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Sub-Saharan Africa
IDRC's Regional Office for Sub-Saharan Africa is located in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. Our team works with researchers and research institutions to support their efforts in identifying local solutions to local development challenges.
 
From information and communication technologies to peacebuilding, urban agriculture, health, trade, and biodiversity, the people and organizations we fund make a difference in the lives of millions.
 
IDRC's research program in Sub-Saharan Africa centres on three strands:
  • agriculture and environment
  • social and economic policy
  • information and communication technologies for development
In focusing on these areas, our team pays close attention to governance, translating research results into policy decisions, and gender issues in development.

News

IDRC President part of Governor General’s delegation to Africa

13/05/2013

IDRC President Jean Lebel is part of the Canadian delegation accompanying His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, during State visits to Ghana, Botswana, and South Africa, from May 13 to 22, 2013.    Mr...

Report sheds light on demands for accountability, transparency for large-scale land deals in Africa

05/04/2013

In Africa, large-scale land deals can bring benefits such as jobs, market access, and infrastructure, but they can also dispossess people of land and other resources and spark conflict over economic benefits. Part of the problem is that land deals...

Events

Africa's demographic dividend: Managing a changing population

24/03/2013

The African Union, together with the Economic Commission for Africa, is hosting the 6th Joint Annual Meetings of Ministers of Economy and Finance March 21-26 2013 in Abidjan.   Also scheduled during the week of ministerial meetings is a parallel...

Highlight: Taking stock of business development reforms in Africa

24/10/2012

IDRC joined with TrustAfrica and Strathmore University to convene an international conference on “Business Climate Reforms in Africa: Celebrating Achievements, Sharing Experiences and Networking among Stakeholders.” The conference, held October...

Latest Results

Despite recent progress, as a region, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of maternal, infant, and child mortality in the world. From 2009 to 2012, researchers led by Niger’s Laboratoire d'études et de recherches sur les dynamiques sociales et...
Removing cost barriers – lessons from West Africa Using evidence to reduce maternal deaths in NigeriaFocusing on vector-borne diseases, climate change in AfricaZimbabwe’s data on poverty part of Southern African poverty reduction effortsManaging health risks on small dairy farms in Kenya

Latest Results

In 2010, some 40,000 Nigerian women died in childbirth — 14% of the world’s total maternal deaths. In many rural areas, women and girls marry young and put in long hours of grueling domestic labour — grinding meal, fetching firewood and water...
Removing cost barriers – lessons from West Africa Using evidence to reduce maternal deaths in NigeriaFocusing on vector-borne diseases, climate change in AfricaZimbabwe’s data on poverty part of Southern African poverty reduction effortsManaging health risks on small dairy farms in Kenya

Latest Results

Climate change poses a serious threat to poor communities in Africa that are already vulnerable to vector-borne diseases.The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its report of the consultation, “Adaptation to Social, Environmental and...
Removing cost barriers – lessons from West Africa Using evidence to reduce maternal deaths in Nigeria Focusing on vector-borne diseases, climate change in AfricaZimbabwe’s data on poverty part of Southern African poverty reduction effortsManaging health risks on small dairy farms in Kenya

Latest Results

Zimbabwe continues to experience high levels of poverty and unemployment. IDRC is supporting the University of Zimbabwe’s Institute of Environmental Studies (IES) as it explores the multiple dimensions of the country’s challenges and generates...
Removing cost barriers – lessons from West Africa Using evidence to reduce maternal deaths in NigeriaFocusing on vector-borne diseases, climate change in Africa Zimbabwe’s data on poverty part of Southern African poverty reduction effortsManaging health risks on small dairy farms in Kenya

Latest Results

Many cattle carry Cryptosporidium, an organism causing gastrointestinal illness with diarrhea that can be dangerous for both humans and animals. Preventing and managing this disease places a heavy burden on hospitals and veterinarians...
Removing cost barriers – lessons from West Africa Using evidence to reduce maternal deaths in NigeriaFocusing on vector-borne diseases, climate change in AfricaZimbabwe’s data on poverty part of Southern African poverty reduction efforts Managing health risks on small dairy farms in Kenya

Latest Projects

Women in Cairo are now able to report rape, harassment, and assaults through Harrassmap, a pilot project in Cairo, Egypt. The goal is to change the social acceptability of sexual harassment in Egypt.
HarassMap: Using Crowdsourced Data in the Social SciencesHarassMap: Using Crowdsourced Data in the Social SciencesGrowing Informal Cities: Mobile Entrepreneurs and Inclusive Growth in South Africa, Mozambique, and ZimbabweBuilding Research Partnerships for Children's Nutritional Status in AfricaImplementation of Couples' Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Services in Durban, South Africa, for HIV Prevention and InterventionResearch Program of Adolescent HIV Prevention Strategies

Latest Projects

Migrant entrepreneurs are an important force in the informal economy in southern Africa, but their role is often invisible to policymakers and researchers. New research on the contributions of these m
HarassMap: Using Crowdsourced Data in the Social Sciences Growing Informal Cities: Mobile Entrepreneurs and Inclusive Growth in South Africa, Mozambique, and ZimbabweGrowing Informal Cities: Mobile Entrepreneurs and Inclusive Growth in South Africa, Mozambique, and ZimbabweBuilding Research Partnerships for Children's Nutritional Status in AfricaImplementation of Couples' Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Services in Durban, South Africa, for HIV Prevention and InterventionResearch Program of Adolescent HIV Prevention Strategies

Latest Projects

Nutrition plays a critical role in the health of children in Africa. This research support project will provide funding to researchers to assess children's food consumption patterns and their nutritio
HarassMap: Using Crowdsourced Data in the Social SciencesGrowing Informal Cities: Mobile Entrepreneurs and Inclusive Growth in South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe Building Research Partnerships for Children's Nutritional Status in AfricaBuilding Research Partnerships for Children's Nutritional Status in AfricaImplementation of Couples' Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Services in Durban, South Africa, for HIV Prevention and InterventionResearch Program of Adolescent HIV Prevention Strategies

Latest Projects

Heterosexual couples represent the largest HIV risk group in sub-Saharan Africa. Couples' Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing (CVCT) is an effective HIV prevention strategy because it: -decreases ann
HarassMap: Using Crowdsourced Data in the Social SciencesGrowing Informal Cities: Mobile Entrepreneurs and Inclusive Growth in South Africa, Mozambique, and ZimbabweBuilding Research Partnerships for Children's Nutritional Status in Africa Implementation of Couples' Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Services in Durban, South Africa, for HIV Prevention and InterventionImplementation of Couples' Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Services in Durban, South Africa, for HIV Prevention and InterventionResearch Program of Adolescent HIV Prevention Strategies

Latest Projects

In Africa, HIV is having a devastating impact on young people. Globally, youth aged 15 to 24 account for almost one third of all new infections. There are unique challenges to implementing adolescent-
HarassMap: Using Crowdsourced Data in the Social SciencesGrowing Informal Cities: Mobile Entrepreneurs and Inclusive Growth in South Africa, Mozambique, and ZimbabweBuilding Research Partnerships for Children's Nutritional Status in AfricaImplementation of Couples' Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Services in Durban, South Africa, for HIV Prevention and Intervention Research Program of Adolescent HIV Prevention StrategiesResearch Program of Adolescent HIV Prevention Strategies
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