ResearchNet - RechercheNet

Table of Contents

• Description
• Objectives
• Eligibility
• Guidelines
• Review Process and Evaluation
• How to Apply
• Contact Information
• Sponsor Description
• Additional Information

Description

In 2014, the Council of Canadian Academies released a report entitled, Aboriginal Food Security in Northern Canada: An Assessment of the State of Knowledge. This report documents the particularly serious and growing challenge of food security in Canada’s northern and remote Indigenous communities. Evidence from a variety of sources concludes that food insecurity among Northern Indigenous Peoples is a problem that requires urgent attention to address and mitigate the serious impacts it has on health and well-being. Evidence indicates that people who are food insecure are more susceptible to malnutrition and infection, as well as chronic health problems such as obesity, anemia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stress, and child developmental issues. Mental health effects of food insecurity include reduced ability to learn, depression, and social exclusion. The work of the Panel concluded that the toll of food insecurity on human well-being and the economic costs of an emerging public health crisis in northern Canada represent serious concerns that require immediate attention and integrated responses.

This investment from CIHR is part of Budget 2017’s commitment to support the government’s Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. CIHR is implementing targeted investments in health and climate change in collaboration with stakeholders. CIHR’s targeted investments are intended to enhance CIHR’s Environments and Health Signature Initiative by funding new environments and health research to increase our understanding of the health impacts of climate change. The outcomes of this investment would ensure that communities and organizations have access to new knowledge, tools and resources to collectively manage and reduce the health impacts of climate change. It will build an evidence base to support effective health and non-health interventions that enable climate change adaptation.

The overall goal of the Food Security and Climate Change in the Canadian North Initiative is to support research that will provide a deeper understanding of food security and climate change in the Canadian North, with a focus on Indigenous (i.e., First Nations, Inuit and Métis) populations, and to support the development of effective approaches, programs and policies to address this issue.

The focus of this funding opportunity is to support Team Grants that bring together multidisciplinary teams of researchers, knowledge users and/or partners to work together to address food security and climate change in the North.

Research Areas

This funding opportunity will support Indigenous-led and community-driven projects relevant to food security and climate change in the Canadian North.

The Research Teams may address the research gaps identified by the Expert Panel on the State of Knowledge of Food Security in the North, including but not limited to:

• climate change, the environment, and traditional/country food systems in the North;
• food sovereignty and governance related to Indigenous Peoples, climate change and food security;
• research and monitoring methodologies related to climate change and food security in the North;
• health, wellness, and nutritional status related to climate change and food security in the North;
• effective approaches, programs and policies to address food insecurity and climate change in the North through implementation science.

For the purpose of this funding opportunity, the Canadian North includes Inuit Nunangat and the Territories. It also includes Northern remote areas of provinces eligible for Nutrition North Canada (NNC). Eligibility is based solely on isolation factors. These criteria can be found on the NNC website, along with a list of the eligible communities.

Funds Available

CIHR and partner(s) financial contributions for this initiative are subject to availability of funds. Should CIHR or partner(s) funding levels not be available or are decreased due to unforeseen circumstances, CIHR and partner(s) reserve the right to reduce, defer or suspend financial contributions to grants received as a result of this funding opportunity.

• The total amount available for this funding opportunity is $3.125 million. This amount may increase if additional funding partners participate.
• Development grants of up to $25,000 per grant will be offered, if requested, to successful applications at the Letter of Intent stage. The total amount available at the LOI stage is $125,000, enough to fund 5 grants.
• The total amount of funding for the Full Application is $3 million, enough to fund 2 grants. This amount may increase if additional funding partners participate. The maximum amount per grant is $375,000 per year for up to 4 years, for a total of $1.5 million per grant.

For more information on the appropriate use of funds, refer to Allowable Costs

Objectives

The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are:

• Create new knowledge about the magnitude and health effects of climate change on food security in the Canadian North and Northern Indigenous populations by incorporating Indigenous knowledge and land-based experience regarding traditional/country food sources.
• Identify effective approaches, programs and policy to address food insecurity in the North through implementation science.
• Build capacity for multidisciplinary research in the area of food security and climate change in the Canadian North that has strong and meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities and organizations.

