Frequently Asked Questions: Call for Research Proposals: Fostering an Inclusive and Sustainable Future of Work (FutureWORKS)
Note: The following constitutes a living document that shall be continually updated as new questions related to this Call arise.
Contents
Review, selection and feedback
ADMINISTRATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
1. Can I submit applications after the deadline?
June 26, 2023 is the final day for submitting your proposal. Proposals received past this date and time (by 23:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time) will not be considered for review and will be automatically rendered ineligible.
2. Who should I email at IDRC in case I have a question regarding this Call?
All inquiries and questions related to this Call should be directed to the fow@idrc.ca
We invite you to carefully read the Call document (Call for Proposals) and FAQs in detail prior to emailing this account.
GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE
3. Which types or organizations are eligible to apply for this opportunity?
This call for proposals is open to non-profit research organizations and higher education institutions. Consortia may involve government and UN agencies, but these partners are not eligible to be the lead institution or to have salary costs included. This call is not open to individuals. Private sector (for-profit) organisations can apply as part of the consortium but not lead. Higher education institutions include public and private universities and further education colleges that offer undergraduate and postgraduate study.
Applicants must be headquartered in the respective regions (sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Asia and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with preference given for organizations in low- and medium-income countries.
Applicants must have independent legal status (or “legal personality”) and be capable of contracting in their own right and name, receiving and administering funds, and have authority to direct proposed project activities. Applicants must be able to demonstrate legal status through written documentation. Legal status will only be reviewed if and when applicants are selected following technical selection.
4. Are there any restrictions on countries where work can be carried out?
IDRC funds research in many countries of 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.
In project selection, IDRC will also consider programmatic considerations, such as regional spread of the portfolio of projects, the time necessary for obtaining research clearance in each country, etc. For more details, consult IDRC’s List of eligible countries.
5. At this point, if we do not yet know which specific countries we will be working in, should we include those we anticipate working in and change it later if need be?
Yes, you can, at this stage, please fill out the application form to the best of your knowledge. Note however, that the work supported should focus on low-income countries and lower-middle-income countries, as defined and listed by the World Bank.
6. What is your definition of “hub”?
The hub is responsible for the intellectual conception and implementation of the research program in each region, its proposed activities, and the management of the grant and the relationship with IDRC. The hub applicant should submit the application to IDRC on behalf of the partnership and/or consortia (if applicable).
Hubs are responsible for (1) fostering high quality research by developing and implementing a research program in each region of focus, per the call objectives, (2) leading training and capacity strengthening strategies, (3) fostering a network across borders and disciplines, through peer learning, knowledge exchange and collaboration across projects, and (4) ensuring knowledge mobilization with policymakers, private sector actors, civil society and workers representatives.
The hubs will play an important role as part of a global network of IDRC-supported organizations working on skills for an inclusive and sustainable future of work. This means that hubs are expected to work with each other, not just independently, aiming to move the needle on commonly identified objectives per a joint theory of change. For example, we anticipate the need for hubs to collectively think about critical issues such as approaches to gender equality and inclusion, common challenges related to drivers of change, and avenues to policy uptake.
ELIGIBILITY
7. What will you be looking for in a hub?
Primary hub responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Help shape an initiative-wide theory of change, including objectives, expected outcomes and outputs, and monitor against indicators. Hubs will be invited to generate a proposed workplan and a theory of change.
- Develop and manage an open call for proposals to select and fund applied research projects that address the initiative’s objectives and respond to regional priorities.
- Manage selected research projects of up to 4 years, providing technical and administrative support, and ensuring project monitoring. Support all initiative-related activities during its 5 years.
- Ensure quality control of the research generated by network members, providing support and guidance to enhance quality and positioning for use.
- Ensure that gender analysis is incorporated in all aspects of the applied research projects and throughout the project cycle, including securing multidisciplinary expertise and gender diversity in teams.
- Foster a network among selected teams within and across regional hubs, ensuring knowledge exchange and cross-collaboration.
