The Award launches on
1 November 2026
Coming soon
- 1 November 2026 Award Launch
- 1 – 15 November 2026 Entries and Proposals
- 3 December 2026 Phase One Results
- 7 March 2027 Research Submission
- April 2027 Final Presentation
- May 2027 Results & Ceremony
At the Qatar Foundation for Social Work and its centres, we believe that scientific research is a fundamental pillar in the development of social work, as it provides knowledge that helps us understand community issues and needs, and supports the development of policies, practices and services on sound scientific foundations.
In this spirit, the Social Researcher Award serves as a platform that stimulates research and innovation in the social field. It encourages researchers to present high-quality studies linked to society’s priorities and challenges, moving knowledge from its theoretical framework to applicable solutions and recommendations that achieve a tangible and sustainable impact.
Through this Award, we look forward to building bridges of cooperation between researchers, practitioners and decision-makers, and to enriching knowledge in the social sector, thereby contributing to improving the quality of services, enhancing the quality of life of individuals and families, and supporting social development in the State of Qatar, in line with the aspirations of Qatar National Vision 2030.
About the Award
The Qatar Foundation for Social Work launches the Social Researcher Award to provide a stimulating platform for research minds, aiming to transform knowledge and scientific evidence into applied solutions that contribute to developing social programs and services and to creating a tangible impact on the quality of life of beneficiaries.
The Award seeks to strengthen the leadership of the Foundation and its centers in the field of social research by attracting researchers from among school and university students, academics and social sector workers, and by employing rigorous scientific research as an effective tool for policymaking, service development and achieving social impact in line with the aspirations of Qatar National Vision 2030.
Vision
From research to knowledge, and from knowledge to impact.
Mission
To stimulate research capabilities and support excellence in social research, producing rigorous knowledge that responds to society’s priorities and contributes to the development of social policies, practices and services.
- Participation tracks
- 3
- Research areas
- 3
- Target research groups
- 8
Award Objectives
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Raising awareness of priority social issues in Qatar by supporting research that helps understand and analyze them and provides evidence-based recommendations and solutions.
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Encouraging innovation in addressing social issues and stimulating scientific research that offers applicable insights, models or innovative solutions.
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Discovering and developing national research capabilities among students, researchers, academics and social practitioners, and enhancing opportunities for scientific communication and exchange of expertise.
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Enriching the national social knowledge base by documenting and publishing winning research and making it available as reliable scientific references that support researchers, practitioners, decision-makers and relevant entities.
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Contributing to the development of social policies, practices and services, and supporting the production of knowledge that contributes to evidence-based planning and decision-making.
Tracks
The Award adopts three main tracks that take into account the diversity of participants and their varying experience and academic and professional stages, enabling each group to contribute to social research from its own position, and strengthening the integration between academic knowledge, field practice and community awareness.
Schools Track
Targets secondary school students and focuses on developing research skills, critical thinking, innovation and students' awareness of social issues.
View track conditions
Universities and Academics Track
Targets undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers and faculty members.
View track conditions
Social Sector Workers Track
Targets social sector workers and specialists, focusing on transforming knowledge into practical solutions for social services.
View track conditionsGeneral Theme and Targeted Research Areas
General Theme 2026 - 2027
Family Cohesion
In line with Qatar National Vision 2030 to build a cohesive society based on family and social ties, and consistent with the Qatar Foundation for Social Work’s priorities of strengthening family stability and sustainable social development, this theme aims to support research that contributes to addressing priority social issues and enhancing the well-being of individuals, families and society in the State of Qatar through three research areas:
- Aligned With Qatar National Vision 2030
- Guided By QSW priorities: family stability and sustainable social development
- Aims to Enhance the well-being of individuals, families and society in Qatar
3 Research Areas
Social Phenomena and Transformations
Addresses the social, economic and cultural transformations affecting the family and society, and their repercussions on family cohesion, quality of life and social protection, with a focus on understanding emerging challenges, anticipating future trends and developing appropriate solutions to address them.
