Annual Report 2024-2025

Strategic investments in research and innovation drive strong, lasting economic opportunities for local communities in low- and middle-income countries. 

IDRC funds research that shapes policy reforms, expands financial inclusion and unlocks new business models that drive local prosperity. Investing in local economies pays dividends in cultivating diversified global relationships, extending Canada’s economic and diplomatic reach. 

Strong economies don't happen by chance. IDRC funds research that helps governments and businesses anticipate risks and adapt policies, equipping communities with innovative, stabilizing financial tools. These efforts promote entrepreneurship and responsible investment, creating not only short-term gains but also long-term opportunities. Research also helps identify vulnerabilities and create models that balance growth with sustainability, allowing economies to adapt to global disruptions. 

Economic growth should ensure that prosperity benefits all sectors of society. IDRC prioritizes research that advances women's economic participation and fosters local job creation. These efforts don't just boost incomes; they strengthen entire communities by ensuring that prosperity reaches more people. By funding research that strengthens labour markets, supports innovative business models and fosters impact-driven economic solutions, IDRC helps create resilient economic foundations.

A decade of impact: IDRC's partnership with Sistema B

IDRC's 10-year collaboration with Sistema B (the Latin American branch of the global B Corporation movement) has empowered thousands of Latin American businesses to thrive financially while improving communities and protecting the environment. 

The partnership has sparked a growing movement of businesses able to demonstrate that enhanced profitability, investor attraction and competitive advantages can accompany positive social impact. Grounded in a decade of collaborative research and knowledge, the initiative has produced a rich body of research, public policy recommendations and practical tools — including the Sustainable Development Goals Action Manager, a free resource that helps businesses measure and improve their contributions to social and environmental goals. More than 20,000 companies are now using this research to measure and enhance their social impact while securing stronger market positions and sustainable revenue streams. 

As a result of the collaboration, five countries now officially recognize B corporations, helping businesses attract investors and customers who value the commitments that exist as part of B-corp incorporation.

Academia B, a key initiative born out of this collaboration, has brought together business innovators, researchers, educators and students from more than 35 countries. This collaboration has developed practical approaches for companies to balance profits with positive impact, while inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs who view sustainability as a strategic business advantage rather than a compliance issue. 

Our support for this work positions Canada as a catalyst for market-driven solutions to global challenges, helping create resilient businesses and self-reliant economies across emerging markets.

Building women-led businesses through Nepal’s forests 

In Nepal, nearly half the land is forested, making it a natural treasure trove of business opportunities. While women are an integral part of forest management and use ancestral skills to make forest-based products, they also face traditional norms that limit their decision-making power. 

An initiative supported by IDRC and led by ForestAction Nepal and other partners aims to change that. Working closely with communities, the initiative undertook 30 months of research to examine how women can build profitable businesses using forest resources to mitigate risks from climate change and unstable markets. Researchers developed hands-on training and provided women with access to digital and climate-smart technologies, enabling them to enhance their business prospects. Policy dialogues also gave women greater visibility in the forest management sector. 

This support has already resulted in the launch or expansion of 18 women-led enterprises that process and market sustainably harvested forest products like herbs and edible greens. 

Forest-based businesses can offer a more secure and steady income, even amid challenges like climate change and market shocks. They also play an important role in fostering low-carbon resource use. 

While focused on women’s empowerment, this approach also strengthens local communities and supports a greener economy, benefiting everyone. By transforming forest management into a driver of inclusive growth, the project sets the stage for sustainable economic progress across Nepal. 

Canada, which is home to nearly 9% of the world’s forests, shares a deep commitment to sustainable forest management. By supporting projects like this, Canada empowers women who are leading the way toward climate-resilient communities and healthier forests worldwide.

IDRC supports research that strengthens health systems — the foundation of better health outcomes during crises and in everyday life. The COVID-19 pandemic and other recent health emergencies have overburdened health workforces, exposed gaps in preparedness and revealed the fragility of supply chains. Meanwhile, antimicrobial resistance is reducing our ability to treat infections effectively. 

