Structural Transformation and Economic Growth (STEG) PhD Research Grant

The Structural Transformation and Economic Growth (STEG) programme, established in March 2020, aims to provide a better understanding of structural change, productivity, and growth in low- and middle-income countries. STEG seeks to develop a strong body of evidence that will help country governments, international development organisations, NGOs, and the private sector to design and implement strategies, policies, and programmes that better facilitate structural change, productivity gains, and both sustained and sustainable growth.

PhD Research Grants

PhD Research Grants (PhD RGs) of up to £15,000 can fund research assistance, data collection and/or purchase, and stipends. Stipends should only be requested if they allow the researcher(s) to reduce teaching/administrative duties and therefore free up time for research. Stipends are capped at £12,000 for PhD students in programmes located in high-income countries and the PPP equivalent for PhD students in programmes located in low- and middle-income countries. Grants will also support travel to field sites, even when secondary data is utilised. We view this kind of travel (with the possibilities for field visits and conversations with policymakers) as particularly important for researchers who lack prior experience in the countries that they intend to study.

Eligible Research

Please note that an important criterion for funding of proposals is the relevance to policy in low-income countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Proposals focused on middle- and/or high-income countries need to make a clear case for the relevance of the research to policy in specific low-income countries. Proposals are also evaluated on the extent to which the research findings (including those from comparative work or from studies in other geographies) might be relevant to policy in specific sub-Saharan countries.