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The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) supports the creation and application of knowledge that brings dramatic improvements to the lives of people throughout the developing regions of the world. Improvements such asmarkets for products, higher crop yields, cleaner environments, better health, access to new technologies, fairer laws, and equal opportunities. 

Our mission today is simple and unchanged since our creation in 1970: to promote research in developing countries, research by the people of those countries, for the purpose of applying knowledge (in the words of the IDRC Act) “to the economic and social advancement of those regions.” Applied research. Local solutions. Lasting impacts.

IDRC provides both novice and accomplished scholars throughout the developing world with the funds, support, and connections to find solutions to pressing problems that prevent their communities from realizing their full potential.We enable the world’s brightest minds to collaborate on cutting-edge projects, bringing together top researchers to work as equals on issues of global importance.

Here are some of our research partners who were recognized by others this year:

• In February 2009, theWorld Economic Forum recognized Sanjeev Khagram as a 2009 Young Global Leader.
  
  
• Yuyun Ismawati was awarded a Goldman Environmental Prize in recognition of her groundbreaking work to create an environmentally sound, community-based solid waste management program in Indonesia.
  
  
• Syeda RizwanaHazan, Bangladesh’s leading environmental attorney, was awarded a Goldman Environmental Prize in recognition of her efforts to reduce the adverse impact of Bangladesh’s ship breaking industry.
  
  
• Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland, was awarded the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize in October. He has been credited for his role in resolving conflicts in Namibia, Indonesia, Kosovo, and Iraq, among other areas.
  
  
• Clotilde Fonseca, Executive Director of the Omar Dengo Foundation (Costa Rica), was recognized as a Leader Making a Difference for her contributions to education technology. Fonseca received the award at the LINK-live US Presidential Inaugural Gala 2009.
• Food campaigner and educator Geoff Tansey received the Derek Cooper Award at the BBC Food and Farming Awards in November 2008. Our fundamental belief is that our best and most productive contribution to ensuring a brighter future for developing countries is to foster the creativity and drive of their citizens and leaders to learn, innovate, and improve their own futures.

The following pages present some of our progress toward meeting our three corporate objectives, through the stories of a few of the researchers we support around the world. All attest that IDRC — at once proudly Canadian and international — is committed to making knowledge a tool for development, for improving people’s lives.

IDRC promotes research in developing countries, research by the people of those countries, for the purpose of applying knowledge to the economic and social advancement of those regions.

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