IDRC Challenge Fund / Fonds d’encouragement du CRDI
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Many global issues can only be addressed through collaboration. IDRC’s Challenge Fund joins with Canada’s science granting councils to support joint research by Canadian and Southern scientists in areas of shared interest, such as climate change and infectious disease. Our partnerships allow us to support large-scale competitions that target global challenges.
Established in 2005, IDRC’s Challenge Fund responds to the growing interest of researchers and research funding organizations to conduct and support collaborative and comparative international research. We support research in:
- agriculture and the environment
- health and health systems
- social and economic policy
- science, technology, and innovation
The projects we fund facilitate the generation and sharing of knowledge across borders and sectors.
Seule la collaboration permet d’aborder nombre d’enjeux mondiaux. Par le truchement de son Fonds d’encouragement, le CRDI s’associe aux conseils subventionnaires de la recherche scientifique du Canada afin de soutenir des travaux de recherche que des scientifiques d’ici et de pays du Sud réalisent ensemble sur des sujets revêtant un intérêt commun, comme les changements climatiques et les maladies infectieuses. Ces partenariats permettent de financer des concours d’envergure visant à relever des défis d’envergure mondiale.
Le Fonds d’encouragement du CRDI a été créé en 2005 en raison de l’intérêt croissant que des chercheurs et des organismes de financement portaient à la recherche internationale concertée et comparative. Le Fonds soutient la recherche dans les domaines suivants :
- l’agriculture et l’environnement
- la santé et les systèmes de santé
- la politique sociale et économique
- la science, la technologie et l’innovation
Les projets financés facilitent la production de connaissances et leur diffusion d’un pays à l’autre et d’un secteur à l’autre.
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Item Acute gastrointestinal illness in two Inuit communities : burden of illness in Rigolet and Iqaluit, Canada : author version(2014) Harper, Sherilee; Edge, Victoria; Ford, James D.; Thomas, M.K.; Pearl, D.L.Results of this study highlight the need for systematic data collection to better understand and support previously anecdotal indications of high acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) incidence. Cross-sectional retrospective surveys captured information on AGI and potential environmental risk factors. Lack of access to health services can result in reduced care-seeking behaviour, which can compromise the quality and quantity of available surveillance data. The aim of the research was to estimate the incidence and prevalence of AGI, and to identify potential socio-economic and environmental risk factors in the Inuit communities of Rigolet, Nunatsiavut and Iqaluit in Nunavut, Canada.Item Acute toxicity, accumulation and tissue distribution of copper in the blue crab Callinectes sapidus acclimated to different salinities: in vivo and in vitro studies(2010) Martins, C M; Barcarolli, I F; de Menezes, E J; Giacomin, M M; Wood, C MIn vivo and in vitro studies were performed to evaluate acute toxicity, organ-specific distribution, and tissue accumulation of copper in Callinectes sapidus acclimated to two different experimental salinities (2 and 30 ppt). Blue crabs were quite tolerant to copper. Acute dissolved copper toxicity (96-h LC50 and its corresponding 95% confident interval) was higher at salinity 2 ppt (5.3 (3.50–8.05) μM Cu) than at 30 ppt (53.0 (27.39–102.52) μM Cu). The difference between salinities can be completely explained based on the water chemistry because it disappeared when 96-h LC50 values were expressed as the free Cu2+ ion (3.1 (1.93–4.95) μM free Cu at 2 ppt versus 5.6 (2.33–13.37) μM free Cu at 30 ppt) or the Cu2+ activity (1.4 (0.88–2.26) μM Cu activity at 2 ppt versus 1.7 (0.71–4.07) μM Cu activity at 30 ppt). The relationships between gill Cu burden and % mortality were very similar at 2 and 30 ppt, in accord with the Biotic Ligand Model. In vivo experiments showed that copper concentration in the hemolymph is not dependent on metal concentration in the surrounding medium at either experimental salinity. They also showed that copper flux into the gills is higher than into other tissues analyzed, and that anterior and posterior gills are similarly important sites of copper accumulation at both experimental salinities. In vitro experiments with isolated-perfused gills showed that there is a positive relationship between copper accumulation in this tissue and the metal concentration in the incubation media for both anterior and posterior gills. A similar result was observed at both low and high salinities. Furthermore, in vitro experiments showed that copper accumulation in posterior gills is also positively and strongly dependent on the incubation time with copper. Gill copper accumulation occurred at a lower rate in the first 2 h of metal exposure, increasing markedly after this “steady-state” period. This finding was corroborated by a significant increase in copper influx to the gill perfusate (corresponding to crab hemolymph) after this time, measured using 64Cu. In vivo, after uptake from solution, 64Cu was primarily accumulated in the gills and the rest of the body rather than in the hemolymph, hepatopancreas, or other internal tissues. Overall, the present findings indicate that gills are a key target organ for copper accumulation, as well as an important biological barrier against the excessive uptake of copper into the hemolymph and the subsequent distribution of this metal to internal organs of the blue crab.Item Acute waterborne copper toxicity to the euryhaline copepod Acartia tonsa at different salinities : influence of natural freshwater and marine dissolved organic matter(SETAC Press, 2013) Carvalho Rodrigues Monteiro, Sandra; Lopes Leães Pinho, Grasiela; Hoffmann, Karine; Barcarolli, Indianara Fernanda; Bianchini, AdaltoThe influence of natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) on acute waterborne Cu toxicity was evaluated in the euryhaline copepod Acartia tonsa at 3 different water salinities. Three sources of freshwater DOM (extracted by