- Support strategic positioning of results with key decisionmakers, including synthesis efforts, participating in and organizing key engagement opportunities throughout the lifecycle of the initiative, not just at the end.
- Ensure proper monitoring of projects, both technical and financial, report progress to IDRC, and contribute to an initiative-level monitoring and learning framework. If external evaluations are commissioned, hubs are expected to actively contribute to this process.
The above are essential elements of the role of each regional research hub, but each hub will develop a comprehensive scope of work that reflects the initiative priorities, as well as the hubs expertise, interests and regional and thematic needs.
Hub competencies include, but are not limited to:
- Must be based in the Global South and demonstrate ability to carry out research in low and lower middle-income countries
- Ability to manage a large-scale grant from a financial and operational point of view
- Thematic experience in the subject of the submitted proposal
- Ability to carry out multi-disciplinary research, with, multi-stakeholder and diverse teams
- Ability to provide or access gender expertise, more specifically on gender-responsive on skills and renewable energy
- Ability to bring together multiple partners (e.g., research organizations, policy makers, private sector, civil society organizations, etc.) and members of a consortium if applicable
- Ability to engage in a constructive manner in knowledge exchange with other organizations and projects, including those supported by IDRC
- Strong public policy influence in the country of focus (or at least one of the countries if multi-country project)
- Ability to work in English and the working languages of the region (e.g., Spanish for LAC, French for West and Central Africa) at a minimum. Other languages are considered an asset.
- Applicants must have independent legal status (or “legal personality”) and be capable of contracting in their own right and name, receiving and administering funds, and have authority to direct proposed project activities.
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate legal status through written documentation. Legal status will only be reviewed if and when applicants are selected following technical selection.
8. What is your definition of “hub members”?
Hub members are organizations that the hub/lead applicant may wish to invite as key strategic partners for the purpose of implementing the project and/or for achieving greater research impact and uptake. The hub may include as many collaborating institutions/ co-applicants as are needed for the project (the application form requires you to name up to six hub members). Once hubs launch competitive calls for proposals, selected projects will become members of the hub and engage in all proposed activities.
IDRC will enter in a Grant Agreement with the hub lead organization only. The hub lead can negotiate and develop funding arrangements directly with collaborating institutions/co-applicants. Collaborating institutions/co-applicants are those that will participate directly in the project but will not receive funds directly from IDRC. In this case, the proposing institution (hub) is responsible for disbursement of funds and for ensuring that all institutions abide by the standard terms and conditions that apply to the IDRC grant.
9. What do you mean by “consortia”?
Consortia refers to a group of organizations/institutions that come together to develop the proposal and who will receive funding to implement a project (through the hub/lead institution).
10. Can a consortium contain a South-North Partnership?
IDRC will support work based in low and lower-middle-income countries. Consortia comprising Southern and Northern institutions (based in OECD countries) will be considered where the Southern partner is the lead. Applications must focus on evidence for lower-income countries, demonstrate full engagement of their southern partner and aim to strengthen local and/or regional research capacity.
RESEARCH DESIGN
11. What is the allowed duration of projects to lead a hub?
Maximum project duration is 5 years (60 months).
12. Can an institution be part of more than one proposal?
An institution can be involved in multiple proposals but can only be the lead applicant for one.
BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS
13. What currency should the budget be submitted?
The budget needs to be submitted in the working currency of the lead applicant as indicated in the budget template (Proposal Budget) shared on the online platform. Regional research hubs can submit budget requests up to CAD $1,700,000.
14. If there are institutions collaborating from different countries of the Global South, does the proposal need to be submitted in the hub (lead institution’s) working currency?
Yes, the proposal needs to be submitted in the lead applicant’s working currency.
15. Do I need to submit separate budgets for the hub (lead applicant) and collaborating institutions?
No. In the case of a consortium, please submit one budget including expenses of the hub (lead applicant).
16. What is the limit of indirect costs or overhead costs allowable?
Indirect costs are allowable up to a maximum of 13% of the overall budget for each member. Please refer to Guidelines for Acceptable Project Expenditures for more information on indirect costs. This amount applies for any amounts allocated to subcontracting. Please note that the total budget including the indirect costs should not be higher than the maximum amount of funding mentioned above.
