Call for Proposals: Advancing evidence on digital platform work in LMICs

April 10, 2025 – IDinsight is excited to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for research teams interested in generating causal evidence on gig and platform work in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Grants of $100,000 to $500,000 will be awarded to 3–4 outstanding proposals that aim to improve the understanding and welfare of digital gig workers. 

Background

The digital labor economy is transforming how people earn a living—especially in emerging markets. In response to this shift, IDinsight launched the five-year Digital Economy Research & Impact Initiative (DERII) in 2023, supported by the Gates Foundation.

Through foundational work—including a literature review and field studies in India, Indonesia, and Kenya—we’ve identified critical gaps in our understanding of:

• How platform work can be made more welfare-improving for gig workers through algorithmic changes and/or platform add-ons, and
• The impact of platform work on labour outcomes, economic well-being, and financial inclusion.

Now, we are seeking to partner with researchers who can help us close these gaps with rigorous, policy-relevant evidence.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

What we’re looking for

We seek to fund studies that aim to produce causal evidence (although exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for compelling descriptive evidence) with the following focus:

• Digital labor platforms (as defined by the ILO) that algorithmically mediate work assignments (e.g., ride-hailing, domestic work, deliveries)
• Location-based services and low-capital work requiring minimal assets (e.g., motorcycle taxis, but not car-based services unless accessible to low-income populations)
• Studies with clear potential for real-world impact, ideally in partnership with existing platforms

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Preferred Research Characteristics

We are especially excited about proposals that include:

• Rigorous methods, such as RCTs or quasi-experimental designs
• Descriptive components (e.g., worker profiling via administrative data)
• Policy-relevant questions, such as financial inclusion, algorithmic fairness, or gender disparities
• Collaboration with platforms, demonstrated by a signed MOU or access to platform data
• Studies in understudied sectors, especially those employing women or marginalized groups
• Work in LMICs, with researchers ready to launch within 3 months of contract signing