Global Forum on Humanitarian Health Research (GFH2R): Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Global Forum on Humanitarian Health Research (GFH2R)?

The Global Forum for Humanitarian Health Research (GFH2R) is a unique activity that brings researchers and humanitarian organizations together to share experiences and promote collaboration around health research in humanitarian settings. GFH2R 2025 will include a series of three public webinars beginning in August 2024 and an in-person meeting in May 2025 (dates TBD) in Nairobi, Kenya. The in-person meeting is built around case study presentations by researchers from regions of the world affected by humanitarian crises. The Forum prioritizes the participation of researchers from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), encourages networking and mentoring, and creates a venue for open and inclusive discussions.

What are the goals of GFH2R 2025?

• To bring researchers and humanitarian organizations together to share experiences and promote collaboration around health research in humanitarian settings.
• To highlight the voices of researchers from settings most affected by humanitarian crises, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
• To encourage networking and mentoring in the field while facilitating open debate from varied perspectives.
• To help research funders better understand the unique challenges of research in these settings and provide a venue for funders to advise researchers interested in applying for research grants.

What are the events associated with GFH2R 2025?

GFH2R 2025 will include a series of three public webinars beginning in August 2024 and an in-person meeting in May 2025 (dates TBD) in Nairobi, Kenya.

When will the dates for the in-person meeting be announced?

The dates for the in-person meeting will be announced in October or November 2024, once logistical details are confirmed.

When are the webinars?

There are three webinars associated with GFH2R. The launch webinar for GFH2R 2025 took place on August 28, 2024. Materials from the webinar and information about future webinars can be found on the GFH2R 2025 Webinar Series page.

• October/November 2024: Health research at the nexus of climate change
• February/March 2025: Funding Health Research at the Nexus of Humanitarian Crises and Climate Change

What are the requirements to join?

The webinars will be hosted in Zoom and are open to the public. Anyone is welcome to join by registering on the GFH2R 2025 Webinar Series page.

Are the webinars recorded?

Yes, recordings will be posted on our GFH2R 2025 Webinar Series page.

How do I apply to participate in the in-person meeting?

Attendance for the in-person meeting is by application only. Interested individuals should review the call for applications and submit an application to participate as either a general participant or case study presenter no later than October 7, 2024 on the application website.

What is the deadline to apply?

October 7, 2024 by 23:59 ET (USA)

How will applicants be selected?

Applicants will be selected by the GFH2R Steering Committee based on the selection criteria described in the call for applications. There are no quotas in the selection process, but the selection process is designed to maximize diversity of applicants (e.g., by geography, discipline, etc.).

Will early applicants be prioritized?

We do not prioritize early applications. Feel free to submit an application any time before October 7, 2024.

Will applicants be notified after submission?

Yes, you should receive an email confirmation that your application has been received. If you do not, please contact GFH2R@mail.nih.gov and aking@crdfglobal.org.

Is there a limited number of participants?

Yes, the number of case study presenters and general participants for the in-person meeting is limited to ensure that all attendees can engage and interact with one another. The total number of attendees will also be limited by the venue that is selected.

Can I apply on behalf of a consortia of organizations or for multiple individuals?

Up to two people can apply per case study presentation. If the case study is selected, both individuals will be accepted to co-present at the meeting. Both will go into the pool of general participant applicants if the case study is not accepted.

If applying as a general participant, each individual must apply separately.

Is it possible to apply as a case study presenter and a general participant?

All case study applicants who are not selected to present will automatically be put in the pool of general applicants. There is no need to apply for both.

Is there a page limit for case study applications and how long will the presentations be?

The case study application is limited to two (2) pages (not including figures and references). After the selection process, presenters will receive more guidance on the length of their presentations.

Can multiple case studies be submitted?

Yes. However, we recommend submitting your strongest case study instead of multiple submissions. It is very unlikely that two case studies from the same individual or group will be accepted to maximize diversity.

How do I apply as a case study team?

Applicants wishing to apply as a team of case study presenters (two people max) must each submit an individual application but upload the same case study proposal document.

