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Canada MastersPhD Partial Funding

IDRC John G. Bene Fellowship 2026 | Community-Led Nature-Based Solutions Research

The IDRC John G. Bene Fellowship 2026 offers up to CA$30,000 for Canadian master's and doctoral students conducting field research on gender-responsive forest and food system restoration in developing countries. The fellowship runs 10 weeks to 12 months with applications opening October 19, 2026.

October 28, 2026 ⏰ Deadline: Nov 30, 2026

Quick Overview

Host CountryCanada
Degree LevelMasters, PhD
Funding TypePartial Funding
Fields of StudyAgroforestry, Ecology, Environmental Science, Food Systems, Forestry
DeadlineNovember 30, 2026

Scholarship Overview

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Overview

The IDRC John G. Bene Fellowship 2026 supports graduate research that strengthens inclusive, community-led nature-based solutions for forest restoration and food system transformation. Established in 1982 and funded through the Bene Endowment Fund, this annual award enables Canadian students to undertake practical field research in developing countries, with particular emphasis on supporting smallholder farmers, women, youth, and Indigenous communities.

For researchers from Zimbabwe and the broader SADC region with Canadian citizenship or permanent residency, this fellowship offers a structured pathway to conduct fieldwork in your home region while affiliated with a Canadian university. The 2026 call specifically welcomes proposals aligned with IDRC’s REVIVE Initiative on post-fire forest and food restoration.

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What the Fellowship Covers

  • Number of awards: Up to 10 fellowships
  • Maximum amount: CA$30,000 per award
  • Duration: 10 weeks to 12 months
  • Funding source: Bene Endowment Fund and IDRC

The award supports field research expenses including travel, accommodation, research assistance, and data collection costs in developing country contexts. The fellowship does not cover tuition fees or living expenses in Canada.

Eligibility Requirements

Citizenship and Residency

You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada. Dual citizens with ties to African countries may apply provided they hold valid Canadian status.

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Academic Status

You must be enrolled in master’s or doctoral studies at a Canadian university at the time of application and during the fellowship period.

Academic Background

Your research profile should combine:

  • Forest and landscape disciplines: forest management and restoration, forestry, agroforestry, environment, ecology
  • Social sciences lens: gender and inclusion, Indigenous knowledge and science, biodiversity conservation, governance of nature
  • Food systems expertise

Research Focus

Your proposal must address:

  • Gender-responsive integrated forest, landscape and food systems restoration
  • Management of fire-prone, degraded, or disputed landscapes
  • Nature-based solutions benefiting smallholder farmers
  • Climate-food-inclusivity nexus approaches
  • Resilience-building for less privileged communities in developing countries

Exclusions

Research focused on genomics and/or genetic modification is not eligible.

Key Dates

  • Application opens: October 19, 2026 at 12:00 EDT
  • Application deadline: November 30, 2026 at 23:59 EST

The compressed six-week application window requires advance preparation. Start developing your research proposal and securing institutional support well before the opening date.

How to Apply

  1. Review the Call Document: Download and study the official call document for detailed eligibility criteria and application requirements.
  2. Develop your research proposal: Design field-based research that explicitly addresses gender responsiveness, community inclusion, and practical outcomes for developing country beneficiaries.
  3. Secure institutional support: Obtain necessary approvals and letters from your Canadian university.
  4. Prepare application materials: Compile all required documents (specific list available in Call Document).
  5. Submit online: Apply through the IDRC application portal once it opens on October 19, 2026.
  6. Contact for questions: Email benefellowship@idrc.ca

Research Alignment Opportunities

Proposals connecting to IDRC’s REVIVE Initiative on post-fires forest and food restoration receive favorable consideration. This initiative addresses ecosystem recovery after wildfires—a growing concern across southern Africa including Zimbabwe, where fire management intersects with agricultural livelihoods and forest conservation.

Strategic Considerations for African-Canadian Researchers

If you hold Canadian permanent residency or citizenship with roots in Zimbabwe or SADC countries, this fellowship offers distinct advantages:

  • Field access: Your existing networks and language skills facilitate community entry and trust-building
  • Relevance: Research on fire-prone landscapes and disputed territories resonates with regional challenges including climate-induced degradation and land tenure complexities
  • Knowledge translation: Your dual perspective strengthens capacity to translate findings into actionable policy for both Canadian and African institutions

When framing your proposal, explicitly articulate how your positionality enables ethical, effective community engagement and how your research will build lasting institutional partnerships between Canadian and African research entities.

About IDRC and the Bene Legacy

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) has supported graduate research in international development since 1982. The Bene Fellowship honors John G. Bene, whose bequest established this enduring commitment to forest and development research. IDRC’s emphasis on inclusive, community-led approaches aligns with contemporary development paradigms prioritizing local agency and Indigenous knowledge systems.

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Official scholarship page: https://idrc-crdi.smapply.io/prog/john_g_bene_2026_fellowship_strengthening_inclusive_community-led_nature-based_solutions_for_forest_restoration_and_food_system_transformation/

Apply on the official site →

You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships

Funding Coverage

Up to CA$30,000 for 10 weeks to 12 months of field research; covers research expenses including travel, accommodation, and data collection in developing countries

Eligibility Criteria

Canadian citizens and permanent residents enrolled in master's or doctoral studies at a Canadian university; academic background combining forests/environment/ecology/food systems with social sciences; research must benefit developing countries

Required Documents

Full document list available in official Call Document; typically includes research proposal, CV, academic transcripts, letters of support from Canadian university

Application Process

Review Call Document, develop gender-responsive research proposal on nature-based solutions, secure institutional support, submit online application when portal opens October 19, 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The fellowship explicitly supports research in developing countries, and your existing networks and cultural knowledge can strengthen your proposal. Your research must demonstrate clear benefits to less privileged communities and align with the fellowship's focus on gender-responsive, community-led nature-based solutions.
No. The fellowship funds field research expenses including travel, accommodation, research assistance, and data collection costs in developing countries. It does not cover Canadian tuition or living expenses. You must secure separate funding for your academic program.
Successful proposals combine technical forest/food systems expertise with explicit social science framing on gender and inclusion. They demonstrate community partnership approaches, specify practical outcomes for smallholder farmers, and ideally align with IDRC's REVIVE Initiative on post-fire restoration. Proposals showing clear methodology for fire-prone, degraded, or disputed landscapes are particularly welcome.
IDRC offers up to 10 awards annually. Competition is strong given the limited number of positions and the specific eligibility requirements (Canadian status, Canadian university enrollment, interdisciplinary background). Strengthen your application by demonstrating prior field experience, established community partnerships in your target country, and clear alignment with the 2026 thematic priorities.
No. Work focused on genomics and/or genetic modification is explicitly excluded. Your research must center on social-ecological approaches, Indigenous knowledge systems, governance frameworks, and community-based restoration rather than biotechnological interventions.
Immediately. The application window is only six weeks (October 19 to November 30, 2026). You need time to develop a rigorous research proposal, secure letters from your Canadian university, identify field partners in your target developing country, and ensure your proposal aligns with the Call Document requirements. Contact benefellowship@idrc.ca early if you have eligibility questions.

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