Research award 2021: Inclusive governance
Deadline: September 16, 2020
Please note that all applications must be submitted online.
IDRC is one of the world’s leaders in generating new knowledge to meet global challenges. We offer several research awards that provide a unique opportunity to enhance research skills and gain a fresh perspective on crucial development issues. These one‐year, paid, in‐house programs of training and mentorship allow research award recipients to pursue their research goals and work in one of IDRC’s dynamic program teams.
Inclusive governance supports research that promotes greater access to and participation in quality public services, decision-making and information, and rights and justice for marginalized women, youth, and forcibly displaced people.
Specific areas of focus include:
- Understanding how and under what conditions inclusive governance institutions and civil society can leverage research, data, and technology to improve state-to-citizen transparency, accountability, and efficiency, and to broaden the participation of marginalized groups.
- Developing and scaling evidence-based innovations in the governance process and institutions that promote inclusion.
- Addressing knowledge gaps on how local actors can meet the needs of displaced and host populations through innovative and integrated solutions in housing, education, and labour markets.
IDRC is looking for a research award recipient to conduct research related to:
- inclusive governance innovations that support the governance process and institutions that promote inclusion;
- inclusive policies in contexts of forced displacement that explore what policies and practices can be put in place to address xenophobia, build social cohesion, and unlock the economic and social potential of forced migrants;
- leveraging data/technology by investigating how they can improve state-to-citizen transparency, accountability, and efficiency and broaden the participation of marginalized groups;
- disruptive technology, to understand threats from disruptive and frontier technologies to democratic governance and human rights; and
- access to justice research on solutions and tools for increasing equitable access by communities and individuals to resources and services needed for economic, social, and political equality.
The successful candidate will allocate 50% of his/her time for a research project relating to the above topic(s) under the guidance of a senior program officer. The awardee will be expected to prepare a research plan, provide progress updates during the year, and present his/her findings at the end of the year. The other 50% of the successful candidate’s time will involve contributions to IDRC program operations, which may include:
- participating in monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities;
- assisting in synthesizing and disseminating program outcomes and results and in preparing internal and external reports;
- assisting in the preparation of potential new programming, including related documentation and background research;
- supporting program communications activities, including but not limited to gathering relevant and useful content from and for social media dissemination; and
- active participation in team activities, processes, and other duties as may be directed by the mentor, program leader, and program management officer.
Who can apply?
You must meet the requirements stated in the IDRC Research Awards 2021 call page to be eligible.
Candidates should also have the following qualifications:
- work experience in the development fields mentioned above, particularly in inclusive governance;
- demonstrated interest in and/or previous experience in policy or implementation research;
- knowledge of research for development;
- strong research and analytical skills;
- strong verbal and written communication skills; and
- field experience in developing countries (an asset).
Candidates enrolled in (or who have recently completed) a master’s degree are strongly encouraged to apply; early doctoral program students will also be considered. Studies should be related to one of the following disciplines:
- Social sciences, including but not limited to international development, law, political science, human rights, and refugee studies.
Applicants should clearly outline their qualifications for this position; explain how this opportunity will advance their career goals; highlight the importance of their proposed scholarly contribution; and demonstrate how this proposal relates to the inclusive governance themes mentioned above.
Language requirements:
- English essential position