From which countries are applicants eligible to apply?

Applicants can be from any country, although priority will be given to applicants from low- and middle-income countries and researchers who are living in a country or region affected by humanitarian crises.

Does the application require U.S. collaborators?

No, U.S. collaborators are not required.

Is having previously funded research required?

General applicants are not required to have previously funded research experience. Case study presenters must submit a case study based on a funded research study. More details are in the “Case Study Research” section below.

Do I need to have NIH or Fogarty International Center funding to apply?

No, previous research funding (from NIH or elsewhere) is not a requirement for general participant applicants. Case study research does need to be funded, but that funding can be from any institution, humanitarian organization, or funding agency. More details are in the “Case Study Research” section below.

Are multi-site global studies allowed?

Yes, multi-site global studies are eligible to apply.

Can there be two applicants for a case study from the same institution?

Yes, two members of a team case study application can be from the same institution.

Do I need to be an early-career researcher to apply?

Applications are welcome from all career levels, although early- to mid-career scientists or those who are new to the field of humanitarian health research will be prioritized. Early career researchers are defined as those with less than 10 years of experience in their field and mid-career researchers are defined as those with between 10 and 20 years of experience.

Do I have to work in academic research to apply?

Applicants are not limited to academic researchers. Staff from government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private sector organizations are also encouraged to apply as long as their applications focus on research.

What is a case study?

For the purposes of GFH2R, a case study is a concise, written document that provides insight into the planning and implementation of a funded research study. GFH2R case studies will highlight challenges experienced and strategies employed throughout the research process. Unlike a traditional research paper focused on results and outcomes, a case study will provide an in-depth description of the research process and decision points throughout the study.

What qualifies as “research” for GFH2R?

Research may be defined as a systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. Research typically involves a research question and a methodology designed to answer that question. Health research may include discovery science, population-based studies, intervention studies, and operational research (i.e., research conducted alongside the implementation of an intervention or program). Case studies may describe quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods studies.

An evaluation may be considered research if it involves the systematic collection of data and evaluative conclusions drawn from that data. A case study that only involves the collection of data without evaluative conclusions or one that involves evaluative conclusions without the collection of data would not be considered appropriate for GFH2R.

Any research involving human subjects must have already obtained ethical/institutional review board (IRB) approval.

Are case studies focused on funded humanitarian projects that were not originally designed as research eligible to share results?

Yes, as long as the case study involves the systematic collection of data and evaluative conclusions drawn from that data.

Can I present the results of a pilot project?

All case study applications must have a research component. If the pilot project is research per the question above, it is eligible.

Can you provide more details on the types of case studies that are encouraged under the theme of "Health Research at the Nexus of Humanitarian Crises and Climate Change"?

Case study proposals should describe an example of health research conducted at the nexus of humanitarian crises and climate change. This may include situations in which climate change is a driver, or cause, of a humanitarian crisis (e.g., forced displacement resulting from extreme weather events). It may also include situations where climate change exacerbates the health risks experienced by a population affected by a humanitarian crisis (e.g., refugee populations living in a disaster-prone region).

GFH2R’s interpretation of humanitarian crises and the impacts of climate change is broad to be as inclusive as possible. 

Will health research in humanitarian crises without a focus on climate change be considered?

Case study applications should be focused on the theme and related to the nexus of humanitarian crises and climate change. Note that GFH2R takes a fairly broad view of climate change impacts.

Are case studies required to focus on one of the sub-themes?

Ideally, case studies should examine one of the sub-themes. However, cases studies may explore more than one sub-theme, the intersection of two sub-themes, or other issues associated with the nexus of humanitarian crises and climate change beyond the sub-themes listed. More information on the sub-themes can be found in the GFH2R Background Paper [PDF].

Can case studies previously presented at other conferences, or previously published in a journal, be submitted?

Yes. Please include a reference to the previously presented or published worked in your application materials.

Does case study research need to be completed before I apply?

No. Case study applications can be submitted under one of two categories:

1. Research that is funded and will be complete by January 2025 or
2. Research that is funded and still in progress after January 2025 that could benefit from feedback.

