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Knowledge in
Action for Urban Equality Funding
small grants fund
awardees
The Small Grant Fund Fund awards grants that enable UK-based scholars at UK universities, policy research institutions, and NGOs with a research portfolio to conduct research relating to the theme of urban equality in one of the KNOW partner cities.
The second call for applications went live in October 2019. From a competitive field of applicants, the Selection Committee selected four projects that resonate closely with the work of our local partners and contribute new perspectives to our understandings of urban equality.
Nikhilesh Shina
Nikhilesh Sinha’s research will take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in collaboration with KNOW City Partners, Ardhi University. Building on Nikhilesh’s previous research into the dynamics of rental housing submarkets in informal settlements in Hyderabad, India, his project, entitled, ‘An Institutional Analysis of Rental Housing Submarkets in Dar es Salaam’ will explore the factors that affect access to rental housing and the forces that shape relations between landlords and tenants in informal settlements in Dar es Salaam. As part of this research, Nikhilesh will review locally held knowledge, research, and documentation on rental housing at Ardhi University. Nikhilesh is a Faculty member and Research Fellow, at the Hult International Business School, London. His research interests include urban informality, affordable housing, rental dynamics, and micro-finance.
Andrea Jimenez Cisneros
Andrea Jimenez Cisneros’ research will take place in Lima, Peru, in collaboration with KNOW City Partner, Foro Ciudades Para La Vida. Their project, ‘Metropolitan water observatory’, will explore the potential of co-developing a virtual platform for citizens of Lima and Callao to input information, concerns and issues regarding water, in order to produce evidence that can influence decision-making towards more equal water distribution. Andrea is a Lecturer in Information Management at the Information School at the University of Sheffield. Her research interests include digital innovation and entrepreneurship in the global South and the role of ICTs in development.
Read the final publication from the research
Congratulations to the second cohort of the Small Grants Fund:
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Andrea Jimenez Cisneros | The University of Sheffield,
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Cristian Fernando Olmos Herrera | The University of Brighton,
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Nikhilesh Sinha | Hult International Business School,
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Isabel Young | The Young Foundation
Find out more below
Cristian Olmos Herrera’s research will take place in Lima, Peru, in collaboration with KNOW City Partner, CENCA. His project, ‘Drawing as a device for recognising water practices in Lima’s peripheral settlements’, will examine and visualise narratives of everyday water practices in order to reveal spatial networks of people, institutions, and technology. The project aims to make visible the political economy of water in the city, focusing particularly on issues of unequal access. Cristian will also reflect critically on drawing as a way of co-producing knowledge for more equal cities. Cristian teaches at the School of Architecture and Design at the University of Brighton. His research interests include hydrosocial territories, public space, water management, and visual participatory methodologies.
Isabel Young
Isabel Young’s research will take place in Havana, Cuba. Her project, entitled, ‘Resident-Led Approaches to Urban Equality in relation to the Social Determinants of Health in Havana and London’, will examine the ways in which residents are working to improve health and wellbeing at the local level. The research will explore and share best practices between Havana and London, building capacity amongst residents who are responding to issues of health inequality in order to promote healthier, more equal cities. The project will be undertaken in collaboration with Cuban grassroots NGOs, including Blue Heart, community leaders and academics. Isabel Young is a Programme Manager at the Young Foundation, currently leading their work on community leadership and the Tower Hamlets Communities Driving Change programme. Her research interests include social inclusion, gender equality, and well-being.
The first call for applications went live in January 2019. From a competitive field of applicants, the Selection Committee selected two projects that resonate closely with the work of our local partners and contribute new perspectives to our understandings of urban equality.
Congratulations to Prof Graeme Were from the University of Bristol and to Pascale Hofmann from UCL; the first cohort of KNOW Small Grants awardees.
See more below
Prof Graeme Were’s research will take place in Da Nang, Vietnam. His project, entitled, ‘Exploring Urban Equality and Heritage Livelihoods in the Museum of Da Nang’ will examine how co-production methodologies might be used to better equip museums to promote more equal cities. Graeme will collaborate with museum staff and KNOW city-partners, The Community Engaged Learning Centre, Danang Architecture University (CELC- DAU) (a partner of ACHR in the KNOW programme) to examine issues of inclusion, livelihoods, and heritage in a rapidly changing urban context. Graeme is the Chair of Anthropology in the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of Bristol. His research interests include museum anthropology, digital heritage, and material culture. He has worked extensively in Vietnam and Papua New Guinea.
Online now in Da Nang Today 'Tales from the River Bank' Read about the collaborative exhibition featuring photos and old stories of a fishing community on the Han River banks 20 years ago.
Pascale Hofmann’s research will take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in collaboration with KNOW city-partners, Centre for Community Initiatives (CCI) and Ardhi University. Building on Pascale’s previous research on water poverty in the city, her project, entitled, ‘Pathways out of sanitation poverty’, will explore urban sanitation poverty trajectories through time and their significance for urban equality. As part of this work, Pascale will work closely with CCI as they undertake their data collection and analysis within the KNOW project. Pascale is a Lecturer at the Bartlett Development Planning Unit, UCL. Her research lies within the field of urban environmental planning and management, drawing on ideas of socio-environmental justice and feminist political ecology.
Image: A copy of Nha Cho, or slum house, is exhibited at the Da Nang Museum.
KNOW Small Grants Fund
Applications are currently closed
next call to be announced in 2020.
The Fund will award grants that enable UK-based scholars at UK universities, policy research institutions, and NGOs with a research portfolio to conduct research relating to the theme of urban equality in one of our KNOW partner cities
About the fund
The Fund will award a stipend of up to £1500 per calendar month for up to two months, as well as the cost of return flights to one of the KNOW partner cities.
Grant-holders will be introduced to KNOW partners in the chosen city, facilitated by relevant KNOW Co-Investigators. Grant-holders will be required to discuss and refine their research programme with the KNOW partner on arrival in the selected city. Finally, Grant-holders will be required to present initial findings to KNOW partners at the end of fieldwork; to prepare a short article (approximately 3000 words) about their research for publication as a KNOW working paper; and to present their findings in a public forum when they return to the UK.
Eligibility
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Applicants must be UK-based.
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Applicants must be currently employed at a UK Higher Education Institution, UK-based policy-research institute, or UK-based Non-Governmental Organisation with a research portfolio. In each case, contract of employment should exceed the proposed duration of the research visit.
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The proposed research should engage with the theme of urban equality, although the applicant has the freedom to shape, and make explicit, how their proposed focus makes this link.
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Knowledge of the local language is desirable but is not essential.
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Experience of working in the proposed city is desirable but is not essential.
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Please note that current doctoral students are not eligible to apply.
KNOW small grant fund PARTNER CITIES
Latin America
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Lima (Peru)
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Havana (Cuba)
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San José (Costa Rica)
Africa
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Freetown (Sierra Leone)
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Kampala (Uganda)
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Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)
Asia
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Da Nang (Vietnam)
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Nakhon Sawan (Thailand)
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Yogyakarta (Indonesia)
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Yangon (Myanmar)