Canada-Myanmar IDRC Research Fellowship Program at Chiang Mai University

Since 2010, the Union of the Republic of Myanmar has made significant strides in openness compared to its early days of isolation. In 2017, to sustain emerging democratization, IDRC and Global Affairs Canada launched the Knowledge for Democracy – Myanmar (K4DM) initiative to nurture capacity for meaningful engagement and promote better governance, working with scholars, policy actors and activists.

Conditions in Myanmar recently deteriorated and now more than ever, Canada’s support for independent policy research and pro-democratic voices in the country is crucial to protect the gains that have been made and to prepare for a future return to democracy. The second phase of the K4DM Initiative (K4DM2) aims to develop a strong and well-informed civil society — mostly outside of Myanmar’s borders — to contribute to an inclusive, gender-sensitive vision that embodies democratic gains achieved prior to the 2021 military coup. K4DM2 will achieve this through online training, a wide range of fellowships and research focused on digital rights.

The Canada-Myanmar IDRC Fellowships at Chiang Mai University in Thailand will reinforce quality research on and advocacy for public policy among Myanmar nationals in the diaspora. The goal is to continue capacity development and create conditions for Myanmar change agents and policy-related scholars to further develop their knowledge and skills to participate in policy processes.

The fellowships will encompass a wide range of policy-related fields, including public policy and leadership, federalism, applied social sciences, migration, agricultural trade and higher education. They will include scholars, practitioners, public administrators, policymakers, think tank staff, and civil society members, with a focus on young scholars and practitioners. Among the activities will be mentoring, networking, secondments, travel for field work and dissemination events.