RPA Decolonial Futures Seed Grant Funding 2026

The Research Priority Area (RPA) Decolonial Futures is looking for innovative and collaborative research projects that align with the RPA's main themes. Early career scholars and those working in historically colonised regions and contexts are particularly encouraged to submit proposals. We are particularly keen to fund research collaborations which involve equitable research partnerships with colleagues based in formerly colonised regions.

The deadline for submissions is Monday 21 September 2026.

What research collaborations will the RPA support?

The RPA aims to support innovative and collaborative research endeavours through annual seed funding calls of up to €25,000. The funds may be used to support original empirical research, research meetings and events, guest visits, research time and a variety of other endeavours which lead to more lasting and substantive research collaborations. If you are unsure of whether your planned activities may be funded, we encourage you to first consult your supervisor and the project controllers in your faculty before getting in touch with us at decolonialfutures@uva.nl.

While publication and other outputs may have longer development time frames, we expect all RPA-funded activities and expenditure to take place between October 2026 and October 2027. For applications involving research time, applicants must discuss the proposed activities with their direct supervisor (PhD candidates must request this from their supervisor and research institute director) and obtain approval before submitting the application. Subject to successful completion of their objectives, seed grant holders can apply for the grant to be renewed for an additional year.


The call is open in terms of decolonial research themes, but we particularly encourage submissions which substantively speak to one of the three themes of the RPA: 

• Museums, archives & cultural practices (e.g. how to deal with for restitution of objects acquired through colonial exploits and with contentious monuments?)
• Migrations, mobility & borders (e.g. how to account for the role of colonial histories and neocolonial exploits in motivating and directing migratory movements and border control policies?)
• Ecology, sustainability & climate change (e.g. how to establish a just system of climate reparations?)

Seed funding in this round will be offered to new proposals and previously funded proposals seeking renewal. Unsuccessful applicants from the 2025 round are encouraged to revise and resubmit.

What information should proposals contain?

For both new and renewed proposals, complete the application form and include:

• The project title, applicant and team details;
• Description of the project, including its aims, key research questions, methods, interdisciplinary and innovative aspects, and the nature of the proposed collaboration;
• Summary of the planned activities and expected outputs;
• Timeline for when the project activities and delivery of key outputs;
• Preliminary list of project participants (excluding co-applicants) and partner organisations, where applicable;
• Budget: the budget must be itemised, justified, and accompanied by a detailed cost breakdown (please note that research time should be costed at the Faculty of Humanities full cost rates and requests for research time require written approval first from the staff member’s direct supervisor).

For teams seeking renewed funding, we encourage colleagues to briefly (max 500 words) describe:

• The aims of their research;
• An account of how far they have progressed in achieving their intended aims – including evidence of committed funds;
• Efforts to collaborate with other seed grant holders or colleagues in other Faculties;
• Planned activities and a timeline for when the project will deliver on key outputs;
• The budget must be itemised, justified, and accompanied by a detailed cost breakdown.

Who can submit a proposal?

Research teams may include colleagues from within the UvA and outside the UvA, and may include a combination of researchers, practitioners, artists and activists. The lead applicant must be affiliated with one of the RPA's participating UvA faculties (Humanities, Law, or Behavioural and Social Sciences). Collaborations involving researchers from other UvA faculties and external institutions are especially welcomed and encouraged. Applicants requesting research time in 2026–2027 must obtain approval from their direct supervisor before submitting the application. We particularly encourage collaborations involving early career researchers and researchers based in historically colonised regions and contexts. When considering applications for extra research time, we aim to support those colleagues without research time or without other forms of research funding.

How to submit a proposal?

Applicants should submit their completed application form and send it to decolonialfutures@uva.nl by Monday 21 September 2026. Proposals will be assessed by an independent committee consisting of members of the three Faculties of the RPA. Applicants will be informed of the outcomes of their application by 12 October 2026.

For questions please contact the Noelle Richardson at decolonialfutures@uva.nl

What do we require if your application is approved?

• A brief (one page) outline of the project for the RPA website.
• A brief 200-300 report outlining the key outputs, outcomes, and impact of the funded activities they have received no later than one month after completion.