INTERNSHIPS FOR 2011 WILL BE OFFERED IN THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMMING UNITS (PROGRAM INITIATIVES/GROUPS/DIVISIONS): Ecosystems and Human Health (Ecohealth)The Ecosystems and Human Health program supports research that contributes to the generation and application of knowledge for improving people’s health in ways that advance sustainable development. This type of research is built around an ecohealth approach. It's a systems approach that explores social and ecological interactions and their relationship with human health, using transdisciplinarity and multi-stakeholder participation, and with a focus on social and gender equity. Internship candidates are encouraged to submit a proposal that will further the Ecohealth program's programming through a research activity proposed by the applicant focusing on the links between emerging and reemerging diseases, particularly zoonoses, environmental change, livelihoods and development. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in the links between human health, environmental sustainability and development. The candidate's research proposal should respond to the topic and demonstrate an understanding of ecohealth principles (multi-stakeholder participation, transdisciplinarity, and social and gender equity). Applicants should explain how the internship experience (research and operations) will advance their career goals.
The candidate must be enrolled in (or have recently completed) a Master’s or PhD program in the following backgrounds or disciplines:
· Public Health; Epidemiology; Animal Health; · Environmental Sciences; Agricultural Sciences; · Social Sciences.
Knowledge of research for development, field experience in a developing country and experience with publishing or communications are highly desirable. Agriculture and Food Security (AFS) The Agriculture and Food Security (AFS) Program supports research that generates new options for more equitable and productive agriculture, in order to improve food and income security for poor women and men in developing countries. The AFS program works with organizations to intensify and diversify small scale agriculture, and to improve nutritional quality and income by developing, disseminating and using innovations (technological, institutional, political, economical, and social) without adverse consequences to societies and the environment. Internship candidates are encouraged to submit applications that will further the AFS Program's multi-regional programming through a research activity, proposed by the applicant, which focuses on agriculture and food security. The ideal candidates should have an interest in agriculture, food security, rural livelihoods, and sustainable development, along with a solid technical understanding of agricultural science and first-hand knowledge of the rural sector. The candidates must be enrolled in (or have completed) a Master’s or PhD program with: - a strong emphasis on agricultural science, animal science and production, agricultural engineering, food science, foods and nutrition, agronomy/plant science, agricultural economics, soil science, or related field;
- an interest/minor in farming systems research, rural development, sustainable development, or international development.
Knowledge of research for development, field experience in a developing country, and experience with publishing/communications are highly desirable. The Intern will operate primarily in English, but knowledge of French and/or Spanish is an asset. The candidate's research proposal should demonstrate the intention to explore the linkages between agriculture and food security, have a clear commitment to the AFS methodological building blocks (e.g. multi-stakeholder participation, transdisciplinarity, and social and gender equity) and recognize the dual nature of the position—applied research activity and general program support. Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA) Potential theme: Vulnerability to climate change and the adaptation capacity of at-risk groups in the Sahel Sahelian communities have experienced repeated droughts since the late 1970s, which have completely disrupted existing ecological balances. While they have shown a degree of resilience in the face of shifting ecosystems, they are still very vulnerable. This vulnerability is being aggravated by climate change. The impacts of this change are felt differently depending on the social group and its sensitivity to external disruptions. At the same time there can be "surprise effects" caused by climate variability and extreme events. Communities' tolerance thresholds are still very unstable and their ability to adapt is conditioned by a number of factors – financial resources, mobility, access to infrastructure, organizational capacity, technical and endogenous knowledge, etc. This situation poses questions of three kinds: - Perception. What are communities' perceptions and their degree of sensitivity to the risks inherent in climate change? Which are the groups at risk: women, farmers, herders, fishing communities? Are there differences in the ways they adapt?
- Means of adaptation. What are the means used to exploit these different variables? What capital in terms of knowledge and know-how do communities have for coping with these changes?
- Intervention. What strategies are communities employing to escape from crisis? Can they now be mobilized to deal with climate change, and under what conditions? How can this base of knowledge and know-how be assessed against the current pace of change? Will this capital and these strategies be enough to cope with extreme climatic conditions?