Eligibility

Eligibility to Apply

For an application to be eligible:

1. The Nominated Principal Applicant must be one of the following:
   1. An independent researcher or a knowledge user who either:
      • self-identifies as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis)
        AND/OR
      • provides evidence of having meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples,
        OR
      • An Indigenous community, group or organization with a research or knowledge translation mandate.
        • Informative note regarding the requirements to receive funds:
          • For successful applications, before funds can be released, organizations identified as the Nominated Principal Applicant that are not already eligible to administer CIHR funds, will need to undergo an eligibility assessment process and may be required to sign a funding agreement with the terms and conditions determined by CIHR. Alternatively, the applying organization may choose to have their funds administered by a CIHR-eligible Institution.
            OR
          • An individual Nominated Principal Applicant (independent research or Principal knowledge user) must be affiliated with an eligible institution authorized to administer CIHR funds.
2. Additionally, the applying team must include the following i.e., a minimum of three individuals (including the NPA):
   1. At least one Indigenous community leader.
   2. At least one community Elder from the geographic community or region participating in the research.
   3. At least one team member with experience in culturally appropriate sex- and -gender based analysis or with gender diversity in the community. The team member must have successfully completed one of the sex- and gender-based analysis training modules available online through the CIHR Institute of Gender and Health and submit a Certificate of Completion in order to be eligible to submit a Letter of Intent. Select and complete the training module most applicable to your research project (Sex, Gender and Health Research Guide). See the resource page for integrating sex and gender into this initiative. Best practices for inclusion of a Sex and Gender Champion are available at the link above.

COVID-19 Impact on ECRs

CIHR is temporarily adjusting the period of eligibility for an ECR. All those who held ECR status as of March 1, 2020, or who secured their first academic appointment after this date, will have their status extended by one year.

CIHR will closely monitor the pandemic and its impact on ECRs overall and on specific groups with the intent that further interventions may be warranted.

Guidelines

General CIHR Policies

Before submitting an application to this funding opportunity, applicants should review the relevant policies and guidelines on the CIHR Funding Policies page to ensure understanding of their responsibilities and expectations.

In addition, all research taking place in Canada’s North requires a scientific research license. Consult the websites of the licensing authorities in the following regions and/or contact the Inuit Research Advisors for guidance:

• Yukon
• Northwest Territories
• Nunavut
• Nunavik
• Nunatsiavut

Allowable Costs

Applicants should review the Use of Grant Funds section of the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) Guide on Financial Administration for requirements regarding allowable costs and activities.

The following expenses will be considered eligible for funding received through this funding opportunity:

• Release Time Allowance: Up to $50,000 per knowledge user, per grant;
• The Tri-Council Policy Statement 2 (TCPS 2 - Chapter 9 Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada) recognizes the importance of respecting the culture and traditions of Indigenous Peoples and acknowledges the necessity to incur expenditures in that regard in the conduct of research. As such, the Agency considers these expenditures eligible for payment from the grant holder’s grant funds (with appropriate backup documentation);
  • Costs related to community mobilization and engagement, including culturally relevant promotional items such as, tobacco, cloth, feasting and gift giving for honoring ceremonies, and cash reimbursements (in a method acceptable to the individual or community being reimbursed) to compensate community participation; and
  • Contracts and/or consultant fees for knowledge translation and communication activities for Indigenous Elders, community members, and Indigenous Knowledge Keepers involved in activities related to the Indigenous community.

The following expenses are not eligible for support through this Funding Opportunity:

• The costs to run a community-based food security program.

Conditions of Funding

• The applicant must consent to the use and disclosure of full application and nominative information at the time of application, for purposes of relevance review and/or funding decisions by the relevant sponsors.
• The Nominated Principal Applicant will be required to submit a mid-term report in the third year of funding in order to summarize the outcomes and describe how the grant funds have been used to date.
• The Nominated Principal Applicant will be required to submit an electronic Final Report to CIHR. This online report will be made available to the Nominated Principal Applicant on ResearchNet at the beginning of the grant funding period and can be filled in as the research progresses.
• The Principal Applicants who are successful in this competition are strongly encouraged to actively participate in peer review, and as members of the CIHR College of Reviewers, when invited.

