CCW’s Adaptation H₂O Graduate Research Awards aim to build research capacity by providing funding to graduate students working on subjects related to climate change and water.

• ELIGIBILITY
• GUIDELINES
• SUBMITTING
• DOCUMENTS
  
  

Research in developing countries

In principle, IDRC supports research in all developing regions of the world. However, at this time, the Adaptation H2O Graduate Research Awards Program is not supporting awards that involve research in Cuba, Burma, Iraq, Iran, Eastern Europe, or Central Asia. 

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

The research proposal must be no more than seven (7) pages single spaced, be supplied in PDF format, and  contain only the following documents, submitted in the order presented here:

• Project title: Provide a title that is concise and meaningful, and includes the name of the city and country where the intended research will be carried out.
• Problem and justification: State the problem or issue to be addressed in relation to the particular development context in which your research project will take place. Identify the knowledge gaps that your research will address in order to contribute to the advancement of knowledge.
• Objective: Provide a clear and concise description of what you plan to achieve over the course of the project. Objectives should be concrete and measurable.
• Literature review: Demonstrate that you are familiar with, and have considered, what is currently known about the issue addressed by your research.
• Research questions: Break down your research problem into specific research questions you will address.
• Theoretical approach or framework: Based on your knowledge of the literature, describe, if appropriate, the theoretical approach that helped you formulate your hypothesis.
• Hypothesis: Present your hypothesis.
• Methodology: Give specific examples of methods and techniques you plan to apply or develop in order to test your hypothesis. Realistically assess the data available from secondary sources and the data you will need to generate from primary sources. Discuss the limitations the data may present and how you will deal with this. Suggest variables as well as data collection, processing, and analysis techniques that you plan to apply to test your working hypothesis.
• Feasibility: Discuss any possible obstacles to the execution of the research and to the eventual use of the results and how you intend to address them. Identify any ethical questions related to the proposed project.
• Expected results and impacts: Describe the anticipated results and their potential use. Identify the target beneficiaries and explain how the results may affect them.

Evaluation process

If your application meets the eligibility criteria, it will be pre-screened by IDRC staff. The selected proposals will be forwarded to at least two external evaluators for further assessment. Each reviewer will rank the proposals according to the evaluation criteria listed below, using a point system.

Each criteria will be assessed on a scale from 1 to 3 (3 = good, 2 = satisfactory, and 1 = poor). The maximum total score is 45. After evaluating the proposals, the reviewers will  classify them into one of the following three categories: A (recommended), B (acceptable with some modifications), and C (rejected). Based on the evaluators’ reviews, IDRC will make the final decision as to which proposals will be selected for funding.

Evaluation criteria

Researcher capability (6 pts):

• The student’s academic training suggests sound and thorough knowledge of at least one of the five eligible themes. (3 pts)
• The application demonstrates that the student has prior experience and/or the skills needed to deliver the research project. (3 pts)

Relevance (6 pts):

• The development problem or issue to be addressed and the project goal/purpose support the CCW main goal of helping the world’s more vulnerable people adapt to water-related impacts of climate change in developing countries. Specifically, the proposal addresses at least one of the five Adaptation H2O themes. (3pts)
• The proposed research clearly identifies a gap in the knowledge base and explores or introduces a new idea or concept. (3pts)

Results and impact (12pts):
• Results and potential uses of the project are clearly identified. (3pts)
• There is a clear and logical relationship between the proposed goals, objectives, activities, and intended results. (3pts)
• Targeted beneficiaries are clearly identified. (3pts)
• Possible long-term impact on participants, the student and/or the host institution are considered. (3pts)

Approach and methodology (12pts):
• The theoretical approach and/or the hypothesis are clearly explained. (3pts)
• Specific methods and techniques to be used to test the project hypothesis are clearly identified. Secondary and primary data collection required, and their limitations, are clearly assessed. (3pts)
• The research methodology incorporates a social as well as a gender analysis. (3pts)
• The proposal suggests methodology that is innovative or creative. (3pts)

Feasibility (3pts):
• Challenges in project implementation (including knowledge of the local language) and eventual use of results are manageable and solutions to them are presented. (3pts)

Partnerships (3pts):
• The proposal identifies a reputable non-academic institution. A clear link exists between the research topic and the institution. (3pts)

Budget and schedule (6pts):
• The proposed total budget is realistic in relation to the proposed activities and desired results. (3pts)
• The application includes a realistic amount of time proposed for each phase of research, with a maximum of 12 months for the entire project. (3pts)

Research dissemination

• To be considered complete, applications must include all the required documents listed in the Application checklist below. 
• ONLY complete applications that are received on time will be considered.
• Applications will ONLY be accepted in English or French.

• obtaining evidence that the master’s or doctoral applicant has completed all of the required course work for their program of study;
• obtaining evidence that the doctoral applicant has successfully passed all of his or her comprehensive written and oral examinations for the academic program in which he or she is enrolled;
• the applicant’s acceptance of the award’s contract terms and conditions.

• The applicant will permit IDRC to disseminate his or her research results or resulting papers.
• The applicant will respond to the comments of the IDRC-designated evaluators on his or her proposal.
• In the case of ethical questions relating to the research, the applicant may, at IDRC’s discretion, be required to obtain and submit the appropriate approval from the Ethics Committee of their home university.
• Applicants whose proposal involves carrying out a physical activity will comply with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. As a result of an environmental impact assessment of the proposed project, the applicant may have to modify his or her project to mitigate environmental impacts.