How can the CCAA program contribute to strengthening these local assets and strategies for adapting to climate change and variability? What are the development angles here? - Perceptions and practices of Sahelian communities in the face of crisis (including climate crises) and their responses.
- Anthropological knowledge of social groups and their ways of life, knowledge of their settings.
- Responses with respect to the agro-ecological system (technologies for managing land, soil fertility, natural resources).
- Responses with respect to the social system (solidarity/family networks organizational modes, belief systems and rules governing resource use).
- Responses with respect to the economic system (diversifying income sources by diversifying activities; seasonal, long-term or permanent migration; reinvestment strategies).
- Understanding of the concepts of vulnerability and the various factors that increase or diminish it.
- Knowledge of the region and its drought history, e.g. the late 1970s to 1980.
- Can the lessons learned from these recurring episodes of drought be applied in strategies to reduce vulnerability and strengthen capacities for adapting to climate change throughout the Sahel?
During the internship, the candidate will devote a portion (approximately 50%) of his or her time to research on the aspects described above. The remaining time will go to assisting with program management. Specifications will be prepared for this purpose. At the end of the internship the candidate will prepare a report, which will be evaluated by the leaders of CCAA team. The 2011 intern will be located in the IDRC regional office for West and Central Africa in Dakar. Candidate profile Candidates must have a Master’s degree in a specialty relating to geography, sociology, anthropology or a similar discipline. They must also be familiar with climate change issues and more specifically those relating to adaptation. An understanding of natural resource and environmental aspects in general will be an additional asset. Candidates must be dynamic with a solid capacity for synthesis and analysis, able to take initiatives and to conduct wide-ranging research work. They must also be ready to work as part of a multidisciplinary team. Climate Change and Water Program (CCW) The Climate Change and Water Program (CCW) is a new five-year initiative of the IDRC, which aims to support research that reduces vulnerability to the water-related impacts of climate change. The program will support applied research and capacity building, which helps vulnerable people and threatened communities to adapt. Its thematic entry point is water stress caused by climate change (e.g. flooding, drought, groundwater depletion). It encourages the development of research on specific tools to cope with water stress, such as improving integrated water resource management (IWRM), finding equitable ways to allocate existing water (tradable rights), and recovering lower quality water (saline, wastewater), among others. CCW will aim to build research capacity to estimate and respond to such risks, and encourage developing country researchers to be heard in public policy debates. CCW program makes an emphasis on the strengthening of researchers’ capacity by applying economic analysis to the understanding of vulnerability and to changing water scenarios under climate change, and by effectively communicating results with research users. CCW is seeking an intern with the interest and capacity to undertake environmental economics research, aligned with an understanding of the economic impacts of climate change and costs associated with adaptation. The research proposal should aim to assess the implications of climate change for development planning, with an emphasis on the local scale and vulnerable communities. The 2011 intern will be located in the IDRC regional office in Montevideo and thus should have a research proposal focused in Latin America. Applicants should explain how the internship experience (research and operations) will advance their career goals. Candidates should demonstrate a strong working knowledge of both Spanish and English. The candidate must be enrolled in (or have recently completed) a Master’s or PhD program in the following backgrounds or disciplines: - Environmental and/or development economics
- Rural and/or urban planning
- Social sciences
Information and Communications Technologies for Development (ICT4D) ICT4D seeks an intern for 2011 who will explore the following research issues: Whether or not “open” principles can catalyze the connecting and communicating power of ICTs to enable social, economic, and political development. Openness is understood as a range of social activities that favour more access, participation, and collaboration. These principles guide us toward more inclusive, participatory, and collaborative social relationships between actors (governments, citizens, civil society groups, businesses, etc.). Examples of research questions that could be explored include: - How does (or might) ICT-enabled, increased access to information and communication possibilities, as well as new forms of participation and collaboration, result in social, economic, and political development?
- What are the possible downsides and risks of expanding openness in the cultural, social, economic, and political spheres, and how can we mitigate them?
