1. Global Challenges Research Fund & ODA
Matt Davis, OVPR, 8 June 2016

2. Newton Fund £375M over 5 years (starting 2014/5) 15 partner countries
Egypt
Turkey
Kazakhstan
Mexico
China
Colombia
Philippines
Vietnam
Brazil
Thailand
Chile
Malaysia
Indonesia
South Africa
India

3. Newton Fund

4. Newton Fund
All spend must count towards 0.7% GNI target for spend on Official Development Assistance (ODA)
“The UK will use its strength in research and innovation to promote the economic development and social welfare of partner countries. By working together on bi-lateral and multi-lateral programmes with a research and innovation focus, the UK will build strong, sustainable, systemic relationships with partner countries. This will support the continued excellence of the UK research base and innovation ecosystem and act as a golden key to unlock opportunities for wider collaboration and trade.”

6. Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF)
c. £1.5B over next 5 years (starting 2016/17)
Subsumes Newton Fund (£435M)
“To support cutting-edge research that addresses the challenges faced by developing countries.”
Same ODA requirement but not tied to specific partners
Expect larger programmes

8. GCRF
Expect priorities in health, clean energy, sustainable agriculture, conflict & humanitarian action, foundations of economic development, as well as resilience systems, mass migration and refugee crises
Consultation process to discuss not just the themes but also “rules of engagement”
RCUK have established cross-Council GCRF Strategic Advisory Group

9. GCRF – Year 1
EPSRC Institutional Award: £75-100k Small Research Grants (before 31 March 2017) – 20 June 2016
MRC £600k Foundation Awards in Non-Communicable Diseases and Infection – 22 June 2016
BBSRC (w/ ESRC, AHRC, MRC, NERC) Foundation Awards in Global Agriculture & Food Systems – 22 June 2016

10. Official Development Assistance (ODA)
Rules set down by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Development Co-Operation Department (OECD-DAC)
Measured on a calendar year basis
Countries report to OECD every year
Recipients must be on Official DAC list of recipients (4 categories based on GNI/capita)
List updated every 3 years

11. ODA
The DAC defines ODA as: “those flows to countries and territories on the DAC List of ODA Recipients and to multilateral institutions which are:
provided by official agencies, including state and local governments, or by their executive agencies; and
each transaction of which:
is administered with the promotion of the economic development and welfare of developing countries as its main objective; and
is concessional in character and conveys a grant element of at least 25 per cent (calculated at a rate of discount of 10 per cent).”

12. ODA
Must have the establishment of economic development and welfare of developing countries as its main objective.
Excludes military aid, enforcement aspects of peacekeeping, military applications of nuclear
Research projects should be “directly and primarily related to the problems of developing countries.”
“Costs may still be counted as ODA if the research is carried out in a developed country.”

13. Is it ODA?
Is the project addressing the economic development and welfare of one or more developing countries? Is the project driven by developmental needs of one or more developing country? Is there clear evidence of a development need?
Is the primary beneficiary developing countries or all countries?
Who are the primary beneficiaries of the project? Will the primary benefit of the project be to the poorest people in the country or countries in question? Would the project lead to a reduction in poverty? Will the project lead to benefits which are fairly distributed?
Does the project or activity contribute to sustainable development?
What would success for this activity look like? How would success or impact be measured?
Is there a clear pathway to development impact?
Have individuals and stakeholders from one or more developing countries been involved in developing ideas for the project?
Will there be participation in the project from developing country researchers or other stakeholders?
Will the research help build skills in areas of need identified by the country?