The 2026 GDPC Spotlight Research Grants: Advancing Principled and Accountable Use of Technology in Humanitarian Action

The Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC), in partnership with the French Red Cross Foundation, has officially launched the 2026 Spotlight Research Grants Program, a major funding initiative designed to strengthen global understanding of how technology—especially emerging ICTs and artificial intelligence—can be used responsibly, ethically, and effectively in humanitarian contexts. According to the document, “This initiative aims to deepen our understanding of how ICTs including emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) can be applied humanely, ethically, and responsibly in humanitarian contexts…”

This program is specifically tailored to support researchers from low‑ and middle‑income countries (LMICs) and encourages diverse, community‑centered perspectives on digital transformation in humanitarian work.

Program Overview

The 2026 GDPC Spotlight Research Grants Program provides USD $10,000 to university‑affiliated researchers conducting original studies on the responsible use of technology in humanitarian action. Research projects may last up to eight months, with a final submission deadline of June 30, 2027.

The program supports applied, impactful research that can inform:

Policy development
Humanitarian programming
Community‑level action
Ethical technology deployment
Organizational planning

Research may be conducted in English or French, and translation costs may be included in the project budget if needed.

The application deadline is 31 July 2026 at 23:59 UTC.

Background: Why This Research Matters

The global digital landscape is rapidly evolving, yet access remains unequal. The document highlights that “2.6 billion people globally are without internet access” and only “27% of people use the internet in low income countries.”

As humanitarian organizations increasingly rely on ICTs—such as satellite imagery, mobile money, digital mapping, and AI‑enabled tools—new opportunities and risks emerge:

Opportunities

Improved disaster impact mapping
Enhanced decision‑making through data analytics
Faster information sharing
Technology‑enabled farming
Automation of administrative tasks
Expanded access to underserved communities

Risks

Digital divides and inequity
Cybercrime and misinformation
Mental health harms
Biases embedded in technology
Threats to neutrality, impartiality, and independence
Exposure to actors not bound by humanitarian principles

The document warns that “Technologies can entrench or exacerbate existing inequities… They can expose people and communities to new risks in online and digital spaces…”

This grant program aims to address these challenges through rigorous, community‑based research.

Research Topics

Applicants must align their proposals with one of the following priority areas:

Topic 1: Community Needs & Digital Realities

Needs‑Aligned ICTs – Understanding affected people’s concerns and priorities regarding digital tools.
Community Adaptation of ICTs – How communities repurpose, adapt, or abandon technologies over time.

Topic 2: ICT Solution Feasibility & Implementation

Operational Constraints – Infrastructure, skills, funding, governance challenges in LMIC humanitarian settings.
Digital Maturity Context – How varying levels of digital readiness affect outcomes.
Humanitarian Principle Alignment – How aligning technology with humanitarian principles influences results.

Topic 3: Data Protection in Humanitarian Action

Personal Data Handling – How disaster‑affected people perceive and respond to data collection.
Data Privacy & Accountability – Effective feedback loops and complaint systems.
Community Trust – How incidents like data breaches or misinformation affect trust.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

Be affiliated with an accredited university (PhD candidates, post‑docs, faculty).
Be nationals of low‑ or middle‑income countries.
Conduct research focused on LMIC contexts.
Work within social science or humanities disciplines (e.g., sociology, anthropology, psychology, law, human geography).
Submit original, plagiarism‑free research.
Complete the project within 1 November 2026 – 30 June 2027.

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

Scientific merit and rigor
Relevance to defined research topics
Impact potential for humanitarian policy and practice
Ethical considerations and mitigation strategies
Qualifications of the research team
Realistic and justified budget
Clear timeline and feasibility
Cross‑collaboration and partnerships

The document states that proposals should “Use community‑based or participatory methodologies” and “Critically assess technology, not assume its benefit.”