Services, Interventions and Social Impact
Focuses on evaluating and developing the social programs and services provided to individuals, families and target groups, measuring their social impact, and exploring innovative practices and modern models that help raise the efficiency of services and improve their results and sustainability.
Policies, Advocacy and Community Change
Concerned with studying national and community policies, legislation and initiatives that contribute to enhancing social protection, empowering individuals and families and achieving community cohesion, in addition to exploring the role of advocacy, awareness and partnerships in addressing social issues and achieving sustainable development.
Target Research Groups
Research should address one of the following groups.
- Persons with Disabilities
- Elderly
- Women
- Children
- The Family
- Orphans (Without Family Support)
- At-Risk Youth
- Caregivers
Timeline
Three phases, from proposal to final presentation — November 2026 to May 2027.
1 day to go
Registration opens tomorrow
Launch
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Award Launch
Upcoming
1 November 2026
Phase One
-
Receiving Entries and Proposals
Upcoming
1 – 15 November 2026
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Evaluation of Submitted Proposals
Upcoming
16 – 30 November 2026
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Announcement of Phase One Results
Upcoming
3 December 2026
Phase Two
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Research Implementation
Upcoming
3 December 2026 – 7 March 2027
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Evaluation of Completed Research
Upcoming
7 March – 7 April 2027
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Announcement of Phase Two Results
Upcoming
April 2027
Final
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Final Presentation
Upcoming
April 2027
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Announcement of Final Results
Upcoming
May 2027
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Closing Ceremony
Upcoming
May 2027
Prizes
Each track awards three tiered cash prizes.
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Schools Track
Secondary school students- First Place
- 20,000 QAR
- Second Place
- 15,000 QAR
- Third Place
- 10,000 QAR
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Universities & Academics Track
Students, researchers & faculty- First Place
- 50,000 QAR
- Second Place
- 30,000 QAR
- Third Place
- 20,000 QAR
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Social Sector Workers Track
Practitioners & specialists- First Place
- 50,000 QAR
- Second Place
- 30,000 QAR
- Third Place
- 20,000 QAR
Terms and Conditions
Please read the general terms and the conditions for your track before you register. Both apply to every submission.
General Terms and Conditions
- The applicant must be a Qatari national or a resident of the State of Qatar.
- The submitted work must be original and prepared by the participant(s).
- The research must be submitted in Arabic.
- The work must not have previously won another research award.
- Commitment to scientific honesty and integrity, and the research must be free from plagiarism and copying.
- Commitment to scientific research ethics and protection of participants' rights, privacy and data confidentiality.
- Commitment to intellectual property rights and scientific citation of sources and references.
- Disclosure of any funding or support received for the research, if any.
- Commitment to the electronic form, deadlines and documents specified by the Award management.
- The Qatar Foundation for Social Work reserves the right of first publication of winning research through its electronic platforms and various media outlets, with reference to the researcher(s) as the original authors of the work.
- The Foundation has the right to exclude any entry that does not meet the Award conditions or that is proven to breach integrity or scientific research ethics.
Track-Specific Conditions
- Length
- 6,000 – 8,000 words
- Team
- Individual or team
- Supervisor
- Required
- Citation
- Simplified list
- 01 The applicant must be a student enrolled in a secondary school in Qatar (public or private).
- 02 Participation may be individual or as part of a research team.
- 03 Participation requires an educational supervisor for the research.
- 04 Length of work: 6,000 – 8,000 words, with a simplified list of sources, without requiring an advanced academic citation style.
- Length
- 8,000 – 12,000 words
- Team
- Individual or team
- Citation
- APA 7th or equivalent
- 01 The applicant must be an undergraduate or postgraduate student, a researcher or a faculty member.
- 02 Adherence to a clear scientific methodology appropriate to the research problem.
