The FCDO Research Commissioning Centre, co-led by 3ie and the University of Birmingham, invites applications for three Senior Research Fellows at the FCDO in the fields of Clean Energy and Innovation, Migration, and Humanitarian.
The deadline for sending proposals for this call for expressions of interest is 17:00 GMT, 10 September 2025.
Background
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Research Commissioning Centre (RCC) has been established to commission and manage research to enhance development and foreign policy impact. The RCC provides support to FCDO teams for commissioning and delivering high-quality and impactful research. It addresses challenges associated with research bureaucracy by providing a streamlined process for commissioning and delivering FCDO-funded research.
The FCDO RCC is excited to announce three Senior Research Fellow placements at the FCDO. The placements are for roles under the themes of Clean Energy and Innovation, Migration, and Humanitarian.
Application Title: Three Senior Research Fellow placements in FCDO available in Clean Energy and Innovation, Migration, and Humanitarian.
Key dates
Deadline for Application: Wednesday 10th September 2025 at 5pm GMT. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Interviews: to be held early in October 2025
Placement duration: Two years at 0.4 FTE.
Fellowship commencement date: 1st April 2026.
Placement location: These roles will be hosted by FCDO and are subject to the Fellow successfully passing “Security Check” level security clearance.
- Deadline for Application: Wednesday 10th September 2025 at 5pm GMT. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
- Interviews: to be held early in October 2025
- Placement duration: Two years at 0.4 FTE.
- Fellowship commencement date: 1st April 2026.
- Placement location: These roles will be hosted by FCDO and are subject to the Fellow successfully passing “Security Check” level security clearance.
Eligibility
- Applicants need to be Associate Professor level seniority, associated with a UK University
- Applicants will need to meet the requirements for obtaining security clearance to undertake the placement.
How to apply
Applicants should review the Job description for the respective thematic area they wish to apply and complete the application form on the RCC grant management system.
Supporting information
If shortlisted, funding recipients will be required to adhere to several 3ie and FCDO policies mentioned below. We strongly recommend reviewing these before applying.
- FCDO Senior Research Fellowship -Agreement Template and Award letter
- FCDO Programme Operating Framework (PrOF)
- FCDO Risk Register Template*
- 3ie Safeguarding Policy
- 3ie Fraud & Anti-Corruption Policy
- 3ie Transparent, Reproducible, and Ethical Evidence (TREE) Policy
Note: In case of any discrepancies between the FCDO’s PrOF guidance and 3ie’s policies, the PrOF guidance will prevail.
Contact
If you have any questions related to this opportunity, please submit these to the rcc@3ieimpact.org mailbox including “Senior Research Fellow Request for Clarification” in the subject line.
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