Justice for Women and Indigenous Peoples through Climate-resilient Forests and Food Systems – John G. Bene Fellowship 2024

In the distance, a group of people stand on a hill beside a large tree.
IDRC / Bartay

Eligibility

This call is open to Canadians and permanent residents of Canada pursuing master’s or doctoral studies at a Canadian university. The award under this call will cover costs of field research conducted for a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation in one or more countries of the Global South.

Who can apply

Candidates must meet the following requirements to be eligible:

  • you must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada;
  • you must be enrolled at a Canadian university at the master’s or doctoral level (you must have completed several courses of the program, but not necessarily all courses, when you submit your application);
  • you must have an academic background that combines an interest in forest, climate resilience, biodiversity or food systems addressed through social justice or equity. Applicants from interdisciplinary programs are eligible, provided their programs contain the specified elements;
  • your research proposal must be approved by your thesis supervisor and you must provide proof;
  • your proposed field of research must be conducted for a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation and must take place in one or more developing countries (see exceptions below);
  • you must provide evidence of affiliation with an institution or organization in the developing region(s) in which the research will take place;
  • doctoral students must have completed coursework and passed comprehensive exams before taking up the award; and
  • you may not be in receipt of two or more active IDRC awards at the same time, which includes the IDRC Research Awards. No time overlaps will be permitted. If you are in receipt of IDRC funds from another source (e.g. a Queen Elizabeth Advanced Scholars award or through a professor’s IDRC research grant) for activities that will still be active when and if you take up the John G. Bene Fellowship, you will be asked to demonstrate how funds from each are not being used towards the same objective.

Additional eligibility requirements

If you are selected for an award, you will have up to 12 months from the start date mentioned in your Award Agreement to spend the funds received. 

When your research involves more than one region, you must plan to spend a minimum of five consecutive weeks in the field in each region.

This award will cover research costs for a maximum of 12 months in the field. If your field research exceeds 12 months, you must cover additional costs from another source of funding.

Research country exceptions

In principle, IDRC supports research in all developing countries. IDRC recognizes developing countries according to the OECD DAC List of ODA Recipients, which lists the countries and territories eligible for Official Development Assistance. However, note that research cannot be proposed in countries with Government of Canada travel security advisories (avoid all travel). 

It will be your responsibility to ensure that you follow all Government of Canada travel advisories when applying, when planning your field research trip, and while in the field. IDRC will reject any application that proposes travel to a country or region for which there is an advisory to “Avoid all travel” at the time of application.

If you are selected and an advisory to “Avoid all travel” is introduced for the country or region of research, you will be required to follow the advisory even after a contract is signed.

Scope

IDRC has helped graduate students undertake thesis research in the field of international development since 1982. The Bene fellowship, a bequest from the estate of John G. Bene, is offered annually to Canadians and permanent residents of Canada pursuing master’s or doctoral studies at a Canadian university. Candidates should have an academic background that combines an interest in forests with social sciences (e.g., forestry, agroforestry, climate justice for women and Indigenous people, gender, biodiversity, or ecosystems).

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, particularly in the face of changing climate conditions. The successful candidate will propose research that benefits less privileged people in developing countries, focusing on women and Indigenous people, aiming to increase the resilience of individuals and forest communities facing difficult contexts and challenges. Note that work focused on genomics and/or genetic modification is not eligible.

Learn more about John G. Bene

Evaluation criteria

Using the criteria listed below, an IDRC committee will rate each application and will shortlist selected candidates. These applications will be forwarded to a selection committee for their full and final evaluation. An award may be made conditionally; i.e., the candidate will receive comments that must be addressed before the award can be confirmed.

No comments will be provided to unsuccessful candidates, even those who intend to reapply. 

The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications:

  • Fit with IDRC mission and scope of the fellowship
  • Overall appropriateness, completeness, quality and clarity of the research proposal
  • Overall methodology and considerations of cultural, logistical and scientific constraints
  • Overall feasibility, duration and timing of the research
  • Originality and creativity of the research
  • Potential contribution to existing knowledge on the issue
  • Gender dimensions of the research
  • Ethical considerations of the research
  • Benefit to the communities where the research is taking place
  • Suitability of the affiliated institution
  • Potential for research results to be disseminated and used
  • Budget
  • Applicant’s capacity to conduct the proposed research, including academic training, local language capacity, professional skills, research experience and knowledge of country/region of research.

