International Policy Ideas Challenge

Global Affairs Canada (GAC), in collaboration with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), is pleased to announce the second edition of the International Policy Ideas Challenge designed to identify concrete innovative solutions to emerging international policy challenges faced by Canada. The objective of the program is to draw on the network of talented Canadian graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and civil society researchers. Applicants are initially invited to submit brief proposals. Ten selected finalists will be given several months to further develop their proposals into policy briefs, which will then be presented to Government of Canada officials. They will be expected to present their research in a special day-long symposium, hosted by GAC in Ottawa in November 2017 on the margins of the Knowledge Summit, to be organized as part of SSHRC’s Imagining Canada’s Future initiative.

Each proposal should offer solutions bridging at least two of the three policy areas under Global Affairs Canada’s mandate—foreign policy, trade, and international development. Ideas should be linked to the priority themes indicated below. However, proposals related to other emerging issues and trends affecting Canada’s international policy will also be considered.

• Strengthening Canada’s relations with major traditional and emerging partners;
• Applying a Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) approach to Canada’s global engagement;
• Strengthening Canada’s capacity to meet its goals and major international commitments, in particular the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; the Paris Agreement on climate change; the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States; the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security; and the Global Compacts on refugees and migration;
• Identifying best ways for Canada to support fragile and conflict-affected states;
• Advancing Canada’s progressive trade agenda in a way that promotes Canada’s prosperity, while supporting inclusive growth and sustainable development globally;
• Populism, extremism, and challenges to governance and democratic development.

The Policy Ideas Challenge invites applications from:

• graduate students (MA and PhD level) or post-doctoral fellows;
• civil society researchers affiliated with a non-profit organization (e.g., a non-governmental organization or a think tank) who are within five years of graduation from a graduate program at a recognized Canadian post-secondary educational institution.

For more information visit the Global Affairs Canada site.