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The Global Poverty Research Lab aims to use empirical evidence and interdisciplinary engagement to understand drivers, consequences and solutions to poverty issues around the world. As part of its mission, the Lab provides general research support to Northwestern faculty and graduate students investigating the issues related to global poverty, including but not limited to research involving randomized control trials.

Funding opportunities

Several funding opportunities are available:

  • Data Purchase. ($5,000 max) Funding is available to purchase data provided it can be made available to the wider Northwestern research community.
  • Research Assistance. ($5,000 max) Limited funding is available to assist with data cleaning, data analysis, etc., for a specific research project.
  • Small Travel Grants. ($5,000 max) To support travel to developing countries to investigate research feasibility, to set up a research project or to facilitate collaboration with key partners.
  • Pilot Studies. ($20,000 max) To support piloting surveys and testing interventions. 

Methods and Measurement Meeting

Each year, the Global Poverty Research Lab and Innovations for Poverty Action jointly host the Methods and Measurement Meeting, for researchers working on methods studies to exchange ideas and discuss progress. For details on this year’s event, please visit the Methods and Measurement Meeting event website.

Research Methods Competitive Fund

In December 2020, the Research Methods Initiative announced two parallel funding strands, one focused on validating measures of soft skills and one focused on innovative and advanced research methods. Those RFPs are now closed. Read about the projects funded to date and check back for future updates.

Proposal submission

All Northwestern University faculty and graduate students with research interests in development are eligible to apply.

Complete the GPRL funding application form and email to Poverty-Research@Northwestern.edu

Submission deadline

The deadline is rolling and decisions will be made within a few weeks of submission.

Contact us about the Global Poverty Research Lab


Global Poverty Research Lab
601 University Place |  Scott Hall |  Evanston, IL 60208