These challenges, combined with persistent health inequities, directly threaten our collective wellbeing. Building resilient health systems is key to protecting the global community against future crisis, including in Canada. 

IDRC-funded research tackles these challenges through practical, locally led solutions. Projects focused on infectious disease prevention, maternal and child health and primary care generate evidence that strengthens frontline care and informs health policy reforms. Investments in surveillance and vaccine research also build capacity in regions that need it most, helping ensure communities can respond quickly and effectively when new health threats emerge.

Shining a light on a neglected disease 

When a deadly strain of mpox re-emerged in Central Africa in early 2024, Dr. Placide Mbala was among the first to raise the alarm. An epidemiologist at the Institut National de la Recherche Biomédicale in Kinshasa, DRC, he led a team that identified a new, human-to-human transmissible variant — genetically distinct from earlier outbreaks and capable of spreading quickly across borders. Mbala’s work helped redirect international attention to a disease long neglected after case numbers dropped outside Africa.

With support from IDRC and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Mbala is leading efforts to strengthen mpox surveillance and response across nine African countries. His genomic research is deepening understanding about how the virus spreads in overcrowded displacement camps and through non-sexual contact, offering crucial evidence to inform public health measures around the world.

Mbala's findings are already contributing to a stronger, faster global response, helping protect Canadians through early warning systems and effective containment strategies. His close collaboration with Canadian virologist Dr. Jason Kindrachuk of the University of Manitoba exemplifies how Canadian-supported, African-led research strengthens health security for everyone.

Speeding up the fight against an Ebola strain 

Just four days after an outbreak of the deadly Ebola Sudan virus was confirmed in Uganda on January 30, 2025, IDRC-supported research enabled the launch of the first-ever vaccine trial for this strain of the disease — a crucial step towards combatting future outbreaks. The research, jointly funded with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Public Health Agency of Canada, paved the way for the World Health Organization to co-implement the trial with Uganda’s Ministry of Health. Advanced research preparedness and collaboration among hundreds of scientists and health workers facilitated the process — at an unprecedented speed for a randomized vaccine trial in an emergency.

Education, which is a fundamental human right and poverty-reduction tool, faces critical challenges globally. Children in conflict zones are twice as likely to be out of school, with 130 million girls aged six to 17 not attending. Even among those enrolled, a learning crisis persists with over half of children in low- and middle-income countries lacking basic reading and math proficiency. 

Similarly, science and innovation systems — essential for societies to advance — struggle in developing regions. Scientists from developing countries face barriers to high-quality training, research opportunities, funding and infrastructure. Their exclusion from emerging technologies like AI creates disproportionate risks for their populations, while the shortage of women scientists limits the potential for innovation. 

IDRC-supported research addresses these interconnected challenges by testing and scaling educational innovations, particularly for marginalized groups, while strengthening science and innovation systems aligned with regional priorities.

Turning skills into solutions for economies and communities 

In Kenya, many young people struggle to find stable jobs, despite a growing demand for skilled workers in local industries. Vocational training has traditionally focused on classroom-based instruction, but many graduates lack opportunities to apply their skills, leaving them unprepared to enter the workforce. 

Recognizing this gap, IDRC partnered with Colleges and Institutes Canada to support an initiative that strengthens vocational education by linking students with industry and community needs. The project established four innovation hubs at technical and vocational education and training institutions, where students apply their skills to solve local challenges. With mentorship and access to new technologies, they have made many innovations, including fuel-efficient stoves to reduce reliance on costly firewood and fortified flours from local crops that alleviate food insecurity. Some innovations are moving toward patents and commercialization, demonstrating the economic potential of vocational training.

Advancing responsible AI to drive prosperity and innovation 

The Responsible AI Lab (RAIL) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana is nurturing AI scientists locally to meet the growing talent requirements of Africa’s public and private sectors. The lab is supported through IDRC’s Artificial Intelligence for Development partnership with the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which supports the creation of an inclusive and responsible AI ecosystem across Africa and beyond. 