Review Process and Evaluation

Relevance Review Process

CIHR will perform a relevance review to identify applications that are in alignment with the objectives and research areas of this funding opportunity.

Applications that are not deemed to be relevant will be withdrawn from the competition.

Review Process

For information on CIHR’s peer review principles, see the Peer Review: Overview section of CIHR’s website.

Evaluation Criteria

To support the strategic objectives of this funding opportunity, the following evaluation criteria will be used:

1. Research Approach
   1. Extent to which the proposal responds to the objectives of funding opportunity.
   2. Clarity of the research questions.
   3. Appropriateness of the research design and research methods, including:
      • Proposed community and stakeholder engagement methods;
      • Consideration and examination of sex- and/or gender-based factors.
   4. Feasibility of the research approach (including recruitment, project timeline, preliminary data where appropriate, etc.).
   5. Appropriateness of description of how the research project will address the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the self-determination and self-governance of Indigenous Peoples, such as following the First Nations Principles of OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access and Possession)¹.
2. Applicant(s)
   1. Degree to which community and stakeholder participants have been integrated into the research team, design/methods.
   2. Appropriateness of the team of applicants to carry out the proposed research, in terms of complementarity of expertise and synergistic potential.
   3. Qualifications of the applicant(s), including training, community-based research experience, as well as their specific experience and skills.
   4. Experience of the research team in research related to community-based research, food security and climate change research in the North, and with the proposed methodology.
3. Impact of the Research
   1. Potential for a significant contribution to the improvement of Indigenous People's health in the Canadian North and/or to the development of more effective programs and policies to address food security and climate change.
   2. Appropriateness and potential impact of the knowledge translation plan for involved and affected Indigenous communities, as applicable.

Full Application

1. Research Approach
   1. Extent to which the proposal responds to the objectives of funding opportunity.
   2. Clarity of the research question.
   3. Appropriateness of the research design and research methods, including:
      • Proposed community and stakeholder engagement methods.
      • Consideration and examination of sex and/or gender-based factors.
   4. Feasibility of the community-based research approach (including recruitment, project timeline, preliminary data where appropriate, etc.).
   5. Anticipation of difficulties that may be encountered and appropriate risk mitigation strategies.
   6. Originality of the proposed research, in terms of the research questions addressed, community engagement strategies, and/or novel applications of current technology/methodology.
   7. Appropriateness of description of how the research project will address the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the self-determination and self-governance of Indigenous Peoples, such as following the First Nations Principles of OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access and Possession)¹.
2. Applicant(s)
   1. Applicant(s) experience and skills, community leadership, track record, importance and relevance of past community-based research with Indigenous communities.
   2. Experience of the research team in research related to food security and climate change research in the North and with the proposed methodology.
   3. Ability to successfully and appropriately disseminate research findings, as demonstrated by knowledge translation activities (engagement with key stakeholders and Indigenous communities, publications, conference and community presentations, etc.).
   4. Appropriateness of the team of applicants to carry out the proposed research, in terms of complementarity of expertise and synergistic potential.
3. Research Environment
   1. Availability and accessibility of resources and supports required to conduct the research.
   2. Suitability of the environment to conduct the proposed research.
4. Impact of the Research
   1. Potential for a significant contribution to the improvement of Indigenous Peoples’ health in the Canadian North and/or to the development of more effective programs and policies to address food security and climate change in the Canadian North.
   2. Appropriateness and potential impact of the knowledge translation plan for involved and affected Indigenous communities, as appropriate.
   3. Likelihood that the proposed research will strengthen research capacity in food security and climate change in the North.

Funding Decision

Applications will be funded from the top down in order of ranking.

Partner and Internal Collaborator Participation

The opportunity to add new partners and internal collaborators to this funding opportunity may arise after publication. These partners and internal collaborators may not be listed; however, the principles that govern relevance review, including consent to share information and funding decisions, will still apply.