The candidate would preferably have a background in the social sciences, media studies, development studies or technical fields such as engineering or computer/information science. Since 1970, the International Development Research Centre ( IDRC) has been committed to advancing the role of information in development. A tradition of innovation that began with an emphasis on building databases and information systems has evolved into a focus on the transformative nature of information and communication technologies (ICTs). The ICT4D program supports interdisciplinary research projects that address several of its priority themes related to key development areas, such as education, health, governance, livelihoods, the environment, and gender. The intern is expected to be able to present his or her research plan and progress during the year during team meetings at the Centre, in regional offices or any other academic or professional forum. The intern is expected to finalize his or her research paper in the form of an internal or external publication with single or joint authorship. The intern should have the following qualifications: - a Master’s in social sciences, media studies, development studies or technical fields such as engineering or computer/information science;
- experience working in a development organization an asset;
- proficiency in English; a knowledge of French or Spanish would be an asset;
- experience conducting research/working in a developing country would be an asset.
As an intern with ICT4D, the successful candidate will also contribute to a variety of other tasks in addition to his/her research work as part of the team. Innovation, Policy and Science (IPS) The Innovation, Policy and Science ( IPS) program area has two programming axes: the Innovation, Technology and Society (ITS) program and the IDRC Research Partnerships Challenge Fund. ITS supports research that contributes to the development of S&T policies aimed at alleviating poverty in developing-countries; the Challenge Fund enables joint research between Canadian and developing country scientists. The successful candidate will hold the internship at IDRC’s head office in Ottawa, be integrated with the IPS team in its current activities and ongoing projects, and undertake independent research focusing on one of the following issues: Energy Supply and Use: To assess the impacts of different energy technologies and policies, particularly on the poor. In particular, addressing how science, technology, and innovation policies can help developing countries develop, adapt, and use energy technologies for economic growth and poverty alleviation. Science, Technology, and Innovation Granting Councils in Developing Countries: Explore how STI granting councils in developing countries can strengthen their abilities to set research agendas and fund research that responds to national priorities, including those of the poor. To gain a better understanding of the nature of STI funding in different categories of developing countries, analyzing models for supporting STI activities in different countries and their evolution, strengthening councils’ ability to help researchers close the innovation cycle, involving the poor in setting the research agenda, and helping research councils act as a broker between internal and donor research funds. Creative Industries: Explore the contribution of creative industries to social development as drivers for economic growth in the information society because of their use of knowledge and creativity. Explore the best way to enhance the potential of creative industries, by either developing a regulatory framework, including legal infrastructure, or by shaping strategies for creative economies, economic incentives, and appropriate intellectual property rights regimes. Research could draw lessons from small countries that have developed successful creative industries, increasing developing-country participation in the global creative economy value chain, and promoting international trade policy that supports developing-country industries. Biotechnology and innovation for and by the poor: Explore issues on governance, policy, and regulation of bio- and emerging technologies at national and international levels in developing countries, to assess their contributions, impacts, and their regulatory frameworks to enhance their positive socio-economic impacts in developing countries. The successful candidate is required to have strong research, analytical, and writing skills in English, as well as familiarity with communications and dissemination tools. Donor Partnership Division (DPD) The Donor Partnership Division (DPD) has the mandate to initiate, build, and maintain relationships with donors, international organizations and research funders committed to enhancing research capacities in developing regions of the world. The DPD co-ordinates the strategic and policy dimensions of partnering as well as the more practical aspects of negotiating, budgeting and reaching agreement with other research funders. The DPD works with all IDRC programming areas; therefore, the successful candidate will be exposed to a diverse set of research projects and will acquire a solid appreciation for the world of research for development. The DPD also implements a global capacity-building project for IDRC research partners on the various aspects of resource mobilization ( RM). Through modalities such as training workshops and technical assistance, the project aims to strengthen skill sets of research managers and staff, as well as overall organizational capacity. The successful candidate must be willing to work as a member of the DPD team in its ongoing activities, including providing research analysis and coordinating the production and dissemination of information related to donor partnerships, resource mobilization and organizational development. The DPD encourages research proposals from candidates interested in the following areas: - Risk management and monitoring of established donor partnerships;
- Resource mobilization of research networks and universities in developing countries;
- Trends in private philanthropy, particularly locally-based philanthropic foundations, in emerging economies.