RAIL trains masters’ and PhD students in responsible AI as they work on innovations to address challenges in key areas such as food security, education and disability inclusion. RAIL also started a program that trains women from diverse fields in coding essentials so they can build AI-based solutions to solve problems.

The RAIL Robotics Club initiative, which established robotics clubs at four secondary schools in Ghana, introduces students to robotics, AI and education in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. 

Through both its research and outreach, RAIL is helping shape an African-led approach to responsible AI that supports equity, innovation and sustainable development from the ground up. 

As a recognized global leader in advancing responsible AI, Canada is committed to ethical innovation through IDRC’s support for initiatives like RAIL.

Extreme weather and shifting rainfall patterns are destabilizing food production, making it harder for farmers to maintain reliable harvests. When crops fail or livestock suffers, entire communities face economic hardship and rising food insecurity. The challenge now is to develop farming approaches that can withstand increasingly unpredictable conditions.

IDRC invests in collaborative research where agricultural scientists and farmers together develop practical solutions: testing climate-resilient crop varieties, implementing soil-conservation techniques and adapting traditional practices to new climate realities. We support solutions developed by those experiencing climate impacts firsthand, recognizing that effective adaptation must emerge from the communities themselves. Locally driven approaches, from improved water management to more efficient farming systems, ensure that agricultural communities are more resilient in the face of environmental pressures. 

By investing in research, technology and policy innovation, IDRC is working toward a future where food systems are stronger, farmers are better equipped to manage climate challenges and communities have more secure, sustainable food sources. By facilitating knowledge exchange between farming communities, IDRC is enabling the adaptation and scaling of successful innovations across regions facing similar challenges.

Boosting yields for Algerian farmers 

In Biskra, Algeria, small-scale farmers like Houaria Boudia face worsening drought, soil degradation and rising fertilizer costs. A new bio-innovation called native mycorrhiza — a beneficial fungus that strengthens plant roots — has offered Boudia a sustainable solution. 

Supported by IDRC, researchers from the Centre d’études des procédés chimiques du Québec (CÉPROCQ) worked with researchers from the Université de Blida 1 in Algeria to isolate and multiply native mycorrhizas from Algerian soils, then test them in labs and on farms. 

When Boudia used them on her farm, she saw remarkable improvements in her olive trees, with stronger growth and healthier leaves. Encouraged, she spread the word, helping researchers introduce the product to other farmers. They reported 32% to 55% higher yields on olives, garlic, tomatoes, potatoes and beans — all while using less water. Beyond boosting productivity, the mycorrhiza reduces farmers’ dependence on chemical fertilizers, which improves environmental and health outcomes. Now, Algeria’s Ministry of Agriculture has approved the innovation, and start-ups like PLANTAbiotek and Alitech are set to commercialize it, expanding its benefits nationwide and supporting Algeria’s climate and food security goals.

This successful collaboration exemplifies Canada’s leadership in advancing sustainable agricultural solutions worldwide — demonstrating how research can help farmers build resilience to extreme weather events while strengthening international partnerships for healthier food systems.

Scaling future-proofed aquaculture across Southeast Asia 

Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food sector globally, providing people with essential protein and livelihoods. Yet as climate change intensifies, small- and medium-scale aquafarmers in Thailand and across Southeast Asia and the Pacific region face mounting challenges from warming waters, flooding and shifting ecosystems. 

To address these vulnerabilities, IDRC and the Government of Canada jointly launched Nature-based Climate Solutions in Aquaculture Food Systems in Asia-Pacific (AQUADAPT) in 2023, a CAD24-million initiative supporting 11 applied research projects across 10 countries in Asia-Pacific — where over 90% of the world's aquaculture is concentrated. The program implements practical ecological farming techniques that simultaneously build climate resilience, protect local biodiversity and secure sustainable food production. 

AQUADAPT's approach combines technological and nature-based solutions with community-based management, integrating traditional farming wisdom with scientific research. Farmers are testing innovations such as wind-powered aerators to maintain oxygen levels in warming ponds, while also developing shared water resource systems that benefit entire communities. The program recognizes that local knowledge, refined through generations of experience, is invaluable in shaping effective climate-adaptation strategies. 

