IDRC-IDRA FAQs

All details concerning the IDRA are included in the guidelines available during the application period, including eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and required documentation.

The process is highly competitive. A high number of applications is received during each call.

No, the application deadlines change annually.

This award covers field research expenses for advanced doctoral students who intend to conduct their field research in one or more developing countries. Funds may be used to collect data and samples in the field, conduct interviews or surveys with local populations and organize focus groups or workshops. Applicants must use findings from their field research to write their doctoral dissertation or thesis. You are not eligible for this award if you intend to use it only to analyze or disseminate final results, finalize videos or spend time in a lab.

No, this award cannot be used to pay university tuition fees. It is not a scholarship; it is a field research award.

If you outlined more than one trip in your application and the selection committee agreed with your reasons for additional trip(s), you may use the award to cover the related field research expenses (housing, local transportation, interpretation, etc.).

However, please be aware that only one roundtrip airfare from Canada to a country or region of research will be covered. You must cover any airfare related to other trips to and from Canada to another country or region of research. If you fly from one region directly to another (e.g. West Africa to Central America), IDRC will cover the flight out and the return home, but you must cover the flight between regions. (Note: In-country or in-region flights during field research are considered eligible research expenses.).

Note that if you use the IDRA for different field research trips, you must plan to spend a minimum of 10 consecutive weeks in the field when your research involves one or more countries in one region. The regions are: Middle East, North Africa, West Africa, East Africa, southern Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Far East Asia, Caribbean, Central America, South America and Oceania.

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.

Yes, however, the budget section of your application must indicate which field research expenses you intend to cover with the IDRA and which you intend to cover from other funding sources. It is your responsibility to ensure that your other sources of funding allow you to accept the IDRA.

A nursing mother or a single custodial parent can include childcare or babysitting expenses in the budget, but no airfare or related travel expenses (for a child or an accompanying caregiver). The allowable cost is limited to overnight childcare costs, as reasonable and applicable in Canada or in the country of research (i.e. where the child is residing for the duration of the parent’s travel).

If you are selected for an award, you have up to 12 months to start your field research from the date of the award agreement. You must plan to spend a minimum of 10 consecutive weeks in the field.  When your research involves more than one developing country or region, you must plan to spend a minimum of five consecutive weeks in the field in each region. 

Yes, but the award is not retroactive. Field research expenses will only be covered from the date indicated in the Award Agreement. If you have finished your field research by the time the results are announced, you will no longer be eligible to receive the award. If you are in the field when the results are announced, this award will not cover the used portion of your airfare or other research expenses incurred before this date.