How to Apply

• The application process for this funding opportunity is comprised of two steps: Letter of Intent and Full Application.
• To complete your Letter of Intent, follow the instructions in the Team Grants/ Emerging Team Grants - ResearchNet "Letter of Intent" Phase Instructions along with any additional instructions found below under “Specific Instructions”.
• To complete your Full Application, follow the instructions in the Team Grants / Emerging Team Grants – ResearchNet “Application” Phase Instructions along with any additional instructions found below under “Specific Instructions”.
• All participants listed, with the exception of Collaborators, are required to:
  • Have/obtain a CIHR PIN
  • Complete the Equity and Diversity Questionnaire.
• Organizations applying as Nominated Principal Applicants must contact CIHR’s Contact Centre for guidance in creating a ResearchNet account and registering for a CIHR PIN.

Specific instructions to complete your ResearchNet application

Step 1 — Letter of Intent

Task: Identify Participants

• Identify all participants in this task, including the applicant role that they will have (e.g. Nominated Principal Applicant [NPA], Knowledge User, Co-Applicant, Collaborator, etc.). Consult the Eligibility section and ensure that all requirements are met. Provide CVs (see below) for a maximum of 15 key participants. All known participants (including those who are in addition to the 15 key participants) should also be listed in the Participant Table under the task “Attach Other Application Materials” (see below).
• Independent Researchers: Independent researchers (and the NPA if applicable) are required to submit a Biosketch CV. For each academic participant, enter the confirmation number for the CIHR Biosketch CV provided by the Canadian Common CV. You can find this number under your history on the CCV Web site.
• Knowledge Users: Principal Knowledge Users and Knowledge Users (and the NPA if applicable) must attach a Personal curriculum vitae (CV) (maximum two [2] pages per applicant). Each Personal CV must include 5-10 expertise keywords; a summary of the applicant’s education, current/past affiliations and employment/research experience with effective dates; and any other information pertinent to the participant’s role on the application. This document must be uploaded in the “Attach Other Application Materials” task if the individual is listed as the NPA. (See this task below.
• Indigenous Elders and Indigenous Community Leaders: Indigenous Elders and Indigenous Community Leaders must attach a Personal curriculum vitae (CV) (maximum two [2] pages per applicant). Each Personal CV must include 5-10 expertise keywords; a summary of the applicant’s education, current/past affiliations and employment/research experience with effective dates; and any other information pertinent to the participant’s role on the application. This document must be uploaded in the “Attach Other Application Materials” task if the individual is listed as NPA, a Principal Applicant or Co-Applicant. (See this task below.)
• Organizations as the NPA: If an organization is identified as the NPA, a description of the organization mandate as a Personal CV (maximum two [2] pages) must be attached as an “Other” document in the Attach Other Application Materials task. This document must include a description of how the organization meets the eligibility requirement of being an Indigenous community, group or organization with a research or knowledge translation mandate. This document must be uploaded in the “Attach Other Application Materials” task. (See this task below)
• Collaborators are not required to submit a CV.

Task: Enter Proposal Information

• The research proposal can be up to a maximum of 3 pages, not including references, and must address the letter of intent evaluation criteria above.
• A Summary of Progress up to a maximum of 2 pages and Response to Previous Reviews may be attached.

Task: Complete Summary of Research Proposal

• Summarize your research proposal. Note that your summary cannot exceed one page.

Task: Enter Budget Information

• Applicants may request a development grant of up to $25,000.

Task: Attach Other Application Materials

• Other:
  • Certificate of Completion for the Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis training modules:
    • Download the PDF Certificate and upload the PDF (or Print Screen jpg) here. Note that this document is mandatory for at least one team member (see Eligibility).
  • Description of  how the research project will address the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the self-determination and self-governance of Indigenous Peoples, such as following the First Nations Principles of OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access and Possession)¹.
  • Personal CVs (max 2 pages) are required for Indigenous Elders and Indigenous Community Leaders and NPAs who are either knowledge users or organizations.: See instructions for what to include under the task “Identify Participants” above.

