Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) invites researchers to submit proposals for its Soft Skills Research Fund, launched by the Entrepreneurship and Private Sector Development (EPSD) Program. This call aims to generate high-quality evidence at the intersection of soft skills development and economic empowerment in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Purpose of the Research Fund
The goal of this funding opportunity is to support research that addresses critical evidence gaps and informs policy and practice related to soft skills in economic development contexts. IPA seeks studies that align with a shared measurement framework, helping to build a coherent body of comparative evidence on the links between soft skills and economic outcomes.
Key Objectives
IPA is particularly interested in proposals that:
- Address priority knowledge gaps in soft skills and economic outcomes
- Generate actionable insights for program implementers, donors, and policymakers
- Contribute to harmonized measurement approaches for soft skills and economic indicators, enhancing comparability across studies
Research Priorities and Scope
The call welcomes a range of rigorous study designs, including experimental and quasi-experimental approaches, pilots, and scale-up evaluations. Studies should fall within IPA’s research agenda on soft skills, which outlines:
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- Definitions of soft skills (e.g., self-control, grit, communication, emotional regulation)
- Economic outcomes of interest (e.g., employment, entrepreneurship, productivity, income)
- Geographical scope (LMICs, with particular attention to underrepresented regions)
- Example research questions and learning priorities
For more detail, applicants are encouraged to consult the Soft Skills Research Agenda available on IPA’s website, which also includes implementation insights, measurement tools, and a living evidence review.
Eligibility and Submission Process
The competition is open to researchers and institutions with relevant expertise in fields such as economics, psychology, education, development studies, or behavioral science. Partnerships between academic researchers and practitioner organizations are strongly encouraged.
All interested applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) by November 14, 2025 (11:59 pm EST) via the official submission form. EOIs will be reviewed by a panel of economists, psychologists, implementers, and IPA staff. Shortlisted teams will be invited to submit full proposals.
Submission Timeline
- November 14, 2025 – Expression of Interest Due
- December 15, 2025 – Notification of teams invited to submit full proposals
- January 30, 2026 – Full Proposals Due
- April 1, 2026 – Notification of final funding decisions
What IPA Offers
Selected projects will benefit from:
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- Funding to support high-quality research design and implementation
- Technical input from IPA’s research and policy teams
- Opportunities to contribute to the global evidence base on soft skills
- Inclusion in IPA’s network and platforms for research dissemination
How to Apply
Interested researchers should:
- Carefully review the Request for Proposals document and Soft Skills Research Agenda on the IPA Soft Skills webpage
- Complete and submit the Expression of Interest form by the November 14, 2025 deadline
- Await notification by December 15, 2025, for invitation to the full proposal stage
Full proposal guidelines and templates will be shared with shortlisted applicants. Evaluation will consider policy relevance, methodological rigor, feasibility, and alignment with IPA’s framework.
Contact Information
For any questions regarding the application process or research priorities, applicants may contact the EPSD Program team at epsd@poverty-action.org.
Advancing Policy-Relevant Soft Skills Research
IPA’s Soft Skills Research Fund is part of a broader effort to deepen the understanding of how non-cognitive skills influence economic opportunities, especially in underserved contexts. By generating rigorous and comparable evidence, IPA seeks to empower practitioners and policymakers with the insights needed to design more effective programs and policies for economic empowerment.
