This section includes specific instructions for funding applications to the Rural Poverty and Environment (RPE) program, reviewing criteria, current calls, and geographic focus. 

Updates

Results of the call for concept notes on "Research to enhance governance, access to and management of common pool resources (CPRs) including fisheries, forests and rangelands" are now posted.

How to Apply for Funding

Interested applicants should begin by familiarizing themselves with RPE’s approach, program priorities, and current calls for proposals. We strongly recommend that you contact one of the RPE Program Officers based in the regional office closest to where the research will take place, or the Program Officer working in your field of interest. Please refer to our Team webpage to see a list of our program staff. Starting a dialogue early on will help to ensure closeness of fit between your area of interest and RPE’s program priorities.

After consulting a Program Officer, and ensuring that your research fits into one of our current call for concept notes, you can submit a brief concept note to the RPE team (to the Program Officer you consulted, or to rpe@idrc.ca). A concept note is preferred over a full proposal to ensure the proposed research idea fits with RPE current priorities and resources.  Your project "idea" must be accepted by RPE before you submit a complete research proposal. Your idea should be submitted in a specific form, which can be downloded as either a PDF or  Word file.
 

Criteria used by RPE to assess research proposals:

• Does the research contribute to RPE program interests or respond to RPE research questions? 
• Is the methodological approach participatory? What is the degree of local participation?
• Does the proposed research combine insights and methods from different disciplines?
• Is gender and/or social analysis included in the research methodology?  Have the gender dimensions or other social dimensions of the research been identified?
• Who asked for this research to be done?  Who will use the results of this research?  At what stage of the research process will the users be involved?
• In most cases, RPE will only fund research defined, conducted, and managed by developing-country researchers. In North-South cooperative projects RPE encourages the Southern research institution to approach us with a concept note on behalf of the partnership. RPE will consider requests to support partnerships involving other developed countries where funding is available from other donors.

Geographic focus:

Research in the geographic areas identified in the prospectus will be given priority.
 

Further information on applying for funding from IDRC