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Moving Minds Alliance are now seeking applications for the 2025-26 Fellows cohort, with five positions available to conduct research related to the theme: Early Childhood Development in Climate Emergencies. Apply now!
Opportunity Details
The Moving Minds Alliance Research Fellowship Program supports local researchers in the Global South to carry out studies on issues related to young children (aged 0-8 years) and their caregivers in emergency contexts. It offers an opportunity to be part of a global community of researchers who are advancing knowledge and evidence in this field, while working with the MMA Research Forum team. It also offers the opportunity for Fellows’ research to be disseminated widely through the MMA Network, and through the Research Forum on Young Children in Emergencies.
Five positions are available to conduct research related to the theme: Early Childhood Development in Climate Emergencies.
As a Fellow, you will be supported to carry out relevant (to your country or local context) studies with young children and families over a 12-month period by:
Research Requirements – ECD in Climate Emergencies
In the last six years, more than 43 million children have been displaced due to weather-related disasters (UNICEF, 2023), leaving them unable to access adequate education or nurturing care through their families. Children face the loss of home, family, and community, but the youngest children are exceptionally affected, due to their physiological, social-emotional and cognitive characteristics, which are distinct from any other moment in life (ECDAN, 2023).
There exists a critical gap and thus limited knowledge and research related to:
• Relationships between climate emergencies and mental health for young children and caregivers
• Programmatic interventions or approaches in Early Childhood Development for young children, caregivers, and communities affected by climate disasters
• Post-reconstruction efforts and approaches following climate disasters and emergencies
• Child-friendly policies for climate disasters
• Policy research into ECD in climate emergencies, including solutions and supports for systems change
Research should be:
• Original and creative, but may form part of an existing or ongoing project
• Rigorous and methodologically sound, which will be supported and reviewed with mentors
• Based on and conducted in countries within the Global South
• Thematically aligned or addressing issues identified as knowledge and research gaps above, as they relate to ECD in climate emergencies
Research Fellow Profile
MMA is committed to recruiting Fellows who are:
• Born into, live in, or have worked in a country affected by climate crisis (this can include lived experience of climate displacement or rebuilding, particularly in the Global South)
• Have some level of experience with conducting research and research analysis, but ideally suited to applicants who are in their early careers and/or have experience and knowledge gained through volunteer work, community projects, grassroots initiatives, or non-traditional research roles • Have deep connections with communities and local organizations serving young children, particularly in ECD support or early learning
• Willing to periodically engage with research mentors and Research Forum mentors throughout the duration of the Fellowship, and participate in learning events / webinars to share their work.
The Fellowship is open to Fellows at any stage of their career (however we strongly encourage those in early stages of their work to apply), and can include students, researchers or practitioners from non- governmental organizations, (NGO) and civil society backgrounds. The Fellowship aims to support individuals from diverse nationalities.
Selection Criteria
Key criteria for selection include:
• Originality: What gaps do your research fill in the current research landscape on young children, caregivers, and their communities in climate emergencies or children living in climate vulnerable areas? (refer to Research Requirements above)
• Potential to inform programming and policy: are the issues relevant across contexts?
• Alignment to thematic priorities outlined above, within the context of climate emergency, disaster, or displacement for young children (aged 0-8) and their caregivers and communities
• Feasibility of research within the 12-month time frame, with a final report to be completed and submitted by mid-April, 2026
During the application process, you will be asked for the following information:
1. Information about your research plan:
2. A brief CV (no more than two pages)