DFID has approved through the X Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) programme to fund new, operationally-relevant research on cross border conflict across the Middle East, Asia and Horn of Africa. This will examine the trans-national networks and narratives that connect them, including flows of people, weapons and resources and provide evidence based options for how international actors should innovate and respond. This will be delivered through:

Lot 1: X Border Conflict Dynamics/Response (GBP 12 772 500); and

Lot 2: Violent and Peaceful Behaviour (GBP 5 772 500).

DFID intends to award these contracts for an initial term of 5 years. DFID may extend the duration up to an additional 2.5 years

This requirement IS NOT subject to the Public Contracts Regulation 2015 and Directive 2014/24/EU by virtue of the applicability of Regulation 14. DFID is therefore publishing voluntarily for the purposes of publicity only.

Research will examine factors in conflict ‘hubs’ and X Border ‘spokes’ and innovating conflict responses in an era of X Border conflict. Applying technology based tools to assess the conflicts outlined in the research programme will enable researchers to identify key cross border patterns and track how conflict, migration and financial flows connect between conflict affected areas. Research and method will be proposed in the bidding process and refined as the programme starts.

Research will examine networks operating between major conflicts including Afghanisatan, through Iran to the Middle East, through the Levant, North Africa and the Gulf to East Africa. Research will include technology based methods (e.g, satellite and aerial imagery, financial data, gro-tracking, communications and/or social media) complemented by quantitative and qualitative field work.