Candidates should be knowledgeable about international development issues and be familiar with international and Canadian development agencies. In addition, candidates should have strong research, analytical and writing skills, and be familiar with website applications. Candidates with a business and/or international relations background are encouraged to apply. Language requirements: English. French and Spanish would be an asset. Inclusive, Sustainable Growth The Social and Economic Policy (SEP) area is developing renewed programming directions for the 2011-2015 period. The program will explore new methods and approaches dealing with sustainable and socially inclusive economic growth, supporting research and building long-term capacities. A key aim is to strengthen the voice of researchers, civil society organizations and policy makers in policy debates at local, national and international levels on economic reforms and institutional innovations. Proposals for internships with this program should address aspects of the relationship between economic growth, poverty/inequality, and/or sustainability in developing countries. Project proposals could fall within one or more of the following areas: - institutional frameworks for investment, trade, and entrepreneurship; including competition policy;
- fiscal policy, including financing social protection;
- labour market analysis (i.e., the demand for labour from formal or informal enterprises, or the supply of labour affected by social protection legislation or any other institutional/legal frameworks).
Proposals on the topic of ‘low-carbon growth strategies’ are also welcome. This would entail research on such topics as the role of fiscal policy in shifting investment toward greater environmental sustainability, and other institutional innovations to promote the uptake of cleaner products and processes. The SEP program welcomes applications for an internship position based at IDRC’s head office in Ottawa. The program gives greater priority to projects with precise and feasible objectives and a well-specified methodology. Applicants are strongly encouraged to address the gender and equity dimensions of their research problematique. The successful candidate will allocate about 50% of the time to his/her own research project under the guidance of a senior officer. The intern is expected to present his/her research plan and progress during the year (at IDRC internal meetings or other academic or professional fora), and to finalize his/her research paper in the form of an internal or external publication with single or joint authorship. For the remainder of the time (approximately 50%), the intern will contribute to the team’s work by synthesizing and disseminating project outcomes and results, participating in various project development, monitoring and learning activities undertaken by the team, and assisting in the preparation of internal and external reports. Strong research, analysis, writing skills and proficiency in English are required. International work or study experience, as well as the ability to work in French and Spanish, would be an asset. Accountable Governance The Social and Economic Policy (SEP) area is developing renewed programming directions for the 2011-2015 period. A key area of focus will be governance, particularly the need for more democratic, accountable institutions, and the role of formal and informal mechanisms in mediating relationships between citizens and the state. Governance challenges are particularly acute in fragile states and countries emerging from conflict. Even while armed conflicts may have diminished in the developing world, other forms of public insecurity have increased, resulting in different impacts for groups such as youth and women, and affecting the legitimacy of the state as well as overall economic activity. A central concern is democratic transitions from both armed conflict to peace, and from authoritarian to more democratic rule. Of interest are 'hybrid' forms of governance that emerge in transition settings, which may offer opportunities for greater accountability and more meaningful participation by women and other marginalized groups. Proposals for internships with this program should address the themes outlined above and fall within areas such as the following: - participation in democratic governance
- institution building in transitional and post-conflict situations
- accountability and transparency in the rule of law.
The SEP program welcomes applications for an internship position based at IDRC’s head office in Ottawa. The program gives greater priority to projects with precise and feasible objectives and a well-specified methodology. Applicants are strongly encouraged to address the gender and equity dimensions of their research problematique. The successful candidate will allocate about 50% of the time to his/her own research project under the guidance of a senior officer. The intern is expected to present his/her research plan and progress during the year (at IDRC internal meetings or other academic or professional fora), and to finalize his/her research paper in the form of an internal or external publication with single or joint authorship. For the remainder of the time (approximately 50%), the intern will contribute to the team’s work by synthesizing and disseminating project outcomes and results, participating in various project development, monitoring and learning activities undertaken by the team, and assisting in the preparation of internal and external reports. Strong research, analysis, writing skills and proficiency in English are required. International work or study experience, as well as the ability to work in French and Spanish, would be an asset. Think Tank Initiative The Think Tank Initiative is a global program that supports independent policy research organizations — or “think tanks” — in developing countries. The Initiative focuses on countries in East Africa, West Africa, South Asia and Latin America. Its goal is to strengthen a select group of independent policy research organizations, enabling them to provide objective, high-quality research that both informs and influences policy. To achieve its mission, the Initiative provides organizations with a mix of long-term general support grants (“core funding”) and access to training and technical assistance to allow them to improve research quality, expand policy linkages, and address other key aspects of organizational development. One important dimension of the Initiative is to capture and share learning about strategies for supporting and managing policy research organizations. The Think Tank Initiative intern will contribute to this dimension by providing a better understanding of what makes an independent policy research organization successful in different regions of the world. Proposals for the internship should address one or more key dimensions of “success” for policy research organizations related to research quality, policy links or aspects of organizational performance. Through the analysis and synthesis of information collected on think tanks supported - or not - by the program, proposals could address one/some of the following research questions: - What is the nature of the applied research market in (some) developing countries?
