IDRC's Fellowships and Awards program offers this fellowship annually to Canadians and permanent residents of Canada pursuing their master’s or doctoral studies at a Canadian university. Candidates must have an academic background that combines forestry or agroforestry with social sciences. We offer this fellowship to facilitate field research on the relationship between forest resources and the social, economic, cultural, and environmental welfare of people in developing countries.
The successful candidate will be the one whose work most benefits less privileged people in developing countries.
Countries subject to approval
In principle, IDRC supports research in all developing countries. At this time, however, we do not support awards that involve research in Burma (Myanmar), Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Eastern Europe, or Central Asia.
Prior to issuing the award and contract, field research proposed in the following countries or territories must be approved by IDRC:
Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo (Democratic Republic of), Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Eritrea, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of), Liberia, Libya, Papua New Guinea, Small Island States [including Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritius, São Tomé and Principe, Seychelles, Timor-Leste and Oceania (Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, Kiribati, Palau, Marshall Islands, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Tongo, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna)], Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan (Republic of China), West Bank and Gaza, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Who can apply
To be eligible, you must meet the following conditions:
-hold Canadian citizenship or permanent residency status
-be registered at a Canadian university at the master's or doctoral level
-have an academic background that combines forestry or agroforestry with social sciences. Applicants from interdisciplinary programs (e.g., environmental studies) may also be eligible, provided their programs contain the specified elements
-your research proposal must be approved by your thesis supervisor
-your proposed field research must take place in a developing country
-you must provide evidence of affiliation with an institution or organization in the region in which the research will take place
-you must have completed your course work and passed comprehensive examinations before taking up the award.
Duration
Award tenure corresponds to the period of field research. In general, this will be no less than 3 consecutive months and no more than 12.
Value
The award will cover justifiable field research expenses up to CA$15,000 per year. Candidates may apply for funding renewal for a second year of field work if the research requires a second season of data collection. Renewals are an exception, however, and are provided for research that may need to deal with the uncertainties of growing seasons and climatic conditions that affect data collection.
Number of awards
One award will be granted.
Deadline
April 1, 2012 (The award will be announced by the end of June 2012.)
Tenure must be undertaken by June of the following year.
To apply
Complete two forms: the checklist and the application form. You must also provide all the documents requested in the checklist.
Your application must be complete and received at the Centre by the deadline. Incomplete applications will NOT be considered.
Applications will be evaluated according to criteria such as:
-relevance to sustainable and equitable development
-fit with IDRC priorities
-the quality of the research proposal
-the suitability of the candidate.
Ethics
If your research poses ethical questions, you may, at IDRC’s discretion, be required to submit the appropriate approval from your university's ethics’ committee.
For more information, contact us at [email protected]
We thank all applicants for their interest, but will contact only those whose academic background, quality of the research proposal, and skills best match the award criteria.