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Call for National Research Teams: Digital Public Infrastructure Inclusivity Measurement

Last update: Apr 8, 2026 Last update: Apr 8, 2026

Details

Application deadline: May 15, 2026 Deadline has passed and no more applications are accepted
Location:Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, A ...
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dem. Rep. Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Commonwealth of, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine / West Bank & Gaza, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Funding agency:
Grantmaking entity type:Multilateral organization
Status:Closed
Budget:N/A
Award ceiling: USD 50,000
Award floor:N/A
Sector:ICT & Telecommunications, Research & Innovation
Languages:English
Eligible applicants:Academic Institutions, Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs)
Eligible applicant countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, A ...
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dem. Rep. Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Commonwealth of, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine / West Bank & Gaza, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Date posted: Apr 8, 2026

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Description

Call for National Research Teams: Digital Public Infrastructure Inclusivity Measurement

The Global Development Network (GDN) has launched a call for national research teams to assess the inclusivity of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) systems across Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

The programme focuses on assessing how inclusive existing DPI systems are, identifying who is reached and who is excluded, understanding the reasons behind exclusion, implementing a structured comparative quantitative survey, conducting participatory research through deep-dive studies, generating evidence for policy discussions, and contributing to national and global debates on inclusive digital systems.

Digital Public Infrastructure, including systems such as digital identity and digital payments, is increasingly central to government efforts aimed at improving service delivery, financial inclusion, and economic growth. However, despite rapid expansion, there remains limited evidence on the real-world socioeconomic impacts of these systems, particularly on vulnerable and marginalized populations in the Global South. This initiative seeks to address this gap by supporting locally grounded research that can generate actionable insights.

Through this call, five national research teams will be selected to adapt and implement a global methodological framework within their respective countries. These teams will examine DPI systems that have been operational for at least one year and analyze their inclusivity by collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. The research will also include participatory approaches designed by the teams to capture deeper, context-specific experiences of exclusion.

In addition to research, the programme emphasizes advocacy and policy engagement. Selected teams will actively share their findings with policymakers, stakeholders, and the public, contributing to informed discussions on how DPI systems can be improved to ensure broader inclusion. This effort also aims to institutionalize evidence-based approaches to measuring inclusivity across countries.

Eligible applicants include multidisciplinary research teams affiliated with universities, research institutes, or think tanks in Low- to Upper-Middle Income Countries. Teams should demonstrate expertise in digital governance, socio-economic research, survey implementation, and policy engagement. Consortia are also encouraged to apply, provided they function as a single cohesive team.

The selected projects are expected to begin by 2 September 2026 and will run for a duration of six to eight months. Each team may receive funding of up to USD 50,000 to support research activities, dissemination, and translation where necessary. Beyond financial support, participants will gain access to GDN’s global research network and increased visibility through its communication platforms.

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Funding agency:
US DoS
Status:
closed
Location:
Afghanistan, Aland Islands, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Caribbean Netherlands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Channel Islands, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dem. Rep. Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Commonwealth of, Dominican Republic, Easter Island, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territory, Gabon, Galapagos, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Heard and McDonald Islands, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Madagascar, Madeira, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, North Korea, North Macedonia, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine / West Bank & Gaza, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos, Tuvalu, UAE, Uganda, UK, Ukraine, Uruguay, US Virgin Islands, USA, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Funding agency:
NPO
Status:
closed
Location:
Northern America, Afghanistan, Aland Islands, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caribbean Netherlands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dem. Rep. Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Commonwealth of, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territory, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Heard and McDonald Islands, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, North Korea, North Macedonia, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine / West Bank & Gaza, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos, Tuvalu, UAE, Uganda, UK, Ukraine, Uruguay, US Virgin Islands, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
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About the Sectors

ICT & Telecommunications

Features information and communication technologies, digital systems, and telecommunications infrastructure and services.


Key areas:
  • ICT systems, software, and digital solutions
  • Telecommunications networks and services
  • Digitalization, data, and communication tools

Research & Innovation

Focuses on collecting data, generating new knowledge, and applying it to develop improved methods, technologies, products, and solutions across sectors.


Key areas:
  • Scientific research, studies, and investigations
  • Innovation programs and applied R&D initiatives
  • Technology development
  • Space-related research and exploration themes

Locations

Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s infrastructure base remains severely underdeveloped after decades of conflict, with major gaps in transport, electricity generation and water systems. Connectivity projects linking Central and South Asia have been viewed as potential drivers of trade and economic stabilisation. However, limited fiscal space, sanctions-related financial isolation and weak institutional capacity significantly constrain infrastructure financing and private investment. Sustainable development will depend on improved governance frameworks, regional cooperation and gradual restoration of investor confidence.

Nr. of tenders: 26738
Nr. of grants: 3154
Nr. of donors: 475
Nr. of jobs: 72

Albania

Albania focuses on road modernization, rail upgrades, port expansion, and energy infrastructure to improve regional integration and support economic growth. EU cohesion and pre-accession funds are a major source of infrastructure financing. Investments aim to strengthen trade links with neighboring countries and enhance tourism accessibility. Governance reforms, fiscal capacity, and project implementation efficiency remain critical challenges.

Nr. of tenders: 6863
Nr. of grants: 2746
Nr. of donors: 508
Nr. of jobs: 15
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