    Impact of COVID-19

    To take into account the impact of COVID-19 on the reduced ability to conduct research during the lockdown and progressive return to work, an additional 1 page can be attached in the “Attach Other Application Materials” section of your application outlining how the applicants were affected, depending of their stage of career, personal situations and area of research.

  • Participant Table:
    • In table format, list all participants (including Collaborators) with their affiliations, region, Scopus ID (if available), roles as per the eligibility criteria (the list need not be final at the Letter of Intent stage), and expertise.

Task: Identify Application Partners (optional) – Upload Partner Information

• A “Partnership Details” form must be submitted for each partner providing cash and/or cash equivalent contributions.
  • For each partner, upload a signed “Partner Letter” describing their role, activities, authorities, accountabilities and contributions (including intellectual, financial [cash or cash equivalent] and other resources).

Task: Print/Upload Signature Pages

• Required signatures:
  • Signatures must be included for all applicants (except Collaborators), and individual(s) with signing authority from the Institution Paid.
  • Original signatures are not required. The scanned signed signature pages and the Routing Slip must be uploaded in the Print/Upload Signature Pages task in ResearchNet prior to submitting your application.

Step 2 — Full application

Task: Identify Participants

• Identify all participants in this task, including the applicant role that they will have (e.g. Nominated Principal Applicant [NPA], Knowledge User, Co-Applicant, Collaborator, etc.). Consult the Eligibility section and ensure that all requirements are met. Provide CVs (see below) for a maximum of 15 key participants. All known participants (including those who are in addition to the 15 key participants) should also be listed in the Participant Table under the task “Attach Other Application Materials” (see below).
• Independent Researchers: Independent researchers (and the NPA if applicable) are required to submit a Biosketch CV. For each academic participant, enter the confirmation number for the CIHR Biosketch CV provided by the Canadian Common CV. You can find this number under your history on the CCV Web site.
• Knowledge Users : Principal Knowledge Users and Knowledge Users (and the NPA if applicable) must attach a Personal curriculum vitae (CV) (maximum two [2] pages per applicant). Each Personal CV must include 5-10 expertise keywords; a summary of the applicant’s education, current/past affiliations and employment/research experience with effective dates; and any other information pertinent to the participant’s role on the application. This document must be uploaded in the “Attach Other Application Materials” task if the individual is listed as the NPA. (See this task below.
• Indigenous Elders and Indigenous Community Leaders : Indigenous Elders and Indigenous Community Leaders must attach a Personal curriculum vitae (CV) (maximum two [2] pages per applicant). Each Personal CV must include 5-10 expertise keywords; a summary of the applicant’s education, current/past affiliations and employment/research experience with effective dates; and any other information pertinent to the participant’s role on the application. This document must be uploaded in the “Attach Other Application Materials” task if the individual is listed as NPA, a Principal Applicant or Co-Applicant. (See this task below)
• Organizations as the NPA : If an organization is identified as the NPA, a description of the organization mandate as a Personal CV (maximum two [2] pages) must be attached as an “Other” document in the Attach Other Application Materials task. This document must include a description of how the organization meets the eligibility requirement of being an Indigenous community, group or organization with a research or knowledge translation mandate. This document must be uploaded in the “Attach Other Application Materials” task. (See this task below.)
• Collaborators are not required to submit a CV.

Task: Enter Proposal Information

• The research proposal can be up to a maximum of 15 pages, not including references, and must address the full application evaluation criteria above.
• A Summary of Progress up to a maximum of 2 pages and Response to Previous Reviews may be attached.

Task: Complete Summary of Research Proposal

• Summarize your research proposal. Note that your summary cannot exceed one page.

Task: Enter Budget Information

• Provide a detailed budget and clear justification for all items (including cash and cash equivalent contributions, if relevant).
• For release time allowance requests (if applicable), you must include a letter (upload as “Other Supporting Documents”) from the recipient's organization certifying that the individual for whom the release time allowance is requested:
  • Is a knowledge user on the grant whose primary responsibilities do not include an expectation to engage in research (i.e., as part of their regular employment);
  • Has their organization's approval for the research time on the project that would justify the allowance; and
  • Is engaged in the activities for which funds are being disbursed.