- What is the role of independent policy research organizations in policy influence and policy making process in (some) developing countries?
- What are the factors that enable “leading” think tanks in the world to be perceived as successful, and what can be learned from these examples to help strengthen think tanks more widely?
- What approaches have been used to enhance the capacity and competence of think tanks in influencing policy in developing countries and what have been the outcomes?
The intern is expected to be able to present his or her research plan and progress during the year during team meetings at the Centre, in regional offices or any other academic or professional forum. The intern is expected to finalize his or her research paper in the form of an internal or external publication with single or joint authorship. The intern should have the following qualifications: - experience researching/working in a developing country;
- a Master’s in economics, development studies, public policy or political sciences;
- be familiar with methodologies for social and economic analysis and statistical software;
- experience working in a policy research organization an asset;
- proficiency in English;
- a knowledge of French or Spanish (would be an asset).
As an intern with the Think Tank Initiative, the successful candidate will also contribute to a variety of other tasks in addition to his/her research work as part of the team. Governance, Equity and Health (GEH) Governance, Equity and Health ( GEH) examines health systems through a governance and equity lens and, conversely, uses health as an entry point to approach challenges of governance and equity. GEH is a global program that supports research activities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. GEH encourages internship research proposals that focus on one of the following research domains to address key governance, equity and health issues: - policy processes for health service delivery (e.g. formulating, implementing, and evaluating pro-poor policy for health; fair and sustainable financing; influences of donors and globalization on policy);
- strengthening health systems (mechanisms and approaches to strengthen and monitor the capacity of governments to ensure equitable financing and delivery of priority public health and health care services, especially to marginalized and underserved populations);
- priority conditions or interventions as an entry point to address broader governance, equity and health systems issues;
- civic engagement (e.g. mechanisms to promote effective and informed participation and inclusion; exercising the right to health; health and health care as an arena for democratization);
- making research matters (conceptual and analytical framework to increase the effectiveness of research-to-policy-to-practice linkages in promoting the dual goals of health and social equity).
The successful candidate is required to have strong research, analytical and writing skills, as well as familiarity with key institutions (including Canadian) active in international health and health research. Proficiency in English is essential. An understanding of the health implications of urbanization, social and gender analysis, as well as French and Spanish language skills, would be considered an asset. Please note that the intern will spend approximately 50% of the time on his or her own research and 50% as an integral part of the GEH team. As the GEH intern, the successful candidate will contribute to the program's work on synthesizing and disseminating GEH project outcomes and results as well as a variety of other tasks in addition to his/her research work. This intern will be based at IDRC’s head office in Ottawa. Research for International Tobacco Control (RITC) RITC is a program initiative of the Research for Health Equity program area within IDRC. RITC works to create knowledge for the development of effective policies and programs that will minimize the threat of tobacco production and consumption to health and human development in developing countries. RITC has supported hundreds of researchers in 64 low to middle-income countries over the past 15 years in various research areas. The intern will work with the RITC team on its broad tobacco control and development agenda and will undertake an individual research project. The following thematic elements will be given priority this year: - Social analysis of tobacco control policies, which explore how disparities can be reduced in the development of tobacco control policy (e.g. gender, poverty, etc.);
- Barriers to tobacco control policy resulting from perceived social and economic dependence on tobacco production or agriculture (government, farmers, etc.);
- Investigations into the strategies used by the tobacco industry to influence policy-making and subvert effective tobacco control;
- Modeling of fiscal policies for health in developing countries (e.g. equitable tobacco taxation increases applied as a source of revenue for health system strengthening);
- Research that informs policy for the control of tobacco use other than cigarettes (e.g. waterpipes, bidis, chewing tobacco, etc.).
