Call for Proposals: Movements of People and Non-State Actors

Table of Contents

• Scope and Opportunity
• Objectives
• Requirements
• Grant Size and Duration
• Eligibility
• Application Timeline
• Frequently Asked Questions

Scope and Opportunity

Movements of People

Conflict, natural disasters, and economic pressures are driving record levels of forced displacement and migration, with more than 123 million people uprooted worldwide by the end of 2024. Armed conflicts in places such as Sudan, Ukraine, Gaza, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, alongside natural disasters, have produced tens of millions of new displacements in just the past year. These movements are reshaping regional stability and global politics: they strain fragile states, alter power dynamics, and contribute to polarization and populist backlash in many democracies.

North African migration pressures on Europe and flows from Latin America toward the United States are transforming domestic political debates and testing the resilience of democratic institutions. Nearly 40 percent of those forcibly displaced are children, underscoring the profound human and societal consequences of protracted crises. As migration pressures intensify, the governance, security, and political implications of large-scale mobility will remain central to sustaining peace and stability, highlighting the need for integrated policy responses that link mobility, governance, and conflict prevention.

As legal migration pathways narrow, even as labor needs rise, large-scale movements of people will persist, underscoring the need for coordinated action among governments and alignment between development, governance, and peacebuilding strategies. Innovative private sector partnerships and market-based solutions will also be essential to meeting labor mobility needs and addressing the broader political and economic challenges of migration, as efforts by the European Union and others demonstrate.

Non-State Actors

Non-state actors are increasingly central to today’s global economy, security, and governance dynamics. They are also playing a major role in regional and even global conflicts. They include malign groups — such as terrorists, armed militias, and trafficking networks — that exploit instability, drive displacement, and undermine fragile governance systems. Their activities directly compound crises, from obstructing aid delivery to using violence to attract attention to their cause.

At the same time, constructive actors — nongovernmental organizations, local civil societies, and private sector partners — play indispensable roles in delivering services and economic opportunities, advocating for rights, and creating pathways for resilience and peace. Carnegie seeks, among other approaches, to understand and influence these dynamics by supporting innovative research and pilot initiatives that mitigate malign tech-enabled activities while leveraging technology for positive ends — such as data-driven early warning, counter-disinformation, and AI tools for conflict analysis.

Other potential areas of focus include strengthening local peacebuilding efforts in fragile states, engaging diaspora and private sector networks to promote accountable governance and economic opportunity, and examining the role of non-state armed groups in political transitions. The challenge is twofold: curbing the influence of predatory actors while amplifying the positive contributions of those that can strengthen governance, rebuild trust, and advance durable solutions toward peace.

Objectives

To address these challenges and opportunities, Carnegie is seeking promising ideas that generate new insights, practical solutions, and policy-relevant approaches to the political, security, economic, and governance dimensions of both the movements of people and the growing influence of non-state actors.

We are especially interested in work that translates research, policy analysis, and knowledge exchange into concrete actions capable of shaping peace and conflict outcomes in tangible ways. This call is not intended for program evaluations or impact assessments but seeks initiatives that combine rigorous analysis with innovative applications.

While most proposals will focus on one of the two themes, Carnegie will also consider select proposals that explore their intersections — for example, how migration pressures and non-state actors together influence governance, legitimacy, and durable peace.

Requirements

Applications must be submitted via the online form linked below, which includes fields for basic information and  uploading proposals (template available via link).

Initial proposals must be no longer than 1,000 words and must clearly and concisely respond to each of the following questions:

• What potential material impact do you anticipate this new approach will have, and how will you achieve that impact?
• What specific problem and window of opportunity does your project seek to address?  How will your proposal advance peace?
• How does your proposed approach differ from or build upon existing efforts in the field?
• Who is your target audience, and how will you engage them?
• Why are your institution(s) and people well-positioned to carry out this work?
• Are there any collaborators or partner institutions, and what are their roles?
• What is the high-level budget for the project? Include details of any expected cost-share or co-funding.

In addition to the proposal, applicants will be required to submit a 50-word summary of the proposed project. (these 50 words will not count toward the 1,000 words of the proposal)

Grant Size and Duration

• Grant Value: $1 million – $3 million
• Grant Term: 24 to 36 months
• Grants are anticipated to begin July–October 2026.

Eligibility

1. United States-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity

• Applicants must be legally registered as a nonprofit public charity and have current tax-exempt status as defined by the IRS.
• Please note that Carnegie cannot provide grants directly to individuals for this work.

