Call for Proposals Now Open: Understanding and Influencing Humanitarian Decision-Making

The UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub (UKHIH) is pleased to launch a new Call for Proposals for a research and learning initiative focused on understanding and influencing how humanitarian decisions are made in practice. This work forms part of UKHIH’s broader mission to strengthen the enabling environment for humanitarian research and innovation.

Despite the wealth of evidence generated through research, evaluations and innovation pilots, many humanitarian actors continue to face challenges in ensuring that evidence is taken up and meaningfully used in operational or policy decisions. Much of this disconnect stems from the informal, complex, and often opaque nature of real-world decision-making processes, shaped as much by political, behavioural and institutional dynamics as by technical considerations.

This initiative will support the delivery of two key outputs:

1. A practical learning product that explores how decisions are made in humanitarian settings, identifying the actors, incentives and external factors that influence uptake of research and innovation.
2. A structured resource to help humanitarian researchers and innovators map decision-making dynamics and better plan for influence, adaptation and impact.

UKHIH is seeking to commission a supplier with deep expertise in humanitarian systems, applied research, behavioural and/or political economy approaches, and strong stakeholder engagement capabilities. The work will be co-designed with UKHIH and draw on lived experiences from UKHIH and Elrha grantees and other relevant stakeholders.

Key dates and information

• Deadline for proposals: 8 August 2025 (23:59 BST)
• Estimated value: Up to £40,000
• Delivery timeframe: September 2025 – March 2026

Submitting your application

All proposals must be submitted by 23:59 BST on Friday 8 August 2025 via email to information@ukhih.org and proposals@elrha.org.

Please use the following subject line: Call for Proposals – Understanding and Influencing Humanitarian Decision-Making – [your organisations name].

Questions

Clarification questions may be submitted up to 5 working days before the deadline, by Friday 1 August 2025 (23:59 BST).

Please send any questions to information@ukhih.org, copying proposals@elrha.org.

A summary of questions and responses will be published on this page by Monday 4 August 2025.

This work is commissioned by the UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub, hosted by Elrha and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Key documents