CIFSI Research Fellowship 2023 – ISDM
Application deadline is 14 Aug 2023
Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) got seeded as an idea in early 2016 when its founders came together with a common vision to launch a first-of-its-kind educational institution that would develop and groom the next generation of professional leaders and managers for the development sector. ISDM envisions building Development Management as a stand-alone domain and an aspirational choice for professionals in the development sector. By 2025, ISDM aims to become the go-to management institute for top professionals wanting to transform the development sector for a greater impact on people’s lives.
Indian School of Development Management’s Centre for Innovative Finance and Social Impact (CIFSI) is an initiative that seeks to enhance research on innovative financing and raise dialogue among public and private stakeholders to tackle developmental challenges. The centre is dedicated to catalysing social financing as a tool for solving global challenges through a combination of research, knowledge creation and exchange, and convening diverse voices from social purpose organisations.
ISDM’s Centre for Innovative Finance and Social Impact (CIFSI) has announced the first cohort of research fellowship program for practitioners and researchers looking to explore cutting-edge Innovative financial strategies to reshape the social sector!
To complement government and philanthropic spending, the centre works towards mainstreaming innovative finance for social impact.
If you want to join our community of change-makers, YOUR CHANCE IS NOW!!
📢 Program Details 📢
🗓️ Duration: 12 months
📍Location: Anywhere in India
📒Theme: Driving Social Impact through Innovative Finance Approaches
₹ Fellowship amount: 3 Lakh INR
Innovative financing in the social sector has long been touted as one of the enablers for creating, scaling and sustaining innovative and impact-oriented solutions towards developmental challenges. However, as per available resources and research, the scope of innovative financing in social sector remains limited due to asymmetry of understanding between implementers and funders, and the inherent complexity of the sector.
The CIFSI Research Fellowship Program 2023 seeks to commission interested practitioners and researchers to lead studies that will create and disseminate high-quality actionable knowledge on innovative finance and impact assessment to drive social impact.
Program Description
Beginning from Oct 2023, a cohort of maximum five fellows will be spending 12 months to conduct research on a topic under ‘Driving Social Impact through Innovative Finance Approaches’
This is a part-time program in which the fellows will be visiting at least twice during the duration of fellowship.
- This is a part-time program in which the fellows need to visit ISDM campus in Noida, UP at least twice during the tenure of the fellowship.
- At the end of the fellowship period, there will be a research showcase during which researchers need to present their work followed by a panel discussion. These will be open to ISDM stakeholders and other representatives from the sector.
- Fellows will meet virtually every quarter, share their research progress and learnings with each other, receive peer feedback, and build a supportive community of inquiry
- Fellows are required to acknowledge/cite CIFSI affiliation on their peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations submitted during the fellowship period
- Fellows are required to accredit CIFSI funding on projects initiated under this grant that may come to fruition after the fellowship period
The total fellowship amount for 12 months will be INR 3,00,000. At the end of the fellowship, fellows must submit a report of 6000-8000 words based on their research project/findings that ISDM may publish under the Creative Commons Licensing 4.0.
The copyright of the working paper published under CCL 4.0 will be held by the author, ISDM and the third party supporting the research work pursued by the author.
Research Areas
The theme for this year’s fellowship is ‘Driving Social Impact through Innovative Finance Approaches’ with a focus on the Drivers to scale impact.
In accordance with the theme, the list of research topics includes but are not limited to:
- The future of impact investing in India/ Impact Investing for sustainable development in India
- Scaling finance for the social sector in India
- Innovative approaches to social finance in India: Cases from the social sector
- Impact assessment to unlock innovative finance
- Venture philanthropy for the social sector
- Scaling blended finance for social impact
- Policy and regulatory frameworks for blended finance
- Results-based financing: Opportunities and challenges
- Innovative finance for NGOs: What works and what doesn’t?
Eligibility and Selection
- This grant is open to researchers and practitioners with keen interest in the role of innovative finance to drive social impact in India. Any and all disciplinary perspectives are welcome. Interdisciplinary approaches will also be encouraged
- Individuals must be able to conduct rigorous research and produce/co-create new knowledge in the field. Any practitioner possessing a strong and proven research aptitude on issues pertaining to innovative finance will be given preference
- Applications from underrepresented and marginalised groups such as women, LGBTQIA+, Dalits, adivasis, and specially-abled are encouraged to apply
- Open only to residents of India
Selection Process
Selections will be made based on the following parameters:
- Applicants’ research interests
- Applicants’ research capabilities
- Strength and relevance of research proposal submitted
- Feasibility of methodology proposed
- Alignment of the candidate with CIFSI values and interests followed by an in-person interview
Application Process
Please submit the Expression of interest (EOI) containing the research proposal and two writing samples using the link
Structure Of Research Proposal
- A two-page research proposal with the font specifications- single spaced, 12-point Times New Roman, should include the following:
- Research objective(s) and questions
- Expected contribution to the field of study
- Expected contribution to individual dissemination plans such as peer reviewed journals, conference presentations, workshops, training programs etc.
- References in APA style
- Two writing samples (paper clippings, articles, or report)
The last date for submission of the detailed proposal is 14 August 2023.
Only completed applications in adherence with all requirements will be considered.
Important Deadlines
Submission deadline: 14 August 2023
Announcement of selection results: 1 Oct 2023 onwards
Orientation and commencement of cohort: 23 Oct 2023 onwards
Contact Us
For any query, please write to Dr. Ria Sinha, Email: ria.sinha@isdm.org.in with the subject line ISDM-CIFSI Research Fellowship Program 2023.
Indian School of Development Management, supported by Citi India’s CSR efforts, launched the Centre for Innovative Finance and Social Impact (CIFSI) to mainstream innovative finance for social impact.
