This call seeks research proposals that provide quantitative and rigorous evidence in the following thematic areas:

• Access to Markets and Inclusive Procurement.
• Access to Training, Mentoring, and Networks.
• Access to Finance.
• Improving the Enabling Environment.
• Firm Growth and Graduation.
• Digital Skills and Technology Adoption.
• Climate Resilience and Sustainable Practices.
• Firm Growth and the Role of Care.

Find out more details by downloading the brochure of this call.

Both independent researchers and research teams comprised of entities from the public sector, private sector, universities, or research centers may apply. Applicants must meet the following requirements: be a citizen of one of the 48 IDB member countries nd not have family members who currently work at the Inter-American Development Bank, BID Lab or IDB Invest (jointly, "IDB Group") (to the fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, including husband or wife).

Participation of IDB Group specialists in the research teams is encouraged. It should be noted that while the specialists may collaborate on the project, they will not be eligible to receive compensation for their contribution. The funds will be given exclusively to the research team members who are not part of the IDB Group.

The Scientific Committee of this call for proposals will evaluate them based on relevance, innovation, scalability, replicability, quality of the methodology, and ability of the team to carry out the research project. The Scientific Committee is made up of Christopher Woodruff (University of Oxford), Silvia Prina (Northeastern University), Felicia Siegrist (We-Fi), and specialists from the IDB Group, including Patricia Yañez-Pagans, María Paula Gerardino, Carlos Scartascini, Monserrat Bustelo, Karen Martinez T, Rodolfo Stucchi, Yuri Soares, and Edwin Goñi Pacchioni. The decisions of the Scientific Committee will be final and unappealable.

The selected teams must be willing to receive and respond to comments from the advisors of the call for proposals and from IDB Group specialists throughout execution of the study, as well as to participate in discussion seminars held during the consultancy period.

The decisions of the Scientific Committee will be final and unappealable. Find out more details by downloading the brochure of this call.

• Relevance and innovation. Does the proposal address a knowledge gap? How would the study contribute to closing these knowledge gaps? What is the innovation proposed by the study to address the problem? What is the study’s relevance in terms of its impact on policy design in the region? How well does this study align with the priority areas outlined in this call? Does the proposed study will generate findings that are actionable? 
• Data and methodology. Does the proposal present a clear and rigorous research design and methodology? Is the approach to the research question explained in detail and does it justify why the selected methodology is the most appropriate to achieve the objectives of the study? Is the data collection process described in detail, including how potential challenges will be met and overcome? Is the estimation strategy well-articulated, justifying its ability to identify causal relationships and the robustness of the expected results? Are quantitative methods clearly presented and is there adequate justification for their choice over other methodological alternatives?
• Implementation capacity. What is the demonstrated experience of the research team in relation to the subject matter and methodologies of the proposed project? How does the team exhibit its capacity to effectively execute the proposed project? Does the proposal include a detailed and realistic implementation plan that aligns with the proposed activities? Is the budget justified and consistent with the project objectives and scope?
• Scalability and replicability. How can the results of the project be applied to other contexts or environments? What strategies have been considered to ensure project scalability? Have barriers been identified that could impact the replicability and expansion of the project? What mechanisms are included in the proposal to overcome these barriers and enhance the study’s adaptability?

Detailed information about GDLab’s call for research proposals can be found and downloaded here.

Only proposals in English will be considered.

This call for research proposals closes on May 12, 2025 (11:59 P.M. ET). To ensure proper processing of all proposals, it is strongly recommended that you submit your proposals well before the deadline. GDLab is not responsible for any last-minute difficulties submitting the proposal through the system.

Applications outside this deadline will not be considered.

To apply, teams must register, download and fill the application form in English, and then submit the duly completed form through GDLab’s call for proposals’ website.

Applications sent by email or those that do not follow the format of the form will not be considered.

The results of this call for proposals will be announced in July 2025.

Due to the high volume of proposals received, GDLab will provide feedback only on proposals that are selected as finalists. 

Find the schedule of activities for this call by downloading the information brochure here.

Contact us at gdlab@iadb.org