This section includes specific instructions for funding applications to the Rural Poverty and Environment (RPE) program, reviewing criteria, current calls, and geographic focus.

The majority of the Program Initiative’s funding, and IDRC’s in general, is provided for who are usually associated with research institutions, rather than individuals. Individuals seeking funds for training purposes should visit the website of the IDRC Training and Awards Unit to familiarise themselves with the different training awards offered by the Centre: www.idrc.ca/awards 

Updates

The RPE program is in the last year of its current 2005-2010 prospectus. New and exciting priorities are being developed in what will be the next 5-year period starting on April 1, 2010. Please monitor the RPE website for news on new programming and funding opportunities. In the meantime, we will fund only a limited number of projects for the remainder of the year (until March 31, 2010). Researchers should first contact the relevant Program Officer or Research Officer, as outlined below, BEFORE submitting concept notes. 

Call for Proposals

The Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF)

The CIFSRF is a 5-year program that funds a wide variety of applied research projects that aims to solve immediate and concrete food security challenges on the ground in the developing world. The goal of the CIFSRF is to promote more productive and sustainable agricultural systems that make food more secure and nutritious. The CIFSRF funds partnerships between research organizations in Canada and in the developing world.

How to Apply for Funding

Interested applicants should begin by familiarizing themselves with RPE’s approach and program priorities. With respect to the regular route of applying for RPE funding, we strongly recommend that you contact one of the RPE Program Officers based in the regional office closest to where the research will take place, or an Ottawa-based Program Officer working in your field of interest. Program officers will be able to provide advice concerning emerging priorities for the next 2010-15 programming cycle. Please refer to our Team webpage to see a list of our program staff. Starting a dialogue early on will help to ensure closeness of fit between your area of interest and RPE’s program priorities.

After consulting a Program Officer, and ensuring that your research fits into our priorities and that we have funding available, you can submit a brief concept note to the RPE team (to the Program Officer you consulted, or to rpe@idrc.ca). A concept note is preferred over a full proposal to ensure the proposed research idea fits with RPE’s current priorities and resources, and to limit the work invested by the applying research team. Your concept note must be accepted by RPE before you submit a complete research proposal. Your idea should be submitted in a specific form, which can be downloaded as either a PDF or  Word file.

In most cases, RPE will only fund research defined, conducted, and managed by developing-country researchers. In North-South cooperative projects RPE encourages the Southern research institution to approach us with a concept note on behalf of the partnership.

The RPE team reviews concept notes in a quarterly basis (4 times per year), apart from special Calls for Proposals. Concept notes will be reviewed and feedback provided within 12 weeks.

Criteria used by RPE to assess research proposals:

• Does the research contribute to RPE program interests or respond to RPE research questions?
• Is the methodological approach sound? What is the degree of local participation? 
• Does the proposed research combine insights and methods from different disciplines? 
• Is gender and/or social analysis included in the research methodology? Have the gender dimensions or other social dimensions of the research been identified?
• How does the proposed research idea relate to priority problems of the country/region as recognized by governments, research community, civil society organizations, or international experts? Who will use the results of this research? At what stage of the research process will the users be involved? 

Geographic focus:

Research in the geographic areas identified in the prospectus will be given priority.
 

Calls Proposals Managed by Other Units in IDRC

For current Calls for Proposals that are posted and managed by other groups in the Centre, please visit the website Current IDRC Competitions.