The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) 2026 offers four Early Career Research Fellowships (two doctoral, two postdoctoral) valued up to $20,500 over two years. The program targets researchers in LMICs focusing on the intersection of VAW and VAC, requiring LMIC nationality and institutional enrollment. Applications are due January 31, 2026.
SVRI Early Career Research Fellowships 2026 Summary Table
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Host Organization | Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) |
| Research Focus | Intersections of Violence Against Women (VAW) and Children (VAC) |
| Category | Doctoral and Postdoctoral Research Fellowships |
| Eligible Countries | Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) |
| Max Financial Award | Up to USD 20,500 (Postdoctoral) |
| Fellowship Duration | Up to 2 Years |
| Application Deadline | January 31, 2026 (11:50 pm South African Time) |
Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) Early Career Research Fellowships 2026
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) invites applications for its 2026 Early Career Research Fellowships, dedicated to strengthening leadership, research capacity, and locally generated evidence on the complex intersections of violence against women (VAW) and violence against children (VAC).
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The program is a direct investment in scholars from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), aiming to shift the research paradigm from externally led agendas to locally relevant, equity-driven scholarship grounded in the realities and priorities of high-burden communities. SVRI will award four fellowships in 2026: two at the doctoral level and two at the postdoctoral level.
The Fellowship supports rigorous, impactful, and locally led research that can inform integrated, evidence-based approaches to violence prevention and intervention where VAW and VAC co-occur and share root causes.
Benefits and Specific Awards of the SVRI Fellowships
The SVRI Fellowships provide direct financial support for research activities and a comprehensive package of mentorship and network building to accelerate the fellow’s career and impact.
Tier 1: SVRI Financial Research Awards (Up to $20,500)
- Doctoral Fellowships: 2 awards, each valued at up to USD 17,000, with a maximum duration of up to 2 years to support dissertation research.
- Postdoctoral Fellowships: 2 awards, each valued at up to USD 20,500, with a maximum duration of up to 2 years to support postdoctoral research.
Tier 2: Research Capacity and Knowledge Dissemination
- Strengthen Global Evidence: Financial support dedicated to advancing contextually grounded knowledge on VAW and VAC intersections, addressing critical gaps in the evidence base.
- Mentorship and Networking: Fellows receive mentorship and dedicated opportunities to join global networks focused on gender equality, violence prevention, and evidence-informed policymaking.
- Publication Support: Direct support to strengthen research and leadership capacity, specifically aimed at facilitating the publication and dissemination of locally produced knowledge.
Tier 3: Locally Led and Feminist Impact
- Feminist & Equity-Driven Focus: Supports research committed to advancing feminist, equity-driven scholarship that reflects local priorities and realities.
- Fostering Networks: Opportunity to foster regional and global networks of feminist and equity-focused researchers, contributing to sustainable, locally-led research ecosystems.
Eligibility Requirements for SVRI Fellowships 2026
Applicants must meet all the following mandatory criteria, with preference given to specific groups to ensure diversity and local commitment:
- Nationality: Must be a national of a low- or middle-income country (LMIC).
- Academic Institution: Must be enrolled full-time at an accredited, in-person academic institution located in an LMIC.
- Research Focus: Must be conducting PhD dissertation research or postdoctoral research focused specifically on the intersections of VAW and VAC.
- Proposal Status (Doctoral): Doctoral applicants must have a defended or institutionally approved dissertation proposal.
Preference will be given to applicants who:
- Are from underrepresented regions or population groups.
- Demonstrate long-term commitment to advancing the rights and wellbeing of women, girls, and children.
How to Apply for SVRI Fellowships 2026 (Step by Step)
Applications must be submitted exclusively through the Proposal Central platform. Prospective applicants should register on the platform before beginning the process.
- Register on Proposal Central: First-time users must register an account on the platform to access the application materials.
- Complete Online Application Form: Complete the online form, including the required narrative sections:
- Career Objectives (max 6,000 characters)
- Community Impact Statement (max 3,000 characters)
- Research Proposal (must follow the specific SVRI template)
- Upload Required Documents: Upload all mandatory supporting documentation:
- Official letter from the academic institution verifying full-time enrollment status and nationality.
- Academic transcripts from the past two years.
- Two reference letters, one of which must be from the applicant’s academic advisor.
- Shortlisting and Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in a panel interview as part of the final selection process.
Accepted Application Languages: English, French, and Spanish.
Application Deadline: 31 January 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What are the two types of fellowships offered by SVRI in 2026?
The SVRI offers two awards for Doctoral Fellowships (up to $17,000) and two awards for Postdoctoral Fellowships (up to $20,500).
2. What is the maximum duration of the SVRI Early Career Research Fellowships?
The maximum duration for both the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships is up to 2 years.
3. What is the specific research focus required for this fellowship?
The research must focus specifically on the intersections of violence against women (VAW) and violence against children (VAC).
4. Are researchers from high-income countries eligible to apply?
No, applicants must be nationals of and enrolled full-time at an academic institution located in a low- or middle-income country (LMIC).
5. What is the application deadline and time zone for submission?
The final application deadline is January 31, 2026, at 11:50 pm South African Time.
6. What documents are required to be uploaded with the application?
Required documents include an official letter verifying LMIC enrollment and nationality, academic transcripts from the past two years, and two reference letters (one must be from the academic advisor).
7. Which application platform must be used to submit the research proposal?
All applications, including the research proposal, must be submitted exclusively through the Proposal Central online platform.
8. What are the required narrative components of the online application?
The online application form requires a Career Objectives statement (max 6,000 characters) and a Community Impact Statement (max 3,000 characters), in addition to the Research Proposal.
9. What is a prerequisite for doctoral applicants before submitting the SVRI application?
Doctoral applicants must have a defended or institutionally approved dissertation proposal before applying for the fellowship.
10. In what languages can the application be submitted?
Applications are accepted in English, French, and Spanish.
