IDRC Doctoral Research Awards 2020 [CA$20,000 Grant]

Application Deadline: June 17, 2020, by 16:00 (EDT)

Overview:
The International Development Research Center (IDRC) has helped graduate students undertake
thesis research in the field of international development since 1982. IDRC Doctoral Research Awards are intended to build capacity and develop research skills in Canada and the Global South to improve the lives of people in the developing world.

This call is open to Canadians, permanent residents of Canada, and citizens of developing countries pursuing doctoral studies at a Canadian university. Awards under this call will cover the costs of field research conducted for a doctoral dissertation in one or more countries in the Global South.

Award Eligibility:

You must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, or a citizen of a developing country, excluding countries in southern and eastern Europe, South Caucasus, and Central Asia (but including Afghanistan).
You must be enrolled at a Canadian university at the doctoral level (you must have completed several courses of the doctoral program, but not necessarily all courses when you submit your application).
Your research proposal must be approved by your thesis supervisor. Please provide proof.
Your proposed field research must be conducted for a doctoral dissertation and must take place in one or more developing countries (see list of exceptions below).
You must provide evidence of affiliation with an institution or organization in the developing region(s) in which the research will take place.
You must have completed coursework and passed comprehensive exams before taking up the award.
You may not be in receipt of two or more active IDRC awards at the same time; these include the IDRC Research Awards. No time overlaps will be permitted. If you are in receipt of IDRC funds from another source (e.g. a Queen Elizabeth Advanced Scholars award or through a professor’s IDRC research grant) for activities that will be active when and if you take up an IDRC Doctoral Research Award, you will be asked to demonstrate how funds from each are not being used towards the same objective.
Your field research must be relevant to one of six development outcome areas to which IDRC aims to contribute through its work. These are:

Health equity
Inclusive governance
Sustainable and inclusive growth
Climate resilience and sustainable food systems
Inclusive education
Strong science and innovation systems

IDRC also encourages proposals that explore the impacts of and resilience to shocks such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, from the perspective of any of the areas above. Applications proposing field research outside of these areas will not be considered.

Selection Criteria:
The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications:

Fit with IDRC mission and development outcome areas;
Overall appropriateness, completeness, quality, and clarity of the research proposal;
Overall methodology and considerations of cultural, logistical, and scientific constraints;
Overall feasibility, duration, and timing of the research;
Originality and creativity of the research;
Potential contribution to existing knowledge on the issue;
Gender dimensions of the research;
Ethical considerations of the research;
The benefit to the communities where the research is taking place;
Suitability of the affiliated institution;
Potential for research results to be disseminated and used;
Budget; and
Applicant’s capacity to conduct the proposed research, including academic training, local language capacity, professional skills, research experience, and knowledge of country/region of research.