JUST Centre Commissioning Fund: Call for projects

Are you a researcher exploring how climate action and social justice intersect? Are you a practitioner or organisation looking to collaborate with researchers on climate and justice challenges in your area?

The JUST Centre Commissioning Fund supports research projects exploring how climate action and social justice can be joined up to accelerate a just transition across the UK.

We are seeking innovative, collaborative and place-based projects that will generate new knowledge about ‘what works, where, when and for whom’ and support a fair transition to low-carbon living.

Who can apply?

UK ONLY: Project Leads must be based at institutions eligible for UKRI/ESRC funding and able to manage UKRI-funded projects.

Project Co-Leads may be from non-academic institutions, though funding allocated to such organisations is limited to 30% of the total grant value, in line with ESRC policy.

Projects must include partners from communities, local government and/or business, both in the design of the project and in plans for impact.

We particularly encourage applications from:

  • Early Career Researchers (ECRs) (within seven years of PhD completion, allowing for career breaks)

  • Applicants from groups currently under-represented in UK academia

All projects will be expected to contribute to building research and leadership capacity, including among partners outside academia.

Funding available

The total Commissioning Fund is £530,000, with individual awards of £25,000 to £62,500 (up to 80% FEC).

Projects can run for between six months and two years, and funding is primarily intended to support primary data collection and analysis, including:

  • Research assistant or research associate time (as appropriate to project scale)

  • Fieldwork (travel, subsistence, participant engagement)

  • Community participant payments

  • Impact and communications activity (where aligned with the project)

Projects should include participant payments in line with JUST Centre policy: Read the participant payment policy →

Funding is normally provided at 80% full economic cost (FEC), in line with UKRI rules. Exceptions may apply where Project Co-Leads are funded at 100% under UKRI/ESRC policies:

What we are looking for

Funded projects should generate novel insights into how connecting climate action with social justice can accelerate sustainability transformations.

Projects must:

  • Be focused on the UK (although international collaborations are welcome)

  • Involve co-production with partners

  • Generate new evidence about ‘what works, or might work’ to accelerate low-carbon living

  • Connect to the JUST Centre’s wider research and impact programme

  • Report progress every six months, in line with UKRI requirements

Projects will be expected to engage with one or more Thematic Working and Innovation Groups (TWIGS) and, where relevant, the JUST Practice Builders’ Network.

Learn more about JUST research themes and TWIGS →

Priority themes

We particularly encourage projects focused on:

  • Rural economies

  • Biodiversity and nature

  • Jobs and skills

  • Race, ethnicity and justice

  • Storytelling and journalism

We also welcome projects that focus on areas outside the core JUST study regions (Greater Manchester, Merseyside, North East, West Cumbria, West Yorkshire), or bring new perspectives or methods to understanding just transitions.

Before you apply

Please read these documents carefully and in full before making an application:

Please also join our webinar on 23rd July to understand the who can apply, the funding available, application criteria, what we’re looking for and how to apply. The webinar is also a chance to meet prospective project partners and co-develop proposals.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted via the online form: Apply on Flexigrant →

You can also download a copy of the application questions to prepare your submission: Download application questions →

Please note: We cannot accept applications sent via email or any other channels and these will not be counted. You can only apply using the Flexigrant link above.

Key dates

  • Call opens: Friday 3rd July

  • Webinar: Thursday 23rd July. Sign up on Eventbrite →

  • Application deadline: Tuesday 15th September

  • Decisions announced: Friday 30th October

  • Contracting and integration: By Tuesday 15th December

  • Projects start: April 2027

Enquiries and FAQs

You can also find further guidance on common queries on our FAQs page

If you have any questions about the fund or your application which have not been answered in the FAQs, please email Just-Fund@manchester.ac.uk.