- 03 The research must include an appropriate theoretical framework and literature review
- 04 Adherence to scientific citation according to APA style (7th edition) or any other internationally recognized citation style, used consistently throughout the research
- 05 Length: 8,000–12,000 words (excluding appendices and references).
- Length
- 8,000 – 12,000 words
- Team
- Individual or team
- Citation
- Simplified list
- 01 The applicant must work in an institution, center or entity operating in the social sector.
- 02 Adherence to a clear scientific methodology appropriate to the research problem.
- 03 The research must include an appropriate theoretical framework and literature review
- 04 Data collection tools and analysis procedures must be explained.
- 05 The necessary approvals must be obtained from the employer to conduct the research.
- 06 Adherence to scientific citation according to APA style (7th edition) or any other internationally recognised citation style, used consistently throughout the research.
- 07 Length: 8,000–12,000 words (excluding appendices and references).
Frequently Asked Questions
This year's designated theme centers on family cohesion, and includes three research areas: Social Phenomena and Transformations; Services, Interventions and Social Impact; and Policies, Advocacy and Community Change.
Research should address one of the following groups: persons with disabilities, the elderly, women, children, the family, orphans (without family support), at-risk youth and caregivers.
The theme is aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030 and guided by the Foundation's priorities of family stability and sustainable social development, and aims to enhance the well-being of individuals, families and society in Qatar.
Participation is open to Qatari citizens and residents of the State of Qatar, within one of the three tracks: the Schools Track, the Universities and Academics Track, and the Social Sector Workers Track.
Secondary school students enrolled in a secondary school in Qatar.
Undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers and faculty members.
Workers, practitioners and specialists in institutions, centers and entities operating in the social sector.
Participation may be individual or as part of a team in all tracks.
Yes. The applicant must be a Qatari national or a resident of the State of Qatar.
Yes. The applicant must be a student enrolled in a secondary school in Qatar, public or private.
Yes. Participation in the Schools Track requires an educational supervisor for the research.
The school supervisor registers the entry as the main applicant and adds the participating students in the registration form.
The research must be submitted in Arabic.
Schools Track: 6,000 – 8,000 words. Universities and Academics Track and Social Sector Workers Track: 8,000 – 12,000 words.
Schools and Social Sector Workers tracks need a simplified list of sources. The Universities and Academics Track uses APA 7th edition or an equivalent style.
No. The work must not have previously won another research award.
The work must be original, prepared by the participant(s) and free from plagiarism, and must respect research ethics and the rights, privacy and data confidentiality of participants.
Yes. Any funding or support received for the research must be disclosed.
The Award launches on 1 November 2026.
Entries and proposals are received from 1 to 15 November 2026.
Click Register Now or scan the QR code, then complete the online registration form and submit your research proposal.
The title, research problem, objectives, research questions, methodology, expected results, expected impact and references — 800 to 1,500 words in total.
Proposals are evaluated from 16 to 30 November 2026, and Phase One results are announced on 3 December 2026.
Research is carried out from 3 December 2026 and submitted by 7 March 2027.
Completed research is evaluated from 7 March to 7 April 2027, and the final presentation takes place in April 2027.
The final results are announced in May 2027, at the closing ceremony.
In two phases: submitted proposals are evaluated first, then the completed research of the shortlisted entries, followed by a final presentation.
Each track awards three tiered cash prizes. Schools Track: 20,000, 15,000 and 10,000 QAR. Universities and Academics, and Social Sector Workers tracks: 50,000, 30,000 and 20,000 QAR.
The Qatar Foundation for Social Work reserves the right of first publication of winning research through its electronic platforms and various media outlets.
Yes. Published research refers to the researcher(s) as the original authors of the work.
Yes. The Foundation may exclude any entry that does not meet the Award conditions or that is proven to breach integrity or scientific research ethics.
For questions and inquiries about the Award, email us at sr-award@qatarsocial.org.
