Organization: Economic Research Southern Africa (ERSA)
Location: South Africa
Application deadline: February 2nd, 2026
ABOUT
Economic Research Southern Africa (ERSA) has opened a call for research proposals under its Human Capital Policy Programme to support high-quality, policy-oriented research on South Africa’s health system. The initiative aims to generate evidence that can inform policymaking and address long-standing structural challenges such as inequality, limited resources, fragmented service delivery, and the need to align health system reforms with national development goals.
RESEARCH THEMES:
Health System Performance and Financing
Research in this area may explore efficiency, equity, and sustainability of health financing; allocation mechanisms; expenditure patterns; and the performance of public and private sector delivery models.
Health Service Design, Costing, and Implementation
Proposals may examine the organisation of health services, cost structures, implementation bottlenecks, and potential reforms that improve operational effectiveness within the South African context.
Health Technology Assessment
ERSA welcomes studies evaluating the cost-effectiveness, affordability, and policy relevance of health technologies, including pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and digital health solutions.
Equity, Access, and Social Determinants of Health
Research may investigate structural inequities, access barriers, socio-economic determinants of health, and distributional outcomes of health policy interventions.
Behavioural and Informational Economics in Health
This theme includes work on behavioural responses to incentives, information asymmetries, health-seeking behaviour, and interventions that improve decision-making across the health system.
Evaluation Criteria
- Clear and substantial policy relevance
- Academic novelty and contribution to the literature
- Methodological feasibility, taking into account available data sources
- Alignment with one or more of the thematic priorities
Expectations for Accepted Proposals
- Present preliminary findings at a research workshop in July 2026
- Present near-final analyses at a conference in December 2026
- Submit a full working paper for inclusion in the ERSA Working Paper Series by January 2027
- Submit a policy brief, executive summary, or economic note by April 2027
Ownership and Dissemination
-Researchers retain full intellectual ownership of their work.
ERSA reserves the right to disseminate findings to relevant academic, policy, and practitioner audiences in order to maximise the visibility and impact of the research.
Funding
-Working papers accepted for publication in the ERSA Working Paper Series will receive R50,000.
-Additional funding of up to R100,000 may be allocated for primary data collection, subject to value-for-money assessment and feasibility considerations.
How to Apply:
Fill the application form in the link below:
Request for Proposals: Economics and Health Policy in South Africa: Time for Alignment | Economic Research Southern Africa
For more information:
Visit ERSA official website on the link below:
Request for Proposals: Economics and Health Policy in South Africa: Time for Alignment | Economic Research Southern Africa
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