AHRC Opens New Call on the Impact of COVID-19 on Modern Slavery
Friday, 05 June, 2020
The Policy and Evidence Centre for Human Rights and Modern Slavery (‘the Centre’), led by the Arts and Humanities Research Centre (AHRC) and with support from the Economic and Social Research Centre (ESRC), is designed to bring research, policymakers, businesses, charities and NGOs together. It will combat and reduce modern slavery by driving real policy change in prevention, legal enforcement and supply chains, with a strong focus on victim / survivor support and recovery.
The Centre is offering this funding opportunity, to support research into the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on those who are vulnerable to, or victims or survivors of, modern slavery. This victim-centred focus is integral to the Centre’s activities, and all proposals funded through this call must involve end users of the research, such as policy-makers, practitioners, NGOs and survivor groups, and they must demonstrate the potential to benefit these end users through the provision of new insights and evidence-based solutions to the problem of modern slavery.
The call has been designed to enable a flexible and swift response to a complex and emerging problem. The call will be operated on a rolling basis, enabling researchers to submit a proposal at any point, which will be considered as swiftly as possible.
Projects may wish to address one or more of the following, noting that the list is not exhaustive and other research questions / ideas are welcome:
- The impact that the COVID-19 global pandemic, and responses to it, are having on the nature and scale of modern slavery, including the demand for, and supply of, enslaved labour, the forms and methods of trafficking and exploitation, and the enforcement of legislation
- Emerging vulnerabilities to modern slavery, caused or exacerbated by COVID-19 and the resulting changes to the labour market and international mobility, and how vulnerable individuals and communities can be protected in these changed circumstances
- The effectiveness of support services provided for victims and survivors of modern slavery, how their ways of working have been forced to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic response, and the impact that this is having on those whom they support
- Opportunities for international co-operation to address the health risks posed by trafficking, and to ensure that displaced communities and humanitarian settings are resilient in the face of the pandemic.
Applicants must be of post-doctoral or equivalent standing. The principal investigator must meet standard AHRC eligibility criteria and awards will be made to a UK research organisation eligible to receive AHRC funding.
Proposals for full economic costs of up to £150,000 for a period of up to 6 months may be submitted.
Please note that because this is a rapid response funding call, all projects funded through this route must end by 31 March 2021.
This COVID-19 rapid response funding call does not operate under fixed deadlines. Applicants may submit a proposal through the Je-S online system at any point during the year.
More information about this research funding opportunity and the application process is available on the RESEARCHconnect funding information platform. RESEARCHconnect provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on research funding news and policy. To find out more about how RESEARCHconnect can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.