2. Fiscally sponsored projects

• Applicants without their own 501(c)(3) public charity tax-exempt status are eligible to apply but must be fiscally sponsored by a legally registered U.S.-based nonprofit public charity that has a current tax-exempt status as defined by the IRS.

3. Non-U.S. organizations

• Due to limitations in our Charter on direct awards to non-U.S. organizations, partnerships between non-U.S. and U.S. organizations are encouraged. On a select basis, our Charter allows us to consider applications from foreign registered entities.

Additional information about this RFP opportunity is available for download as a PDF.

Application Timeline

• December 1, 2025 – Proposals are due no later than 11:59 PM EST.
• January 2026 – Selected applicants will be notified to submit full proposals.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the maximum number of proposals an institution can submit under this call?

Answer: Carnegie aims to support a broad range of organizations through this RFP, and we encourage institutions to submit only their strongest proposal(s). We also ask that no more than one application be submitted per principal investigator/project director.

2. Can United Nations organizations participate as main applicants, co-applicants, or non-signatory partners?

Answer: While we do not anticipate supporting or supplementing the budgets of United Nations (UN) organizations through this call, we welcome proposals that include partnerships or collaboration with UN agencies when they meaningfully advance the work of nongovernmental or local partners. Applicants are encouraged to design initiatives that leverage such partnerships to strengthen civil society, research institutions, and other nongovernmental actors contributing to peace and governance outcomes.

3. Could proposals support impact evaluations as part of a broader strategy to generate new solutions and inform policy and practice?

Answer: We are seeking applications that demonstrate a clear and direct contribution to peace outcomes. Monitoring, evaluation, and learning are essential components of this work, and proposals will be strongest when they combine activities that directly advance peace on the ground with analytical or evaluative efforts that expand the broader evidence base for effective peacebuilding. Proposals may include impact evaluations as part of a wider strategy to generate new insights, test innovative approaches, and inform policy and practice — so long as the evaluation component is integrated with, and complements, activities that have a tangible, real-world impact on peace and stability.

4. Is the $3 million amount the ceiling for each individual grant? And will proposals below $1 million be considered?

Answer: The $3 million amount is the maximum that may be requested for an individual grant under this call. Only proposals with budgets between $1 million and $3 million will be considered.

5. If an institution submits more than one proposal, should each proposal have a budget between USD 1 million and USD 3 million, or should the total requested amount be divided among them?

Answer: Each proposal, regardless of how many an institution submits, must have a budget between $1 million and $3 million. The budget range applies to each individual proposal, not to the combined total of all submissions from the same institution.

6. Will there be future RFPs?

Answer: We may issue additional RFPs in the future as the International Program’s new strategy is implemented.

7. Are there any country/regional requirements or restrictions for the call?

Answer: In principle, no. Proposals from any region are eligible. However, Carnegie will prioritize contexts where the issues addressed by the proposal are most urgent and relevant. If applicants believe the geographic focus of their work is not self-evident or requires additional context, they should briefly explain its relevance to the themes of this call.

8. Can proposals focus solely on research, or should they include an applied or implementation component?

Answer: Proposals do not need to include both, but research-focused projects should demonstrate a clear pathway to application or influence, such as through policy engagement, collaboration with local or regional actors, or contributions to tangible peace and governance outcomes. This call for proposals aims to support work that informs practice, shapes policy, and extends beyond the production of knowledge. Applicants should explain how their research or activities will lead to a measurable, meaningful impact in the field.

9. What types of expenses are allowable for proposals? Are there any expense categories that are outside of the scope of the call? Do you allow for F&A?

Answer: Carnegie is looking to support proposals that put resources directly toward advancing the work itself. Project expenses should primarily fund activities that contribute to the proposed outcomes rather than administrative overhead. While we are not requesting detailed budgets at this stage, cost-effectiveness is an important principle of the program.

Carnegie does not have specific expense restrictions at this point in the process. However, our policy for indirect costs is capped at up to 15% for universities, think tanks, and government entities.

10. What is the expected timeline between being invited to submit a full proposal and the proposal due date?

Applicants invited to submit full proposals can expect to have roughly four to six weeks to prepare and submit their materials, although exact timing may vary slightly. We currently anticipate that full proposals will be due around late February 2026, with selected grants expected to begin between July and October 2026.

11. Does Carnegie’s definition of “non-state actors” for this RFP include subnational governmental entities such as cities and local or regional governments?

Sub-state actors such as subnational governmental entities—including cities, municipalities, and regional governments—are within the scope of this call.

Carnegie does not directly fund subnational or municipal governments. However, projects that involve collaboration or partnership with such entities are welcome, provided the primary grantee is an eligible organization.