Approximately 100 partner and collaborating institutions, including universities, civil society organizations, governments and private sector partners, are part of the AQUADAPT program, working together to develop practical solutions for partner countries. Building on previous IDRC-funded work, the initiative specifically addresses the needs of climate-vulnerable communities.

Through initiatives like AQUADAPT, Canada is extending its leadership in building a sustainable global blue economy — supporting innovative, nature-based solutions that protect aquatic resources, strengthen coastal communities and promote climate resilience.

Strong democracies require citizens who can assert their rights through accessible justice systems. When we remove legal barriers and empower marginalized groups, they can fully participate in society and strengthen democratic institutions. 

Many communities benefit from IDRC-supported research and initiatives that enable communities to challenge discrimination, hold institutions accountable and demand access to essential services. 

IDRC plays a role in supporting democratic thought leadership in exile, helping ensure that researchers, journalists and civil society leaders forced to leave their home countries can continue shaping discussions on governance and human rights. This work provides a vital space for evidence-based policymaking that contributes to long-term democratic resilience. 

Meanwhile, people increasingly engage in democratic debate, access information and express themselves online. IDRC supports research on digital governance to ensure that online spaces are safe and accessible — particularly for marginalized communities. By addressing issues like misinformation, privacy and digital inclusion, our work helps protect fundamental rights in an increasingly digital world.

Nurturing democratic ideas for the future of Afghanistan 

When the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021, countless scholars and activists were forced to flee their homeland, creating a critical void in discussions about their country's future. While Western voices have dominated conversations about Afghanistan's political direction, human rights and gender equality, the perspectives of Afghan intellectuals themselves have largely gone unheard. 

The IDRC-supported Afghan Research Initiative aims to address this gap. It coordinates university partnerships to support more at-risk scholars and activists in exile. The initiative has supported Afghan scholars to carry out studies, research and advocacy work on a range of issues, such as the provision of humanitarian aid, the impact of university closures and the rights of disabled people in Afghanistan. 

The program creates a model for preserving vital knowledge and nurturing future democratic leaders during political crises. Canada's leadership in protecting these crucial voices is increasingly important for building a more stable, democratic future.

Strengthening community land rights and women’s ownership in Sierra Leone 

In Sierra Leone, large-scale land investments are promoted as a pathway for economic growth. But they often disadvantage rural communities — especially women — who depend on land for their livelihoods.

With IDRC support, the NGO Namati has conducted research since 2017 to strengthen land rights, ensure women’s participation in decision-making and influence national land reforms. The project tested approaches to scaling community land-protection efforts using community paralegals and grassroots legal education to establish transparent land governance structures.

The research, reflecting Canada’s commitment to advancing human rights and inclusive governance, examined how land registration processes can protect women’s rights and how to ensure women have an equal say in land decisions. For example, the research project established village area land committees charged with enforcing rules set by the community, with a requirement that at least 30% of committee members be women. Village area land committees was one of the mechanisms piloted in the project that were subsequently included in Sierra Leone’s 2022 Customary Land Rights Act — the first to legally protect community land ownership and enshrine gender equality in land governance.

The Board of Governors is responsible for the stewardship of the Centre: it provides strategic guidance to management and oversees the activities of the Centre. The board acts and conducts its business in accordance with the IDRC Act, the IDRC General By-Law and within a governance framework based on other applicable legal rules, policies and governance best practices. The Charter of the Board of Governors details the roles, responsibilities, authorities and governance practices of the board and its committees.

Go to Governance 

IDRC is accountable to Parliament and all Canadians for its use of public resources. Here are some of the measures in place that help us meet or exceed the standards set by the Government of Canada for accountability and transparency.

Go to Transparency

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) provides a narrative discussion of the financial results and operational changes for the financial year ended 31 March 2025. This discussion should be read alongside the Financial statements starting on page 38, which were prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards. All monetary amounts are presented in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified.