Call for Applications: IDRC Research Awards 2025

Themes

• This year IDRC will offer research awards related to these development areas or themes:
  • Climate-Resilient Food Systems (based in Nairobi)
  • Democratic and Inclusive Governance (based in New Delhi)
  • Education and Science
  • Ethics in Development Research
  • Global Health
  • Policy and Evaluation
  • Sustainable Inclusive Economies.

Benefits

• If your research proposal is selected, you will join IDRC as a Research award recipient for a period of 12 months from January to December 2025 to undertake research on the topic you have submitted. You will receive hands-on experience in research and program management, monitoring, evaluation and learning, and the creation, dissemination, and use of knowledge from an international perspective.
• Awardees in Ottawa are considered full-time non-union employees of IDRC. Benefits include employer contributions to employment insurance, employer health tax, the Canada Pension Plan, and paid vacation leave. The salary range is CA$ 47,301 – 54,756.
• The awardee in Nairobi is considered a term employee working on the Research Awardee pay scale as defined in the Locally engaged Staff manual. The salary range is 2,036,836 – 3,396,801 KES.
• The awardee in New Delhi is considered a term employee working on the Research Awardee pay scale as defined in the Locally engaged Staff manual. The salary range is 628,638 – 1,148,048 INR.
• For all awardees, travel and research expenses are also supported, in accordance with IDRC’s relevant policies and procedures and the terms and conditions of the research grant.

Who can apply?

• For the awards based in Ottawa: Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, temporary foreign workers with a valid work permit and students from low or middle-income countries enrolled in a Canadian university with a valid study permit.
• For the awards based in the regions, the candidates must hold citizenship of that country.
• Students who are finishing a master’s program or researchers who have completed a master’s program within the last three years
• Preference will be given to candidates who have completed a master’s degree.

Eligibility Requirements

• Applied for only one research award recipient opportunity.
• Proposed research must focus on one or more developing countries on the OECD DAC list of ODA recipients.
• Field research component cannot be more than 3 months.
• Research cannot be proposed in countries with Government of Canada travel security advisories to “Avoid all travel”.
• Completed Research proposal submission and Academic information and professional qualifications form and for awards in Ottawa a copy of your student permit or your full-time work permit valid at least until 31 December 2025, if applicable, or proof of your Kenyan or Indian Citizenship for the award in Nairobi or New Delhi respectively
• Candidates who have a valid student permit and are selected will have offers conditional upon obtaining a work permit valid for full-time work (37.5 hours) from 6 January to 31 December 2025.

For more information, visit IRDC.