The Local Challenge Fund (LCF) is a key element of the Higher Education Development in Pakistan Project supported by the World Bank and implemented by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The LCF is anticipated to support research projects that address locally relevant socio-economic issues and may also address topics associated with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For LCF Priority Research Areas please refer to:
The portfolio of awards supported through the Local Challenge Fund will address a broad range of local issues. It is anticipated that awards will be distributed at academic institutions across Pakistan and that a significant proportion of the PIs will be female.
The
anticipated portfolio of LCF projects will support higher education
institutions across Pakistan to undertake research focused on the local
community – society, governmental, and/or industry -needs. LCF projects
are expected to strengthen the research capacity and to contribute to
the research mission of the host institution. Successful proposals will
describe a research project designed in conjunction with the
appropriate local stakeholders. The dissemination plan must ensure that
research outcomes are shared both in appropriate peer-reviewed journals
and with the local community involved in the project design. Proposals
should include research activities and postgraduate education, and
emphasize the broader societal impacts – with a particular focus on
local community concerns - that may be anticipated from the project.
The
portfolio of awards supported through the Local Challenge Fund will
address a broad range of local issues. It is anticipated that awards
will be distributed at academic institutions across Pakistan, and that a
significant proportion of the PIs will be female.
LCF
awards will be selected competitively using a merit-based, independent,
transparent evaluation and selection process based upon international
standards. The process is described in the Sections below, as well as in
the full Evaluation and Selection protocol available on the HEC
website.