*Please note that RITC will not give priority to prevalence studies or routine surveillance studies. In addition, under the guidance of the RITC team, the intern will prepare necessary documents and gain knowledge on project management, communications, proposal development and evaluation, building research capacity among researchers in developing countries, and will assist with the organization of RITC-led domestic and international workshops. Candidates are expected to have strong research, analytical and writing skills, including a social science or humanities background, according to the internship eligibility requirements. Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative data analysis would also be an asset, as well as French and/or Spanish language skills, depending on the geographic focus of their project. Proficiency in English is essential. The intern will spend approximately 50% of the time on his or her own research and 50% as an integral member of the RITC team. *The candidate must demonstrate that s/he has no direct or indirect association with the tobacco industry. Policy and Planning Group (PPG)
The Policy and Planning Group is responsible for coordinating and monitoring the five-year strategic plan that guides IDRC work. The Group engages colleagues in the federal government on policy matters related to Canada’s international assistance, and monitors the strategies of development research funders in other countries. This internship will provide an inside view of how IDRC works. The intern will work as part of a team supporting IDRC management with information, analysis, and advice on research-for-development. PPG encourages proposals from candidates interested in: - monitoring current trends of support to development research (funding, themes and modalities);
- anticipating future research priorities through the use of foresight and scanning; and
- monitoring and evaluating the attainment of corporate-level strategic goals.
The candidate should have a professional interest in foreign policy, international development and/or research management. Previous interns and students have come from diverse academic backgrounds including law, international affairs, public administration and public history. Knowledge about IDRC’s mandate is desirable. The intern must be flexible, willing to work in a fast-paced environment, responding to short-term demands while keeping her/his eye on long-term objectives. President’s Office The successful applicant will have a strong interest in development in South Asia, and relations between countries in the region. His/her past study and proposed research will reflect this. Within IDRC, the candidate will be expected to provide research assistance in areas including the study of the foreign policy and external relations of India, as well as providing support to IDRC’s programming and practices. The intern should have the following qualifications: - completed a Master’s degree and/or be engaged in a PhD in social sciences, international development, or international politics/affairs;
- experience in conducting research;
- international work or study experience (would be an asset);
- excellent English written and verbal communication skills;
- experience working in a policy research organization (would be an asset).
The candidate should have a professional interest in foreign policy, international development and/or research management. As an intern with the President’s Office, the successful candidate will also contribute as a part of the team to a variety of other tasks in addition to his/her research work. Special Initiatives Division (SID) IDRC’s Special Initiatives Division houses the Canadian Partnerships program, which ensures that the Centre remains an active partner of the Canadian development and research communities by responding directly to grant proposals from Canadian researchers, academics and civil society. The Division has a broad range of interests, including ensuring that the research and knowledge-sharing activities it supports are useful to development policy makers and practitioners, and that the activities eventually contribute to policies and practices. Internship applications should address the various connections between both the research and knowledge-sharing activities of Canadian academic institutions and/or Civil Society Organizations, and the development policy makers and practitioners. Candidates should submit a short (4-5 pages) proposal on a topic relating to the research policy links of academics and/or NGOs in Canada and/or the global South. Questions for consideration may include: - Is research/knowledge produced by the Canadian academic and CSO community used to inform development policy and practice? How? Where?
- Are policy-makers and practitioners aware of this research? Is it relevant to their work?
- How can the relationship between research and policy and practice be strengthened?
- What are the links between development researchers and policy and practice? Are some more engaged than others? What lessons might be learned?
- Through what practices has research and knowledge building helped to sensitize and modify perspectives or actions of practitioners/policymakers and their institutions?
- How effective have such practices been? Which ones could be considered exceptional and promising, and under which enabling conditions?
- What lessons can be drawn by SID recipients from these practices?
The successful candidate should have academic and/or professional training in international development studies, experience in development research, some knowledge of engagement with policy makers and practitioners, and evaluation, as well as familiarity with development research grant-making organizations. The candidate must have excellent English and/or French language skills. Spanish and/or Portuguese are an asset. | 
