Call for concept notes - Climate change, informal trade, and instability in conflict-affected borderlands

Concepts

• research services
• informal cross-border trade
• informal trade networks
• informal trade
• such trade networks support climate change adaptation
• climate change adaptation
• climate change
• existing trade networks
• such informal, cross-border trade networks fuel instability
• climate adaptation

Location

Description

The XCEPT Research Fund (XRF) is inviting applications for a 12-month project that will produce innovative, empirically grounded research examining the relationship between climate change, informal trade networks, and instability in conflict-affected borderlands, with a focus on the role of informal cross-border trade in the causal pathways linking climate stress to instability and conflict. Building on the understanding that climate stress in conflict-affected borderlands - and the resulting increase in informal cross-border trade - can both amplify the agency of local communities as well as fuel instability, this Call for Concept Notes seeks to fund research that examines whether - and under what conditions - such trade networks support climate change adaptation and/or influence conflict. Concept notes should consider the following interlinked research questions: 1. How do communities in conflict-affected borderlands draw on informal, cross-border trade networks to adapt to climate extremes? 2. How are existing trade networks utilised or new ones formed? How effective are such networks as a form of climate change adaptation and resilience-building? 3. Under what conditions do such informal, cross-border trade networks fuel instability and conflict, and what are the implications for local communities and climate adaptation? Funding support up to £120,000 is available per award, depending on the scope of the research and methods employed. Applications are welcome from organisations only.

CPV Codes

• 73110000 - Research services

Indicators

• Contract is suitable for SMEs.
• Contract is suitable for VCOs.

Other Information

Interested applicants can read more about this opportunity here: https://www.xcept-research.org/grants_post/call-for-concept-notes-climate-change... The deadline for submission is Tuesday 16 September 2025 at 10:00 BST 2025-08-21_XCEPT_Climate-Change_Call-for-Concept-Notes__FINAL.pdf Application form 2025-08-21_XCEPT_Climate-Change_Application-Form_Organisation_FINAL.docx