17. Is co-funding required?
No. Co-funding is not required for this Call. Nevertheless, for those applicants that are selected to receive a grant, IDRC’s policy on local contributions will apply as follows:
- Any applicant selected to receive IDRC funding will be required to make local contributions to the project.
- Local contributions represent cash amounts expended by the applicant from its own resources, from private grants or from grants received from local, provincial or national authorities for the purpose of the project.
- In-kind contributions may include salaries of regular staff, as well as equipment and infrastructure and overhead costs.
- Cash and/or in-kind contributions should be reflected in the project budget.
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION PROCESS
18. How do you start an online application?
The following link will take you to online application portal in Survey Monkey. Fill out each section, and once you are sure you have uploaded all necessary documents and answered all questions, hit “Mark as complete”. Review the Call document to ensure you have uploaded all required documents, in addition to completing the application form.
19. 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.
20. Can I edit my application after I ‘save and exit’?
Once you hit “save and exit” you will not be able to go back and edit your responses.
21. Can I submit more than one application?
Yes. The Survey Monkey platform will allow you to submit up to two applications in case you experience issues with one. It will be your responsibility to indicate to the IDRC team at fow@idrc.ca which application you would like to see considered for review. Ideally you/ your organization should only present one.
Also note that a person cannot be the lead applicant for more than one project under this call.
22. In what language(s) can I submit an application?
Proposals may be submitted in English or French.
23. What do I do if I encounter technical difficulties while trying to submit my application?
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 do follow these steps:
- If you are having technical problems uploading the required documents, please write immediately to fow@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 fow@idrc.ca requesting permission to submit the application via email at least two days before the application submission due date
- Once you have received permission from IDRC, you can then submit via email, quoting the permission granted.
- Applications submitted directly by email WITHOUT HAVING OBTAINED PRIOR APPROVAL from IDRC WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
- Please do note that, in any case, applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
24. Is it possible to modify the proposals before the closing date, if it has already been submitted?
Once you click the submit button, you may not modify your proposals. We encourage you to double check your application before submission to ensure that all information is correct.
In fact, we encourage applicants to download the Survey Monkey application form and prepare their applications in Word. Save the file. Once you are ready, copy and paste our answers on the online application format.
REVIEW, SELECTION AND FEEDBACK
25. How will the review of the applications be conducted?
The research proposals will be reviewed by a team of IDRC technical experts. Eligible applications will be reviewed according to the evaluation criteria specified in the Call Document.
26. When can applicants expect to receive a response to their proposals?
We aim to provide notification of results by July 25, 2023, or as soon as possible thereafter.
27. Will I receive reviewers’ comments on my application?
Only applications that meet all eligibility criteria and are selected will receive comments on their applications. Unsuccessful applicants will not receive comments.
CALL TERMINOLOGY
28. What do we mean by decent work?
We follow the International Labour Organization (ILO) definition of decent work as “productive work for women and men in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity”
29. What do we mean by low carbon economy?
A low-carbon economy is an economy that causes low levels of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions compared with today's carbon-intensive economy. Transition to 'low carbon' refers to a shift from an economy which depends heavily on fossil fuels to a sustainable, low carbon economy (OECD, 2010).
30. What do we mean by gender equality and inclusion (GEI) considerations?
Please refer to the Annex IDRC’s Equality Statement found in the Call Document for guidance on what we expect to see reflected in the submitted research proposals.
31. What do we expect from a sample call for proposals?
The sample call should make up a part of your overall methodology for managing the network. It is a short overview of what you envision to be your externally facing call for proposals, and will provide a sense of the research questions, expertise, expectations and structure that sub-grantees will be asked to respond to. It should include proposed research questions, methodology, risks and mitigation strategies, ethics and safety protocols, monitoring, evaluation, and learning, and knowledge sharing or positioning for policy uptake at the project level. Include any other innovative ideas or considerations you deem central to include in the call template, including proposed budgets and timelines for application.