New research grants for 2025 – part of FBA’s evidence-based approach

FBA’s research grants aim to shed light on scientifically groundbreaking questions of direct relevance to FBA’s work. The research grants are a key part of FBA’s evidence-based approach, which means that FBA’s work is based on research, proven experience and contextual knowledge. 

The approved projects will shed light on current topics such as local self-governance in Ukraine during the full-scale Russian invasion, the Colombian population’s view of the peace process, and the Taliban's taxation system during the 2001-2021 period. Yet other projects will explore the dynamics of coalition building in authoritarian regimes, with a focus on the Western Balkans and Caucasus, and sieges in central Sahel by non-state armed groups that profess a jihadist ideology.

"The financed projects are in line with FBA's thematic and geographic expert areas. The aim is for the research results to be of direct use within the organisation, thus forging a strong connection between academic research and practical work for peace, security and development," says FBA's Head of Research Johanna Malm.  

To strengthen the connection between research and practice, the researchers were offered the opportunity to discuss their project ideas with FBA's practitioners before submitting their applications. This consultation process has been appreciated by both the researchers and FBA's employees as an effective way to develop stronger and more practically oriented research ideas. 

"This year, we are particularly looking forward to the results of the research projects concerning Ukraine. For example, we are financing a team of Ukrainian researchers who will investigate the conditions for local self-governance and what is required to organise democratic elections after Ukraine has won its peace," says Johanna Malm.

FBA Research Grants 2025: approved projects

 
Attitudes of Colombians Toward the Implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement and New Peace Negotiations in the Context of ”Paz Total”  

Researcher: Miguel García-Sánchez 

This research project aims to expand the repository of public opinion and peace data at the Observatorio de la Democracia, continue monitoring Colombians’ opinions on the 2016 peace agreement, and study opinions on the Petro government’s new negotiation experiences (Paz Total). It seeks to understand how the implementation of the peace agreement affects public opinions and expectations nearly ten years after its signing. Additionally, the project will analyze public support for the Total Peace policy and how opinions vary depending on the group involved in negotiations. The study emphasizes the crucial role of public opinion in the success of peace agreements.

Understanding coalition building in ‘soft’ authoritarianisms: A comparative analysis of the Western Balkans and the Caucasus                   

Researcher: Florian Bieber 

This project analyses coalition building in autocratic regimes and their implication for regime stability. Engaging in a cross-regional comparison, the project will scrutinise coalition building patterns in Armenia, Georgia, Montenegro, and Serbia. Contrary to established scholarly understanding, the project argues that regime cohesiveness can potentially be detrimental to regime stability, whereas elite splits, commonly understood as the main threat to autocratic regimes, can have stabilising effects. The project will advance a dynamic understanding of coalition building, highlighting ‘strategic exclusion’ as an unexplored mechanism in autocratic coalition building.

Multimediation and the Challenge of Peacemaking in Ukraine  

Researcher: Catherine Turner 

This research seeks to understand the relationship between the interstate and internal aspects of the war in Ukraine, and to consider how these dynamics will shape conflict resolution efforts at the local and national level. Building on existing literature related to Russia’s use of tactics such as population resettlement and disinformation to bring it into dialogue with the literature on mediation and dialogue, it will address the need to identify the ‘existential questions’ that exist within the occupied territories and to consider if and when dialogue can help to address these divisions.  

Taliban Taxation                                                                              

Researcher: Romain Malejacq 

Taxation is conducted by most rebel groups, for a variety of reasons, in a variety of forms. Taxation modalities affect rebels’ legitimacy, their interactions with civilians and other sources of authority, and their relations with humanitarian and development actors. Yet, we know very little about why rebels tax the way they do, and how these preferences affect political order, conflict dynamics, and state building. The project aims to fill this gap by conducting a 20-year longitudinal study of one specific case of rebel taxation, that of the Taliban (2001-2021), notably through the collection of unprecedented, interview-based, data.

Dynamics of Jihadist Sieges in the Central Sahel                          

Researcher: Yvan Guichaoua               

Sieges and other tactics of economic warfare have become a frequent, if not systematic, way for jihadists to impose their rule in the Central Sahel, causing immense humanitarian distress. The project will explore the temporality and modalities of jihadist sieges and unpack their dynamics through mixed methods articulating spatial analysis and in-depth qualitative investigation in select localities. On a practical level, we will provide insights into factors affecting the vulnerability of civilians in war zones. Conceptually, our project will engage in key debates on the drivers of jihadist expansion, jihadist governance, wartime civilian agency and restraint in wars.  

Elected Local Self-Government Bodies and Challenges During Wartime: Lessons from Ukraine 

Researcher: Volodymyr Venher          

The research project envisages a comprehensive study of the theoretical and practical aspects of the functioning of elected local self-government bodies in Ukraine (village, town and city councils and their mayors) in wartime, considering the prospects for the post-war restoration of peace and stability in Ukraine. Special attention will be paid to the analysis of the rule of law, the constitutional balance between the right to local self-government and the need to protect independence and territorial integrity. The researchers will also focus on the preconditions and peculiarities of organising and conducting post-war local elections in Ukraine. Analysis of international standards and practices will be a mandatory part of the activity.

FBA's research grant can be applied for by members of FBA's research working groups. More information about this work is available here.