Ethics considerations

If offered the award, you will be required to submit the appropriate approval from your university's ethics committee, as well as approval from a local Research Ethics Board (as required and when possible).

Announcement of results

We thank all applicants for their interest. The candidate recommended for an award will be advised sometime in December 2024. Candidates not recommended will also be informed by email, but this email will be sent via the online application system.

Note that your server may not recognize the address and may send the email to your junk or spam folder.

More details

Please read the following documents before applying:

If you still have a question after reading all of the above, you may contact us at benefellowship@idrc.ca

NB: Inquiries will be answered up until two working days before the call deadline (i.e. until 23:59 EDT, October 9, 2024). Technical inquiries about difficulties encountered in the online application system should also be directed to benefellowship@idrc.ca. Please note in your subject line that you are applying for the Justice for Women and Indigenous Peoples through Climate-resilient Forests and Food Systems – John G. Bene Fellowship 2024. 

Interested in applying?

If you are eligible for this opportunity, we welcome you to submit an application.

Apply online

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Please note: Only online applications are accepted 

How to apply

Click on this link to apply (preferably using Firefox, Edge or Chrome)

Tasks to be completed online:

  • Complete the privacy statement, the eligibility questionnaire and application form.
  • Upload all scanned copies of the requested documents listed below.
  • All documents should be submitted in English or French (Canada’s two official languages).
  • Submit by 23:59 EDT on the day of the deadline.
  • Incomplete and late applications will NOT be considered.

List of documents to upload with your application by the deadline

Please ensure all scanned documents are legible from top to bottom when opened.

1) Research proposal

Proposals must be written in clear English or French in 20-25 pages (not inclusive of bibliography), double-spaced, in 12-point font.

To be eligible, proposals must use the following headings, in the order listed:

  • Abstract of research proposal (max. 250 words)
  • Literature review
  • Research question(s)
  • Research objective
  • Methodology
  • Tentative schedule of field activities
  • Ethical considerations
  • Gender implications
  • Expected results
  • Potential use of results
  • Possible beneficiaries of the research
  • Dissemination plan for results

2) Letter of affiliation

The letter must be signed and on official letterhead from an institution/organization that is confirming affiliation.

The institution/organization must be located in the country where your field research will take place.

If more than one country is involved, you must provide one letter per country.

The institution may be academic (a university) or non-academic (e.g. an NGO, a government department).

The letter of affiliation must indicate the institution’s interest in your research and how the institution will assist you (e.g. by providing an office, allowing access to the library or to previous research, introducing you to researchers in the same or similar fields, providing scientific guidance, etc.).

3) Letter of approval from research supervisor

The letter must be on official university letterhead, signed by your research supervisor, and include the following details: 

  • approval of the final version of the research proposal by your research supervisor;
  • list of courses completed and to be completed in the program;
  • for doctoral students: confirmation that all program of study requirements to start field research are fulfilled at the time that the award commences;
  • confirmation that you have been “fast-tracked” from one program to another (if applicable); and
  • outline of key safety and security risks to the applicant while in the field and explanation of the university process for ensuring mitigation of any risks.

Your supervisor should use the template for the letter of approval by research supervisor (PDF document).

4) Official transcripts

Scanned versions of original or notarized/certified transcripts from your most recent completed degree AND of your current program, even if not completed.

Note: Web transcripts or academic history are not recognized as official transcripts.

5) Proof of citizenship/permanent residency

Only scanned versions of the following documents are accepted: current passport or birth certificate, or Canadian Permanent Resident Card.

6) Application form to be completed online (includes the budget)

7) Two recommendations to be completed online

You must provide the names and contact information of two university professors (one must be your research supervisor). Once you have completed the Recommendation Request forms for your recommenders, they will automatically receive an e-mail notification that outlines the steps to complete an online recommendation form.

You will be able to see when they have completed the forms, but you will not have access to the content. It is your responsibility to ensure this step is completed before the deadline. We recommend that you notify your professors of this process well in advance of the deadline.

Please check the online system periodically to make sure that the recommendations have been received. You may only select the “mark as complete” button when both recommendations have been received. Note that you will NOT be able to submit your application until this task is complete.

Important information for re-applicants

In the proposal, indicate where substantive changes have been made by highlighting in colour or using the track-changes feature.

You must also submit a new complete application including a new letter from your research supervisor approving the revised version of your research proposal.

Evaluators’ comments from previous calls will not be provided.