ETH4D Humanitarian Action Challenges (HAC) Grants

ETH4D Humanitarian Action Challenges (HAC)

The goal of the ETH4D Humanitarian Action Challenges is to support project-based research between ETH Zurich researchers, EPFL researchers, the ICRC and other humanitarian organisations to develop effective solutions for a greater impact of humanitarian action.

Some of the Download main issues, priorities and requirements for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) can be found in this document (PDF, 651 KB). Researchers submitting an application for the Humanitarian Action Challenges together with the ICRC are strongly encouraged to review these ICRC priority areas.

external page Previous Humanitarian Action Challenges Projects.

The external page Engineering for Humanitarian Action (EHA) partnership between ETH Zurich, EPFL and the ICRC is supported by the external page Stavros Niarchos Foundation, external page Rolex and the external page Foundation for the ICRC.

This call for applications is open from 14th of October 2024 - 16th of January 2025.

Connect with humanitarian partners

If you have a specific interest, we can help you identify suitable humanitarian partners (particularly partners at the ICRC). For more information please reach out to .

Proposals need to address a clearly defined research question that has the objective of increasing the impact of humanitarian action. Humanitarian Action Challenges must develop, test, evaluate or implement an innovative product, policy or service – involving a technology that responds to a specific humanitarian challenge.

The team must consist of at least one main applicant from ETH who holds a PhD, and at least one partner from a external page humanitarian organization

It is encouraged (but not mandatory) to have one partner from a low- or lower-middle-income country, one from EPFL (which allows for a parallel external page submission at EPFL) or a partner from another humanitarian organisation. Partners from the rest of the ETH Domain (PSI, WSL, Empa, and Eawag) are welcome to join as co-applicants.
If the main applicant is not an ETH professor, a letter of commitment by the ETH host professor or head of the unit, indicating their financial contribution to the project, must accompany the proposal.

Grant Sum: 50 - 300 kCHF

Project Duration: 6 - 24 months

Matching Funds: The main applicant and potential co-applicants from the ETH domain (excluding EPFL) must provide matching funds corresponding to at least 25% of the requested grant. Matching funds can come from third-parties or professorship reserves.

Completed Download application form (DOCX, 62 KB)
Bibliography
Work packages and Milestones shown in a Gantt-Chart.
Budget, which must include matching funds (Download using this template (XLSX, 73 KB)).
If the main applicant is not an ETH professor, a letter of commitment by the ETH host professor or head of the unit, indicating their financial contribution to the project, must accompany the proposal.
Letter(s) of support from the humanitarian organization, and all other partners who will receive funding, showcasing long-term commitment to the project, signed by the humanitarian team member (focal point) and the project sponsor (typically head of unit).
CVs of all involved partners, including a list of major achievements. Please use the SNSF CV format for generating your CV.

Please consult the Download Humanitarian Action Challenges Guidelines (PDF, 287 KB) before applying (will be published soon).

All application documents must be written in English and must be submitted electronically (in one single PDF file) in the online form below.

Submit your HAC application.

The Humanitarian Action Challenges are part of the external page Engineering for Humanitarian Action Initiative.