Morocco Innovation and Evaluation Lab (MEL) Request For Proposals
MEL's research seed fund is a funding opportunity designed to support early-stage randomized impact evaluations that generate rigorous evidence. This initiative is dedicated to advance evidence-based decision-making by supporting researchers, in collaboration with Moroccan decision-makers, to identify and address critical development challenges.
Overview
The Morocco Innovation and Evaluation Lab is a collaboration between the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), J-PAL, the Harvard Center for International Development (CID) and Community Jameel. MEL's research seed fund is a funding opportunity designed to support early-stage randomized impact evaluations that generate rigorous evidence. This initiative is dedicated to advance evidence-based decision-making by supporting researchers, in collaboration with Moroccan decision-makers, to identify and address critical development challenges.
Unlocking Evidence for High-Impact Decision Making in Morocco
The fund provides targeted financial support for researchers developing early stage and feasibility studies for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This is a unique opportunity to lay the groundwork for scalable, high-impact solutions that drive economic and social transformation in Morocco.
Why Apply?
- Up to $75,000 per research project.
- Collaboration with influential decision-makers: successful applicants will closely work with Moroccan government, private-sector, academic or Civil Society Organisation (CSO) partners.
- Opportunity to scale impact: funded projects will contribute to implement full studies that will shape Morocco’s future national programs in labor markets, education, agriculture, private sector growth, social protection, and more.
Funding Scope & Research Priorities
The MEL research seed fund prioritizes innovative randomized evaluations and actionable evidence for decision-making, that address Morocco’s most pressing development challenges. We invite proposals that align with the following strategic sectors:
- Labor and Employability – e.g. tackling youth unemployment, informality, female labor force participation, workforce skills, and the future of work.
- Education and Human Capital – e.g. improving foundational learning, student retention and well-being, teaching effectiveness, and school governance.
- Agriculture & Rural Development – e.g. promoting sustainable farming, climate adaptation, and agribusiness innovation.
- Firms & Private Sector Development – e.g. enhancing entrepreneurship, financial access, climate adaptation, and digital transformation.
- Social Protection & Economic Inclusion – e.g. strengthening financial inclusion, social safety nets, and resilience programs.
Additionally, proposals that incorporate cross-cutting themes, such as gender equality, job quality, technology adoption, and climate resilience, are also strongly encouraged.
Eligibility Criteria
The fund is open to:
- J-PAL affiliates and postdoctoral researchers;
- Harvard Center for International Development (CID) researchers;
- MEL-affiliated or invited researchers;
- PhD students with MEL or J-PAL-affiliated advisors.
Each proposal must include a committed partner from the government, private sector, academic or a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), demonstrating strong potential for real-world impact.
Application Process & Timeline
Rolling applications accepted until June 30, 2027.
How to Apply?
- Review the Proposal Guidelines and refer to the Budget Template for guidance. If you require further information on typical costs in Morocco, please feel free to contact us. Separately, all additional application materials can be found in this folder.
- Download and complete the Application Form. Additionally, fill the Budget Template detailing your budget proposal.
- When your proposal is ready to submit, please upload only two documents: A compiled PDF including your application form and all supporting materials. A completed Budget Template.
If you encounter any issues during submission, please contact [email protected]
Review & Selection Criteria
Proposals will be assessed on five key dimensions:
- Academic contribution – Potential to advance the frontiers of knowledge.
- Policy relevance – Alignment with Morocco’s development priorities.
- Technical design – Rigor and feasibility of the proposed methodology.
- Project viability – Institutional support and practical feasibility.
- Research value – Potential for long-term impact and policy adoption.
Expectations for Grantees
- Research & Reporting – Successful applicants must comply with data-sharing and reporting requirements, including semi-annual progress updates and a final report with actionable insights.
- Ethical Standards – All research must adhere to UM6P, and MIT ethical guidelines.
- Engagement & Visibility – Grantees may be invited to present at MEL research seminars, policy workshops, and high-profile donor events.
FAQs
How do I submit a formal proposal to MEL?
Please download the application materials. Once you have completed your proposal and collected the necessary accompanying information, you may submit your proposal through our online submission form. Please limit your upload to two documents: a compiled PDF (that includes your proposal and supporting materials) and an Excel sheet for your requested budget.
There are several ways to compile documents into a single PDF. If you are unfamiliar with the process and this is your first time compiling multiple documents into a PDF, we recommend using Adobe’s free, online PDF merger. If you encounter any issues in this process, please reach out to [email protected].
How do I know if I am in the J-PAL research network?
J-PAL’s research network consists of J-PAL affiliated and invited researchers. Affiliates can only be nominated by current affiliates, and invited researchers are either nominated by an initiative or regional office or may nominate themselves to be considered for invited researcher status. For further information on the J-PAL research network and our researchers, please visit our webpage on affiliate and invited researcher criteria.
MEL is also open to current and past participants in the J-PAL Scholars Program. Scholars must have completed a pilot study funded by another J-PAL initiative in order to be eligible for matchmaking and funding under MEL.
How will my proposal be scored? And when will I know whether my proposal was selected for funding?
Your proposal will be scored according to MEL’s proposal evaluation criteria.
Applications are open on a rolling basis and will be reviewed every few weeks. If a quicker response is required, please contact us at [email protected], and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
What will be required of researchers (and the institution to receive the award) should we be selected for funding (in terms of reporting, deliverables, etc.)?
There are several requirements after receiving an award. For complete information on post-award requirements, please review MEL’s Award Requirements and Setup overview.
IRB: The protection of human subjects is of prime concern when implementing research projects. As such, appropriate protocol Institutional Review Board approvals or exemptions are required to be in place prior to a subaward being issued and research commencing. MEL requires that the reviewing IRB have IORG status with the US Office of Human Protections. An IRB’s status can be found by consulting the database of IORGs here. For commercial IRBs, MEL recommends Heartland and Solutions, which provide review of international research and satisfy MEL's IRB requirements; fees can be found on their respective websites. If the project is exempt from IRB approval, we will need the exemption status but no other action is required.
Please also note that MEL is particularly interested in cost-effectiveness analysis and will seek cost information from each funded pilot project if applicable and feasible. More information on this can also be found in MEL’s Award Requirements and Setup overview.
What is your policy on projects located in fragile contexts or countries with active conflict?
The MEL funds research projects exclusively conducted within Morocco. As no regions in the country are classified as fragile or conflict-affected, MEL does not allocate funding to such areas.
Additionally, safety for field staff is an utmost priority. Please ensure that you thoroughly answer all of the questions related to potential risks in the application, so the Review Board can carefully assess your mitigation plans.