apply, generally allowing the grant recipient to own the IP generated but requiring mechanisms for knowledge dissemination and impact.
Accessibility and Inclusion Standards: UKRI is committed to equality of opportunity. Applications from diverse researchers are encouraged, and support for career breaks, caring responsibilities, and flexible working is offered. Disability and accessibility support is available for applicants and grant holders.
Collaborative Project Focus: Projects must involve UK institutions collaborating with at least one European partner and ODA in-country partners. Projects focused solely on the UK are explicitly excluded. The aim is to foster new or strengthen existing partnerships between these entities to drive policy impact.
Innovation and Knowledge Exchange: The grant seeks projects that will foster collaboration, cross-pollination of ideas, and drive cultural heritage research into meaningful policy impacts. It encourages projects with scalable and sustainable funding plans for the networks formed.
No Duplication or Direct Aid: The grant will not fund projects that are merely a continuation or duplication of original research without new collaboration, nor will it fund direct development aid or emergency assistance. It focuses on research-driven policy change and network building.
Generative AI Use: Use of generative AI tools for application preparation is permitted but caution is advised. Reviewers are explicitly prohibited from using generative AI for assessment.

Grant Details