Deadline: 13 July 2018
The International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) are seeking proposals for “Rapid Research Fund for Ebola Virus Disease Outbreaks” to support social sciences, humanities, public health and/or health systems research aimed at more effectively containing the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as potential future outbreaks, more readily.
Projects must be focused on addressing challenges related to the current Ebola outbreak in the DRC, and/or risks of extension to the surrounding region. Proposals should apply social science, humanities, population and public health, and/or health services research approaches that build on previous learnings, and/or respond to documented knowledge and practice gaps, to build capacity for more effective outbreak response, containment, and mitigation efforts.
Objectives
- Enhance the mobilization of interdisciplinary Canadian and African health and social scientists and humanists, as well as knowledge users, to help contain the current Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the DRC;
- Enhance the adaptive scaling of successful interventions in curbing Ebola transmission (and other diseases of similar relevance), and support the exploration of novel approaches to remaining challenges of outbreak mitigation and control;
- Improve understanding of an effective role for international agencies in preventing and responding to Ebola Virus Disease outbreaks in Africa, including how international institutions can better engage local leadership to ensure that responses are culturally appropriate, community specific, and leverage local characteristics; and,
- Support collaboration and policy making that promote evidence-based practices to prevent or mitigate the impact of future Ebola threats in the DRC and surrounding region.
Funding Information
- IDRC, CIHR and SSHRC will contribute to a total CA$1.5 million towards this Rapid Research Fund.
- Project funds will be disbursed and administered by IDRC on behalf of the IDRC/SSHRC/CIHR partnership.
- A minimum of four successful teams will be eligible to receive Research Grants up to CA$360,000 over two years (2018-2020).
- The number of supported projects will depend on the number, quality, review and ranking of eligible proposals by an external peer-review process.
Geographic Area of Focus
The DRC and surrounding region at risk of Ebola virus transmission and impact
Eligibility Criteria
- This call is intended to fund collaborative partnerships between Canadian and African researchers based out of established, research-oriented organizations in North and sub-Saharan Africa and Canada.
- The following eligibility criteria also apply:
- Application from one Canadian lead applicant and an African co-lead applicant.
- Application from one African lead applicant and a Canadian co-lead applicant.
- Eligible organizations are legal entities, such as accredited universities, non-governmental or government-funded research organizations.
- African-Canadian partnerships may include other co-applicant research partners from eligible organizations.
- Intergovernmental organizations (e.g. United Nations system) and CGIAR Centres may not apply to this call as lead or co-applicants. Intergovernmental organizations may, however, participate as collaborating organizations.
- The lead applicant and co-applicants may negotiate and develop funding arrangements directly with third-party organizations for specific services. IDRC will not contract directly with third-party organizations. Applications that involve third-party organizations must clearly justify their involvement and explain their role(s).
- At most, a person can apply as the lead applicant for one project and be a co-applicant for one additional project.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online via given website.
For more information, please visit IDRC.