However, case study applications should not be based on research ideas or concepts that have not yet been implemented. Applicants interested in sharing and discussing research ideas for future work should apply as a general participant. There will be opportunities during the in-person meeting to get feedback on your ideas.

Are case studies about research methodologies eligible?

Yes, one of the meeting sub-themes is “Research methods innovation and adaptation in humanitarian settings.” We welcome case studies that reflect on research methodologies.

Why is research funding a requirement to apply to be a case study presenter?

We understand that it is often difficult for LMIC researchers to secure funding for research, especially in the field of humanitarian health where there are limited funding opportunities. There is no funding requirement to apply to participate in GFH2R as a general participant. Case study applicants are required to submit a case study proposal related to research that has been funded. This requirement is not intended to limit participation. Rather, the requirement is intended to help ensure that the research described in case study applications has been vetted, is ethical, and follows appropriate IRB protocol.

What constitutes “funded research” for a case study application?

Research that is funded by any institution or funding agency. Note the research does not need to be funded by NIH or the Fogarty International Center. Research may be self-funded if verification of ethical approval/IRB is provided and research may be part of a previous or ongoing graduate or doctoral study.

Can a case study focus on multiple research projects?

No. A case study application should focus on one research project.

What is the timeframe within which the research being presented should have taken place?

We recommend that case studies focus on research from the past five years. We are open to exceptions if you can make a strong case for the relevance of the research to the themes GFH2R 2025.

How much should case study submissions focus on research results versus lessons learned?

The main focus of the case study application should be the sections focused on the description of the research context, the discussion of research issues, and lessons learned. The case study application should include a brief description of the research project including a brief overview of results. Please give enough detail that the methodology is clear.

Are there any examples of case studies from a previous GFH2R?

For those interested in learning more about GFH2R 2021, please see the summary report.

For specific questions about allowable topics, please email us at GFH2R@mail.nih.gov

What are the costs to participate in the in-person meeting of GFH2R 2025?

Expenses to participate in GFH2R 2025 will be covered for all case study presenters and general participants.

What expenses are covered?

Travel to Nairobi, Kenya, lodging, per diem, local transportation, and visa costs for all accepted case study presenters and general participants will be fully covered by the sponsors of GFH2R.

Does GFH2R provide funding for research?

GFH2R does not provide funding for research. GFH2R only provides funding to cover the expenses to attend the in-person meeting. Of note, case studies must be focused on research that has already been funded.

Will there be opportunities to apply for research funding at GFH2R 2025?

GFH2R is not linked to any specific research funding opportunities. However, there will be opportunities during the in-person meeting to hear from representatives of some research funding agencies and learn more about their work.

Are there any research funding opportunities related to health research at the nexus of humanitarian crises and climate change?

GFH2R 2025 is not a research funding opportunity. Please find links to relevant funding resources at NIH and from our partners on our website.

What can I expect from the in-person meeting?

The in-person meeting will take place in Nairobi, Kenya in May 2025. The meeting will be three (3) days long with a possible additional day for an optional workshop. The agenda will include keynote speakers, panel presentations, small group discussions, and opportunities for networking.

How is the in-person meeting unique compared to other scientific meetings?

It will be unique in several ways.

• Limited number of participants
• Built around small group discussions of case studies
• Emphasis on presentations by researchers from settings affected by humanitarian crises
• Encourages open debate from varied perspectives, highlighting the voices of LMIC researchers
• Involves research funders

Do all GFH2R 2025 participants receive mentorship?

Accepted case study presenters will be assigned a mentor from the GFH2R Steering Committee. Case study presenters will meet virtually with their mentor a few times in advance of the in-person meeting to get feedback and guidance as they write their case study paper and develop a PowerPoint presentation.

General participants will not receive formal mentorship, but there will be opportunities for networking with Steering Committee members throughout the meeting.

How will mentors be assigned to case study presenters?

Case study mentors will be assigned based on a variety of factors that may include the mentor’s area of expertise, case study topics, meeting sub-themes, geography, and disease focus.