Frequently asked questions — Call for proposals: Establishing research chairs on forced displacement in North and West Africa

#EligibilityEligibility

What countries are eligible?

This call for proposals targets universities based in low- and middle-income countries in North and West Africa. For the purpose of this call, eligible countries in North and West Africa are:

West Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
North Africa: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.

Please note that IDRC funds research in many countries in the Global South, but the Centre is bound by Canadian law, which may restrict or prohibit funding for research and organizations in specific countries and/or regions. For example, if the law limits banking transactions by Canadian financial institutions in a particular country, IDRC will not undertake any form of programming in the country.  

The organization’s legal corporate registration must show that the jurisdiction of registration is the eligible country. For IDRC to enter into an agreement with your organization, IDRC must be satisfied that the organization has independent legal status (or “legal personality”) and is capable of contracting in its own right and name.

Are there any restrictions on the proposed thematic focus of the research chair?

The proposed research chair may focus on any number of topics related to forced displacement. Applications should clearly indicate how the proposed thematic focus addresses critical gaps in regional knowledge and/or capacity relating to forced displacement; complements IDRC’s strategic objectives; and promotes a multisectoral and interdisciplinary approach.

The thematic focus should reflect regional priorities. Applicants can work on the thematic focus of their choice so long as this reasoning is clear.

Will applications be considered from institutions that are unable to contribute in-kind or to make cash contributions amounting to between 20-30% of the value of the grant?

Contributions from the hosting university of between 20% and 30% are encouraged. To be considered, applicants need to demonstrate concrete plans for sustaining the research chair position beyond the four to five years of funding provided by the grant.

May an internal candidate from the applying university be recruited to fill the research chair position?

Yes, the research chair may be recruited internally or externally.

May a candidate from the diaspora be recruited to fill the research chair position?

The selection of a research chair should reflect the aim of the call and IDRC’s mandate to support researchers in developing countries. The candidate selected to fill the research chair position should have deep knowledge of the region, political context and relevant local language(s).

Is there any flexibility in the duration of the funding offered?

We consider four to five years as the minimum duration of funding for the research chair to ensure sustainability of the position over the long-term. We welcome proposals of between four and five years. Applicants may propose strategies to extend the duration of the chair beyond five years through supplementary funds or other means.

#BudgetBudgetary considerations

Which currency should I submit the budget in?  

Budgets must be submitted in the applicant’s working currency (the currency in which the books of accounts are maintained). However, as a Canadian Crown Corporation, IDRC restricts its contractual obligations for grants and contributions to the approved Canadian dollar amount.

See Section D in IDRC’s How to Apply to an IDRC Research Grant for more information about project currency and conversion. 

Does the budget need to follow a set template?  

Applicants can submit their budget in the format of their choice. The budget should indicate planned expenses over the duration of the grant. Categories include personnel, consultants, evaluation, equipment, international travel, training, research expenses and indirect costs. For guidance on eligible expenses, please see Section D: Proposed budget and timeline of the document How to Apply to an IDRC Research Granthttps://www.idrc.ca/en/funding/how-apply-and-manage-idrc-research-grant.

#ProposalProposal submission

When is the application due? 

The application must be submitted by 4 pm EDT on October 14, 2022.

Which browser is best to use to open the online application platform? 

We recommend that you use one of the following browsers: Safari, Chrome or Microsoft Edge. It is not recommended that you use Internet Explorer.  

Can an institution submit more than one application?  

No.

Can applications be submitted in French?  

Yes, applications for this call may be submitted in English or French.

Can our application provide electronic signatures where signatures are required? 

Yes, electronic signatures are permitted.

Can I submit my application by email?

We require applicants to apply using the Survey Monkey Apply system and submit all required information and documents before the deadline. However, we do understand that some applicants may face technical difficulties in uploading the required information. If this is your case, please follow these steps:   

If you are having technical problems uploading the required documents, please write immediately to dig-gdi@idrc.ca describing the problem. We will connect you with our IT system specialist who will work with you to solve the problem.  
If you continue to have a problem and our IT specialist is unable to solve the issue, please send an email to dig-gdi@idrc.ca requesting permission to submit the application via email. 
Once you have received permission from IDRC, you may then submit via email.  
Applications submitted directly by email WITHOUT HAVING OBTAINED PRIOR APPROVAL FROM IDRC WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.  
Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Where should I turn if I have questions on the call for proposal?  

The call documents and this FAQ page should address most relevant application questions and are updated regularly. However, if additional technical questions or difficulties arise, please contact dig-gdi@idrc.ca.

All enquiries should be received on or before September 9, 2022 in order to receive a response prior to the deadline date.   

#SelectionSelection and feedback

When can applicants expect to receive a response to their proposal? 

We aim to provide notification of results to selected applications during the last week of November or as soon as possible thereafter. Following this, the applicant will receive correspondence from an IDRC Program Officer, who will communicate the process and issues to be addressed (technical, timelines, milestones, budget, etc.) in the grant agreement.  

Will applicants receive feedback on their application?

IDRC will share feedback on the selected proposals with successful applicants. Given that the volume of applications is not yet known, at this time IDRC is not planning to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications. In this case, you will receive a notification following review that your submission was unsuccessful.  