British Council Researcher Challenge 2025
🎯 Target Participants
The workshop will engage up to 40 Early Career Researchers (ECRs) from the UK and Morocco (approximately 20 from each country). The selection process promotes diversity, equity, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
🔖 Challenge Timeline
| Tuesday, May 27, 2025 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM London & Rabat Local Time | Workshop Day 1: Introduction & Technical Sessions |
| Tuesday, June 3 & Wednesday, June 4, 2025 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM London & Rabat Local Time | Workshop Days 2 & 3: Research Development Workshops |
| Monday, June 9, 2025 | Submission of Project Proposals |
| Wednesday, June 11, 2025 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM London & Rabat Local Time | Workshop Day 4: Final Pitch Presentations & Prize Awarding |
| June–November 2025 | Project Implementation & Mentoring |
| Monday, November 24, 2025 | Final Project Showcase |
✅ Eligibility Criteria
- Early Career Researchers (ECRs) based in the UK or Morocco
- Researchers with a PhD: must be within 10 years of obtaining their PhD
- Researchers without a PhD: must have equivalent research experience (e.g., a
Master’s degree with substantial professional research activity, particularly in fields
where a PhD is not the standard requirement) - From any discipline broadly relevant to social sciences, humanities, environmental
science, engineering and technology, agriculture and water studies - Strong interest in interdisciplinary, impactful research
- Early career researchers must not hold or have yet held a permanent academic post
with a research-related element to the role since the completion of their PhD - Career breaks or time spent outside academic or research settings will not affect the
consideration of career stage - Participants from for-profit organisations cannot be funded
- Be able to commit to all workshop days and project phases (May–November 2025).
📋 Application Process
Disseminated via academic networks, ECR forums, institutional mailing lists, LinkedIn, NGOs, and partner channels.
Applicants submit:
- Personal and academic background
- Motivation statement (max 300 words)
- Short CV (2-3 Pages)
- Research interests and how they relate to the Climate-Gender Nexus
- Academic Qualifications
Applicants must submit using the following form by May 7, 2025, to:
✅ Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed by members of the project team using a structured set of
criteria, including motivation, research alignment, academic background, CV,
interdisciplinary potential, and diversity. Shortlisted candidates will be selected to ensure
balanced representation from the UK and Morocco, with diversity across disciplines,
institutions, and gender. Final participants must demonstrate a clear commitment to
engage fully across all workshop phases.
📌 Timeline Overview
| Phase | Date |
| Open Call Launch | April 20, 2025 |
| Deadline for Applications | May 7, 2025 |
| Selection Notifications | May 14, 2025 |
| Confirmation of Research Challenges | May 21, 2025 |
| Workshop Starts | May 27, 2025 |
For any other inquiry, contact Project Leads through:
IDamaj@cardiffmet.ac.uk
Loubna.Mekouar@UM6P.ma
Email Subject Line: ECR British Council Grant