Project Calls & Opportunities

 

LEVANTE Network, supported by the Jacobs Foundation / 

https://jacobsfoundation.org/

  
LEVANTE: the Learning Variability Network Exchange

https://levante-network.org/

Research / Capacity Building

Background and Rationale

The Jacobs Foundation is investing up to USD 6 million to support research projects under the Learning Variability Network Exchange (LEVANTE).

LEVANTE is a global research initiative designed to:

• Understand how children grow, learn, and develop across contexts
• Build the first cross-cultural, multidisciplinary dataset on learning variability
• Support evidence-based improvements in education systems and child development outcomes

The call focuses on learning variability, including:

• Within-child variability (changes over time)
• Between-group variability (differences across populations)
• Contextual variability (environmental and socio-economic influences)

Projects must:

• Collect longitudinal data using LEVANTE core measures
• Focus on children aged 3–12 years
• Contribute to a global comparative dataset
• Generate insights relevant to policy, education, and practice

High level objectives of this Call

This call seeks proposals for research projects that collect longitudinal data using the LEVANTE battery across ages 3–12. Within this framework, special consideration will be given to proposals that 

• Contribute to causal inference on mechanisms underlying learning and development, and/or generate insights into how environmental and contextual factors shape learning
• Strengthen the use of innovative, high-resolution measurement approaches and/ or advance our understanding of within-child variability and developmental trajectories

Scientific Priorities

1) Causal Inference

Proposals should include designs that enable credible causal identification, such as:

• Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
• Quasi-experimental designs (e.g., regression discontinuity, difference-in-differences, instrumental variables)
• Natural experiments leveraging exogenous environmental variation. Examples of relevant sources of variation include:
• Environmental exposures (e.g., pollution, climate events)
• Neighborhood and socio-economic conditions
• Policy changes or institutional reforms
• Administrative or geospatial datasets

2) Dense Sampling and Measurement

Projects should incorporate high-frequency and high-resolution data collection, including:

• Intensive longitudinal designs capturing within-child variability over time, including via repeated administration of the LEVANTE measures or integration of other measures
• Measurement approaches linking short-term dynamics to long-term outcomes
• Rich environmental data collection, with examples including:
• Wearables and actigraphy
• Neuroimaging or psychophysiology measurement (e.g., behavioral, EEG, fMRI, eye-tracking, etc.),
• Genetic data
• Classroom or school observations
• Home environment observations
• Qualitative or mixed-method approaches

• Researchers affiliated with universities or research institutes
• Principal Investigator (PI) must:
• Hold a PhD (≥5 years before deadline)
• Have a strong research track record in learning and development
• Teams should demonstrate:
• Experience in large-scale, longitudinal, or interdisciplinary research
• Capacity for data collection, analysis, and dissemination
• Inclusion of early-career researchers is encouraged

• Projects may be single-site or multi-institutional
• Must be multidisciplinary
• Must integrate into the LEVANTE data infrastructure
• Data must be:
• Collected using LEVANTE core tools
• Shared under LEVANTE data policies
• Collaboration across regions and institutions is encouraged

Requirements (Mandatory)

All proposals must:

• Use LEVANTE Core Assessment Measures
• Follow sampling, recruitment, and data collection guidelines
• Comply with ethics, privacy, and data-sharing policies
• Be submitted in English
• Include plans for data harmonization and sharing

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Scientific merits of the articulated research questions
• Alignment of the proposed project to the LEVANTE Key Scientific Aims.
• Feasibility of the study
• Site has the resources and expertise necessary to carry out the proposed data collection.
• Proposals from low-resource contexts might want to budget for capacity building to ensure study feasibility.
• Sample Characteristics
• Diversity of population being sampled, with the goal of collecting data from a broad set of cultural and linguistic contexts.
• Representativeness of the sample within the particular context of recruitment (e.g., representativeness of a particular local or national community).
• Sample size – larger samples add greater value to the dataset and will be preferred all else being equal.
• Value of additional measures
• Previously collected or planned collection of data that enhance the value of the core LEVANTE measures, including other measure types, and prior or subsequent longitudinal tracking.
• Sharing feasibility and policies for additional data
• Resulting dataset will be shared in a manner that facilitates easy harmonization with LEVANTE core measure data.
• Coordination opportunities beyond the LEVANTE measures
• The effort is co-supported through another study or initiative.

Application Process and Timeline

Stage 1: Initial Application

• Deadline: 10 June 2026 (midnight GMT)
• Includes project description, CV, and publications

Stage 2: Extended Proposal (Shortlisted Applicants)

• Period: 29 July – 25 September 2026
• Includes full proposal, timeline, and budget

Stage 3: Interview

• Period: 9–18 November 2026

Final selection is approved by the Jacobs Foundation Board.

Total Funding

• Up to USD 6 million available (Jacobs Foundation) for the LEVANTE network.

Funding Categories

1) Regular Projects

• Max budget: USD 250,000
• Duration: 2–3 years
• Design: Baseline + 2 annual follow-ups
• Scope logic:
• Build on existing cohorts (low setup cost)
• Focused, single-site or single-cohort studies
• Efficient data collection leveraging prior investments
• Reality check: This is not for building new systems—it's for extracting value from what already exists.

2) Large Projects

• Max budget: USD 600,000
• Duration: ≥4 years
• Design: Baseline + 3 annual waves
• Scope logic:
• Collect new LEVANTE datasets or expand existing studies
• Integrate additional measurement types
• Positioning: Mid-scale, more ambitious—requires clear added value beyond standard cohort follow-up.

3) Infrastructure Projects

• Max budget: USD 1,000,000
• Duration: ≥4 years
• Design: Baseline + 3 annual waves
• Scope logic:
• Build data systems, platforms, or research infrastructure supporting LEVANTE
• Strategic intent: Long-term capacity building—not just research outputs.

https://levante-network.org/open-call-for-proposals-2026/

About LEVANTE

LEVANTE is a global research network designed to generate high-quality, comparable data on child development and learning, enabling evidence-based improvements in education systems worldwide.

Applications are submitted online via the SurveyMonkey platform (multi-stage process) @ https://jacobsfoundation.smapply.org/prog/levante_application_rfp3/