Caroline Ford

Democracy and human rights are the foundation for just and inclusive development — and Caroline believes that research has a vital role to play in protecting them. As director of IDRC’s Democratic and Inclusive Governance Division, she leads a team of global experts managing a diverse portfolio of grants around the world.

Under Caroline’s leadership, IDRC funds and champions research and innovation that amplify Southern-led visions of democracy and human rights. This work expands on IDRC’s track record of over 50 years as a trusted global development partner, investing in evidence-building that drives action to create a more sustainable and inclusive world.

Caroline brings over 25 years of international development experience with technical expertise in human rights, justice and the rule of law. She has led regional and global teams in over 35 countries, managing programs in human rights protection, democratic and accountable governance, and humanitarian response for several major organizations including the UN, Amnesty International and BBC Media Action. 

With an LLM in international human rights law (Essex) and a MA (Carleton) and BA (Hons) (Queens) in political science, Caroline remains steadfast in her commitment to strengthening research that enables people to shape the policies that impact their lives — and to hold power to account.