International Development Research Centre Doctoral Research Awards for Canadians and Developing Countries

IDRC Doctoral Research Awards

Course(s) Offered: Development topics
Course Level: Graduate (Research, PhD)
Provider: International Development Research Centre
Country to Study in: Africa, Canada, Latin America

Scholarship Description
The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is offering research opportunities to Canadians, permanent residents of Canada, and citizens of developing countries.

Successful applicants for the IDRC Doctoral Research Awards will be those who are pursuing a master’s or a doctoral degree at a recognized university OR who have completed a master’s or a doctoral degree at a recognized university.

Research award recipients will undertake a one-year paid program of research on the topic they have submitted, and will receive hands-on experience in research management, grant administration, and the creation, dissemination, and use of knowledge from an international perspective.

Eligibility
This call is open to Canadians, permanent residents of Canada, and citizens of developing countries pursuing doctoral studies at a Canadian university.

WHO CAN APPLY
To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, or a citizen of a developing country.
• You must be enrolled at a Canadian university at the doctoral level (when you submit your application, you must have completed several courses of the doctoral program, but not necessarily all of the courses).
• Your research proposal must be approved by your thesis supervisor. Please provide proof.
• Your proposed field research must take place in one or more developing countries and be conducted for a doctoral dissertation.
• Your field research must correspond to IDRC thematic priorities. Applications proposing field research outside these thematic areas will not be considered.
• 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. No time overlaps will be permitted.

OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
If you are selected for an award, you have up to 12 months to start your field research from the date of the final selection.

It will be your responsibility to ensure that you follow all Government of Canada travel advisories while applying, when planning your trip, and while in the field. IDRC will not approve travel to a region for which there is an advisory that all travel should be avoided. If you are selected and the advisory changes, you will still be required to follow it even after a contract is signed.

RESEARCH COUNTRY EXCEPTIONS:
In principle, IDRC supports research in all developing countries. At this time, however, we do not offer awards for research that involves the following countries:

Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Micronesia, North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of), Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Southern and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and South Caucasus, and some small island states, including Comoros, São Tomé and Principe, Saint Helena, Timor-Leste, and Oceania (Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna).

COUNTRIES SUBJECT TO APPROVAL:
You may apply for research in the following countries and territories, but if you are recommended for an award, your application may be subject to a further stage of approval within IDRC:

Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Democratic Republic of), Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Gaza, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Maldives, Mauritania, Monserrat, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Suriname, Tunisia, Venezuela, West Bank, and Zimbabwe.

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

• Fit with IDRC mission and thematic priorities;
• 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;
• 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;
• 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

Eligible groups
Citizens of Canada and Developing countries (EXCEPT exceptions above)

Participating Institutions
Positions are available at IDRC’s head office in Ottawa, Canada; at their Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean in Montevideo, Uruguay; and at IDRC’s Regional Office for Sub-Saharan Africa, in Nairobi, Kenya. Eligibility criteria differ for each location.

Fields of study
Development topics in the 3 program areas: Agriculture and Environment, Inclusive Economies, and Technology and Innovation

Number of awards
20 awards will be offered during this call

Sponsorship duration
3-12 months

Scholarship benefits
A maximum of CA$20,000 per each award

Method of Application
Applications that are complete, that meet the eligibility criteria, and whose research subjects are deemed to fit with IDRC thematic priorities will be considered using the selection criteria listed above, ensuring that the selection of awards represents all three IDRC program areas. Apply Online Here. Before applying, it is important to read the checklist of documents required for this call, and also visit the official program webpage (link to it is below).

DEADLINES:
The deadline to apply is 30th May, 2018 by 4:00 PM (EDT)

PLEASE NOTE:
For payroll purposes, awardees are considered full-time employees of IDRC. Benefits include employer contributions to Employment Insurance, Employer Health Tax, Canada Pension Plan, and paid vacation leave. Some travel and research expenses are also supported, up to a maximum of CA$15,000.

Application Deadline: 30 May 2018
Open to International Applicants: Yes

More Scholarship Information and Application

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