EDI and research funding
Organisations who have funding available must ensure that these opportunities embed EDI. Not only will this help to create an inclusive and fair funding system, it will also enrich the research field by encouraging a wide variety of funding bids.
On this page you can find advice, guidance and good practice examples related to EDI considerations when offering funding opportunities, including the barriers faced by particular characteristics and recommendations for how to address these, along with advice on how to collect EDI monitoring and evaluation data with regards to those applying for funding.
This month's recommended research funding resource
This study by the EDICa project examines recent literature about the impact of bias in reviewing and assessing processes for research funding. It also explores strategies that have been used to improve the processes and whether they have been successful or not. The study’s rationale is to improve understanding of existing biases, their impact and gaps in knowledge and practice.
Barriers to funding and recommendations
These resources provide advice and guidance related to EDI and funding, including ensuring inclusivity, barriers faced by those with particular characteristics and examples of EDI-based funding. Use the left column below to change categories. See the right column for a summary and link to each resource.
Here you will find resources to help ensure inclusivity if you offer research funding. See below for a breakdown of each resource.
Equity and inclusivity in research funding
This study explores the barriers to securing research funding experienced by minority groups and proposes practical actions for change. The recommendations in this report are intended as a prompt to enable universities, funders and other organisations to reflect on how they may redress disparities and improve equity.
Delivering an inclusive research funding system infographic
Part of this infographic is focused on supporting funders to deliver inclusive research funding. The information is laid out simply and is a useful prompt to ensure you are actively working to deliver inclusivity when providing research funding.
Introducing the Equitable Funding Practice Library
This site introduces you to the Equitable Funding Practice Library, which brings together ideas that can be mixed and matched or applied individually to solve common challenges in reducing and eliminating inequitable funding outcomes. The page itself explains how to use and search the library and links directly to the library itself.
EDICa – Evidence review: Peer review bias in the funding process
This study by the EDICa project examines recent literature about the impact of bias in reviewing and assessing processes for research funding from complementary perspectives, such as applicant, reviewer and decision-maker. A further aim is to explore strategies that have been used to improve the processes, whether they have been successful or not. The study’s rationale is to improve understanding of existing biases, their impact and gaps in knowledge and practice.
Here you will find resources on how and when you can use funding as a positive EDI action. See below for a breakdown of each resource.
The Equality Act 2010: Positive action through bursaries, scholarships and prizes
The application of the law to a specific bursary or scholarship is complex and must be undertaken in the context of both the bursary and the institution offering it. This briefing provides an outline of the legal issues involved in Higher Education Institutions offering bursaries, scholarships and prizes and how these can be used legally as a form of positive action.
Here you will find resources outlining the barriers to funding faced by those with specific characteristics. While most of these resources are science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) focussed, the issues, barriers and recommendations to help remove these barriers outlined are transferable across disciplines. See below for a breakdown of each resource.
Accessibility in STEM: Barriers facing disabled individuals in research funding processes
This reports aims to raise awareness of issues facing disabled researchers and provides suggested actions for improving accessibility within the research funding process. Although it focuses primarily on STEM, and mainly on funding opportunities available through Research Councils, it highlights some general direct and indirect barriers within the research funding process for disabled researchers.
Barriers LGBTQI+ people face in the research funding processes
Although STEM focussed, this report presents a range of general structural issues and biases that can be applied across disciplines, which affect access to research funding for those who identify as LGBTQI+, and provides a range of recommendations to address these.
A review of barriers women face in research funding processes in the UK
This literature review critically assesses the systemic barriers and biases that affect women in the processes relating to applying for and obtaining research funding. Although this has a specific focus on STEM, the findings can be applied across disciplines.
Here you will find examples of how funding can be used to support EDI. See below for a breakdown of each resource.
Diverse voices
Diverse voices is the Political Studies Association’s (PSA) latest initiative to support black and minority ethnic scholars currently undertaking PhD study in politics and international relations. This is a good example of how one learned society is supporting and responding to an EDI need through the provision of funding and scholarships.
Monitoring and evaluation and funding data
These resources provide advice and guidance on collecting monitoring and evaluation (M&E) data in relation to funding bids. Use the left column below to change categories. See the right column for a summary and link to each resource.
Here you will find examples of how EDI M&E data can be captured during funding rounds to support EDI. See below for a breakdown of each resource.
Small projects and events fund
To meet their EDI aims, the Society of Legal Scholars (SLS) have undertaken monitoring of EDI data of those who apply to their funding streams through a questionnaire to support their monitoring activities. Information about this questionnaire and how to find it can be found at the bottom of their Small Projects and Events Fund page.