Waterloo, Canada – August 18 – Thirty scholars have been selected out of 352 applications to conduct research in 18 African countries as part of the Africa Initiative’s Research Program.
Topics that will be researched by Africans and Canadians include:
- Strengthening health information systems and health policy through the use of mobile technology
- Assessment of cancer registries, cancer epidemiology and cancer genomics in East Africa
- Migration, reproduction and child health in Ghana
- Farmers’ rights and seed sovereignty in South Africa
- Climate change, food (in)security and the land grab syndrome in Africa
- United Nations certification in post-conflict elections in Cote d’Ivoire
“Through this funding, we’re supporting research that will address substantive challenges facing African countries,” said Thomas Kwasi Tieku, lead researcher for the Africa Initiative.
The recipients of the research grants are evenly divided between African-based and Canadian-based researchers, with all supported field-based research taking place in Africa. The short-listed proposals were reviewed by the Africa Initiative’s Editorial Review Panel, made up of distinguished international experts.
“We gave special consideration to projects that aim to develop innovative policy, collect data that can be used by policy-makers in Africa, and answers questions that are amenable to cross-national comparison,” Tieku said. “We received a number of excellent proposals from African and Canadian scholars, and encourage applicants to re-apply during our next round of submissions.”
Assessment criteria for judging applications were based on Canada’s Social Science Council, America’s Social Science Research Council and the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa. For details about the Africa Initiative's Research Program, please visit: http://www.africaportal.org/research or contact Thomas Kwasi Tieku, lead researcher for the Africa Initiative, at [email protected].
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kevin Dias, Communications Specialist, CIGI
Tel: 519.885.2444, ext. 238, Email: [email protected]
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is an independent, nonpartisan think tank on international governance. Led by experienced practitioners and distinguished academics, CIGI supports research, forms networks, advances policy debate and generates ideas for multilateral governance improvements. Conducting an active agenda of research, events and publications, CIGI’s interdisciplinary work includes collaboration with policy, business and academic communities around the world. CIGI was founded in 2001 by Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of RIM (Research In Motion), and collaborates with and gratefully acknowledges support from a number of strategic partners, in particular the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. For more information, please visit www.cigionline.org
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