Task: Attach Other Application Materials

• Other:
  • Description of  how the research project will address the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the self-determination and self-governance of Indigenous Peoples, such as following the First Nations Principles of OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access and Possession)¹.
  • Personal CVs (max 2 pages) are required for Indigenous Elders and Indigenous Community Leaders and NPAS who are either knowledge users or organizations. See instructions for what to include under the task “Identify Participants” above.

  Impact of COVID-19

  To take into account the impact of COVID-19 on the reduced ability to conduct research during the lockdown and progressive return to work, an additional 1 page can be attached in the “Attach Other Application Materials” section of your application outlining how the applicants were affected, depending of their stage of career, personal situations and area of research.

• Participant Table:
  • In table format, list all participants (including Collaborators) with their affiliations, region, Scopus ID (if available), roles as per the eligibility criteria and expertise.
• Letters of Collaboration (optional) – upload under “Letter of Collaboration”:
  • Signed letters of Collaboration are required from all Collaborator(s) listed on the application.

Task: Identify Application Partners (optional) – Upload Partner Information

• A “Partnership Details” form must be submitted for each partner providing cash and/or cash equivalent contributions.
  • For each partner, upload a signed “Partner Letter” describing their role, activities, authorities, accountabilities and contributions (including intellectual, financial [cash or cash equivalent] and other resources).

Task: Print/Upload Signature Pages

• Required signatures:
  • Signatures must be included for all applicants (except Collaborators), and individual(s) with signing authority from the Institution Paid.
  • Original signatures are not required. The scanned signed signature pages and the Routing Slip must be uploaded in the Print/Upload Signature Pages task in ResearchNet prior to submitting your application.

Contact Information

For all inquiries, please contact:

CIHR Contact Centre
Telephone: 613-954-1968
Toll Free: 1-888-603-4178
Email: support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For service hours, please consult our Contact us page.

Sponsor Description

Note: Additional partners/internal collaborators, including from industry and the private sector, may join this funding initiative over the coming year.

Internal Collaborators

Canadian Institutes of Health Research
At the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), we know that research has the power to change lives. As Canada’s health research investment agency, we collaborate with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system.

CIHR’s investment in the Food Security and Climate Change in the Canadian North Development and Engagement Grants are part of a priority-driven Environments and Health Signature Initiative. The Environments and Health Signature Initiative will build upon Canadian research strengths and expertise and strengthen Canada's position as an international leader in interdisciplinary environments and health research. Scientific leadership and support for this initiative is provided by the Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (INMD).

Additional Information

Cultural Safety

Respectful relationships can be established when the research environment is socially, spiritually, emotionally and physically safe. Cultural safety is a participant-centered approach that encourages self-reflexivity among health researchers and practitioners. It requires an examination of how systemic and personal biases, authority, privilege and territorial history can influence these relationships. Cultural safety requires building trust with Indigenous Peoples and communities in the conduct of research.

Realizing cultural safety in health and wellbeing research entails understanding the social, political and historical contexts that have resulted in power imbalances. It requires an individual to have cultural humility, competence, sensitivity and awareness in determining relevant health research policies, programs, models and projects with Indigenous Peoples.

Meaningful and culturally safe practices refer to equity in health research and delivery. In a meaningful and culturally safe research environment, each person’s identity, beliefs, needs and reality is acknowledged. Participants feel safe based on mutual respect, meanings, learning experiences and shared knowledge. Cultural safety empowers people and ensures that the participating community, group or individual is a partner in decision-making.

Bourassa, C., Oleson, E., Diver, S., & McElhaney, J. (2019). Cultural safety. In K. Graham, D. Newhouse, & C. Garay (Eds.), Sharing the land, sharing a future (p. xxx-xxx). Winnipeg, MB: University of Manitoba Press. In press.
First Nations Health Authority. (n.d.). Cultural humility. Received November 12, 2018.
Williams, R. (1999). Cultural safety – what does it mean for our work practice? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 23(2), 213-214.

References:

1. OCAP® is a registered trademark of the First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC).