Overview
Elrha runs two programmes relevant to operational humanitarian organizations.
Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF)
Funds the development, testing and scaling of innovations addressing problems in humanitarian response. Calls are thematic and published periodically rather than continuously.
Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC)
Strengthens the evidence base for public health interventions in crises. Mechanisms include:
- Annual Funding Call — the main open call, published once a year. Formative research is capped at £100,000 per proposal; Open Research has no ceiling and past studies have run to seven figures
- Responsive Research Mechanism — short-notice calls launched in response to exceptional public health emergencies
- Uptake and Impact Small Grants — up to £50,000, most in the £20,000–£25,000 range, for translating existing research findings into practice
Practical note
Research calls usually require an academic partner. Operational agencies without a research partner should build that relationship before a call opens — partnerships assembled during a three-week application window rarely produce fundable proposals.
Always confirm eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the donor's own page before applying.