Organization: Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research

Application deadline: January 16th, 2026

ABOUT

The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR), working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is calling for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from institutions and research teams to conduct health equity–focused policy and systems research.

The initiative aims to produce practical, actionable evidence that helps countries—especially low- and middle-income countries—identify, address, and track health inequities. It prioritizes community-led, innovative, and disruptive approaches that tackle the social determinants of health, with findings designed for direct use by governments, health-system leaders, and policy partners.

Objective of the Call

• Maps and assesses health inequities using locally relevant indicators.
• Identifies system-level drivers of inequities.
• Proposes practical entry points for policy and health-system action.
• Strengthens routine data collection, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms.
• Produces evidence directly usable by decision-makers to reduce health disparities.

Priority Research Areas

1. Economic Inequality
   • Examining the impact of income disparities and poverty on access to healthcare and health outcomes.
2. Structural Discrimination
   • Investigating inequities driven by gender, ethnicity, caste, or other systemic forms of discrimination.
3. Climate Change and Health Equity
   • Exploring how climate-related events exacerbate existing health disparities.
4. Conflict and Health Systems
   • Analyzing the health equity implications of conflict, displacement, and fragile health systems.
5. Commercial and Digital Determinants of Health
   • Assessing the influence of commercial interests, technology, and digital platforms on health equity.

Eligibility Criteria

The call is open to research institutions, universities, think tanks, and policy organizations based in the following countries:

• Brazil
• India
• Kenya
• Nepal
• Pakistan
• Senegal
• Sri Lanka
• South Africa

Additional eligibility criteria include:

• Consortia or partnerships demonstrating capacity in health systems, policy research, or equity analysis.
• Experience working directly with ministries of health, national programs, or local health authorities is strongly encouraged.
• Proven ability to translate research findings into actionable policy recommendations.

Research Expectations

• Apply health policy and systems research methodologies to capture innovative, community-led approaches.
• Identify drivers of inequities at both local and system levels.
• Offer practical solutions to reduce disparities within health systems.
• Strengthen data monitoring, evaluation, and accountability frameworks.
• Produce outputs that can inform real-world health policy and practice.

Application Process

Interested teams should submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) detailing:

• A description of the research team and institutional capacity.
• Previous experience in health policy, systems research, or equity-focused studies.
• A preliminary outline of the proposed research focus, methodology, and anticipated policy impact.
• Potential partnerships with relevant stakeholders, including governments, local authorities, and community organizations.

EOIs will be assessed based on:

• Relevance to the priority research areas.
• Feasibility and innovation of the proposed approach.
• Potential for policy influence and system-level impact.
• Capacity of the team to engage effectively with local partners and policymakers.

Benefits and Opportunities

• Receive guidance and technical support from AHPSR and WHO experts.
• Contribute to the generation of evidence with real-world policy relevance.
• Strengthen collaboration with ministries of health, local authorities, and other key stakeholders.
• Gain visibility within the global health policy and systems research community.

How to Apply:

Fill the application form in the link below:

Submitting expressions of interest – Building better ways of knowing: Exploring new methods in how health science knowledge is generated to advance improved policy solutions toward health equity – Alliance for HPSR

For more information:

Visit AHPSR official website on the link below:

Funding opportunities