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In their own words: IDRC awardees share their experiences

IDRC has a proud history of nurturing emerging researchers in Canada and in low and middle income countries to create a critical mass of trained and experienced scientists who will apply their research in innovative ways to solve development problems.

Our awards and fellowships help build the capacity and careers of individuals by funding academic study and mobility, research, the development of complementary skills, and hands-on experience.

Each year, IDRC offers graduate students the opportunity to fund their innovative work that will address development challenges through the:

  • IDRC Research Awards: a dozen young scholars and/or practitioners spend a year at IDRC carrying out field research while gaining experience in program management;
  • IDRC Doctoral Research Awards: every year, 20 scholars receive up to CA$20,000 to support their field research; and
  • Awards and fellowships funded by individual donors: some 4-6 scholars receive support through the Bentley Research Fellowship, Bene Research Fellowship, Hopper-Bhatia Canada fellowships and awards, and the Rachel DesRosiers Award each year.

Other IDRC-supported awards and fellowships:

  • Queen Elizabeth Advanced Scholars: the program is managed by Universities Canada and will support up to 450 scholars over a five-year period.
  • Early Career Women Scientist Fellowships: a new program expected to start in early 2018 that will support 60 women scientists over a five-year period. The program will be managed by the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World.
  • Professional Development Awards: allow individuals with career experience to further develop their expertise and professional capacity by working with IDRC staff on program and research issues.

Meet some of our IDRC Research Awardees (2014-2017)

Read about the impact the award has had on their research and experience.

ICT innovation needs solid relationships

Victor Oteku
Research Awards, 2017
Kenya

“It looks obvious,” says 2017 IDRC Research Award Recipient Victor Oteku, “but the importance of personal connections is very strong in establishing partnerships for technological innovation in Kenya.” Working in IDRC’s Regional Office for Sub-Saharan Africa, Oteku’s research sought to uncover so

A first e-library in remote Nepali schools

Sujaya Neupane
Research Awards, 2017
Nepal

For 2017 IDRC Research Award Recipient Sujaya Neupane, carrying out fieldwork in Nepal was literally coming home. Neupane spent time in the remote western villages of Thapagaun and Jhimpa — his childhood home — to find ways of improving science education by using digital learning tools.

Southern leaders look to downstream benefits

What makes a good leader? Are the desired qualities the same the world over and in every field? Those questions were at the heart of Emma Fieldhouse’s research as a 2017 IDRC Research Award Recipient.

Refugee women face daunting healthcare needs

Ruth Nara
Research Awards, 2017
Uganda

Ruth Nara’s work as a 2017 IDRC Research Award Recipient “reinforced my passion for improving the health of the most vulnerable populations, including displaced women and children,” she says.

Climate change could be a boon for urban residents

Trung Nguyen
Research Awards, 2017
Viet Nam

Climate change is a crucial issue in Trung Huu Nguyen’s home country of Vietnam, particularly its coastal cities. But, says the 2017 IDRC Research Award Recipient, most of the research on climate change perceptions focuses on rural farmers and overlooks urban residents. 

A warm welcome for refugees in Canada’s rural communities

Stacey Haugen
Research Awards, 2017
Canada

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Stacey Haugen
Research Awards, 2017
Syria

Working in IDRC’s Governance and Justice Program, 2017 Research Award Recipient Stacey Haugen determined that sponsors and Syrian refugees in rural Canada face the same challenges and reap the same benefits in all provinces.

Relationships drive collaboration in South Asia

Natalia Yang
Research Awards, 2017
South Asia

What motivates researchers and funders to collaborate with different partners? “Although collaborations in research have been around for a while, there’s still a lack of understanding about what drives researchers to collaborate,” says Natalia Yang, 2017 IDRC Research Award Recipient.

A deep dive into the ethics of vaccine trials

Machteld van den Berg
Research Awards, 2017
Tanzania

“By working within the Foundations for Innovation program and the Advisory Committee for Research Ethics, I had the unique opportunity to bridge the two areas,” says 2017 IDRC Research Award Recipient Matchteld van den Berg.

Entrepreneurship draws Southeast Asia’s youth

Jonathan De Luca
Research Awards, 2017
Myanmar

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Jonathan De Luca
Research Awards, 2017
Viet Nam

“The top priority for youth in Myanmar and Vietnam isn’t a high salary,” says Jonathan de Luca, 2017 IDRC Research Award Recipient. “It’s adequate health, being able to spend time with family, and to develop and use skills.”

Peru needs a holistic nutrition strategy

Carly Hayes
Research Awards, 2017
South America

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Carly Hayes
Research Awards, 2017
Peru

Is it possible to tackle obesity and undernourishment simultaneously? That’s the question 2017 Research Award Recipient Carly Hayes set out to answer.