- Discussion
New Research Call: Case studies of innovation for scaling renewable energy
New research fund opens call for proposals in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean
The Impulsouth Initiative, led by Fundación Avina and the United Nations University (UNU-ViE), with support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), is launching a new research call focused on case studies of innovation for scaling renewable energy technologies (RETs) among vulnerable populations in the Global South.
This call will support six to eight applied research projects, each receiving USD 20,000–40,000, to generate evidence-based insights on the strategies, partnerships, and enabling conditions that expand RET uptake among low-income households, women, youth, farmers, small-scale entrepreneurs, indigenous groups, and other vulnerable communities.
Research rooted in real experiences
Proposals must be based on actual interventions, initiatives already being implemented (and mature enough to observe change) or recently completed. These interventions may be implemented by:
- Private businesses,
- Enterprise support organizations,
- NGOs,
- Sectoral associations,
- Government agencies.
Each case study should analyze what worked, what didn’t, and why, identifying technological, financial, sociopolitical, and cultural factors that shape renewable energy adoption. Examples of relevant interventions include:
- New financial instruments reducing upfront costs,
- Collaborations that expand services or reduce costs,
- Regulatory innovations that improve access,
- Consumer behavior and demand-building campaigns,
- Targeted subsidies for specific user groups,
- Inclusive multistakeholder processes to coordinate RET expansion.
Who can apply?
Proposals must be led by:
- Universities or research centers with demonstrated capacity in applied research on energy transitions;
- Organizations working in Latin America & the Caribbean or Sub-Saharan Africa.
Collaborations with implementers, such as businesses, NGOs, associations, or government agencies, must be proven with an existing working relationship or previous joint experience.
💡 Information session: Join us on December 10, 2025 at 2 pm UTC
to learn more about the call, eligibility requirements, and evaluation criteria.
👉 Register here: https://shorturl.at/txkxXBasic details of the research call:
📅 Application deadline: January 12, 2026 (8 pm UTC)
💰 Funding: USD 20,000–40,000 per project
🌍 Eligible regions: Latin America & the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa
🗓️ Research period: February – August 2026The findings from selected research projects will directly contribute to strengthening the Impulsouth Training of Trainers program, supporting more informed capacity-building efforts across the Global South.
👉 Read the full call for proposals: https://bit.ly/4oO5sVR
👉 Submit your application: https://forms.gle/49BXaR8nYn8VXXM26
👉 Download application templates: https://bit.ly/4oO5ywH
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