reverse osmosis) and 2 sources of marine DOM (extracted using a solid-phase technique) were used. Artificial salt water was used to prepare the experimental media. Different combinations of Cu concentrations and DOM sources and concentrations were tested at salinities of 5, 15, and 30 ppt. Toxicity data (48-h median lethal concentration [LC50] values) were calculated based on dissolved Cu concentrations. In a broad view, data showed that increasing salinity was protective against the acute waterborne Cu toxicity. In general, Cu toxicity was also lower in the presence than in the absence of DOM. Toxicity (48-h LC50) values from all treatments at the same salinity showed a positive linear relationship with the dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Thus, the protective effect of DOM against the acute Cu toxicity seems to be dependent mainly on the DOM concentration. However, it seems also to be dependent to some extent on the source of DOM used. In summary, findings reported in the present study clearly indicate that both salinity and DOM (source and concentration) should be taken into account in the development of an estuarine version of the biotic ligand model.Item Adaptação multicêntrica do guia para a gestão autônoma da medicação(Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), 2012) Onocko Campos, Rosana Teresa; de Lima Palombini, Analice; do Eirado Silva, André; Passos, Eduardo; Leal, Erotildes MariaO uso crescente de psicofármacos e o baixo empowerment dos usuários mostram-se críticos à qualificação da assistência em Saúde Mental no Brasil. Este estudo, abrangendo três cidades brasileiras, objetivou a elaboração do Guia Brasileiro da Gestão Autônoma da Medicação (GGAM-BR), com base na tradução e adaptação de guia desenvolvido no Canadá; e a avaliação dos efeitos do uso do GGAM-BR na formação de trabalhadores de saúde mental. Constituíram-se grupos de intervenção (GIs) para compartilhamento das experiências com tratamento medicamentoso, a partir dos temas propostos no guia; e foram realizados grupos focais antes e após os GIs. Importantes mudanças em relação ao texto original do guia Canadense foram implementadas, levando em conta a realidade brasileira. Constatou-se que o GGAM-BR constitui estratégia potente de fomento à participação ativa dos usuários na gestão do tratamento e do serviço, incidindo positivamente na formação de trabalhadores.Item Adaptation and indigenous peoples in the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change : post-print version(2016) Ford, James D.; Maillet, Michelle; Pouliot, V.; Meredith, T.; Cavanaugh, A.The article catalogues the discourse of adaptation within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by reviewing decision texts from the Conference of the Parties (CP) to the UNFCCC from 1992 until CP20 in 2014 (Lima). Through critical discourse analysis, Indigenous rights, practices, and knowledge are examined as they are embodied in decision texts. Implications of discursive trends around adaptation for Indigenous peoples are presented. Since CP16 (Cancun 2010), the discursive space for incorporating the voices, needs, and priorities of Indigenous peoples has expanded. The paper outlines opportunities for greater engagement in the UNFCCC post-Paris Agreement.Item Adapting to flooding in Georgetown : an investigation of climate change, sea level rise, state policy and community practices(Department of Geomatics Engineering and Land Management, University of the West Indies, 2010) Leung, Kira Lise; Department of Geomatics Engineering and Land Management, University of the West IndiesClimate change is being accompanied by rising sea levels and shifts in precipitation patterns worldwide. This phenomenon is increasing the frequency and severity of flooding events in Georgetown, which is already vulnerable due to its low elevation and history of land reclamation. Moreover, adaptive capacity is low due to limited financial resources and poor governance. The realization of a suitable adaptation plan for Georgetown through a more geographically-specific understanding of vulnerability and adaptation options is therefore critical. Using case study wards differing by income level, land tenure, sewerage system, and garbage disposal method, the project examined how various wards were responding to the threat of flooding with the resources available to them. Sample wards were then used as an indication of how wards with similar characteristics are adapting. As flooding is imposed upon a largely pre-existent urban structure, all social classes and urban environments were found to be potentially vulnerable to the impacts of flood events. Nevertheless, household experiences of flooding and its impacts were shown to be influenced by household asset profiles (income), which were in turn, linked to location (i.e. urban or semi-urban) and dwelling construction style. Results suggest state intervention via enforcement of relevant building codes, drainage infrastructure maintenance, and secure housing programs, is likely to reduce Georgetown’s vulnerability to the threat of flooding. Increased public awareness and disaster preparedness also stands to boost adaptive capacity.Item Adapting visual methodologies to identify youth protective processes in negotiating resilience across cultures and contexts(Australian Psychological Society, 2011-08) Cameron, Catherine Ann; Theron, Linda; Ungar, Michael; Liebenberg, LindaThis paper reports on methodological innovations in an ecological investigation of protective processes in the experiences of youths in transition in eight locations around the globe. Several visual methods were enlisted in working with thriving early adolescents in challenging transitional or relocational situations. Resilience is viewed here as processes that are contextually and culturally specific functional adaptations to environmental challenges. Such adaptations were determined by local Community Advisors (CAs) to signal that a youth was ‘growing up well’ (Ungar, 2008). The methodologies adapted to this study of youth involved videotaping one full day in the life of each participant (Gillen, Cameron, Tapanya, Pinto, Hancock, Young, & Accorti Gamannossi, 2006), a photo elicitation procedure (Liebenberg, 2009), and semistructured interviews with the youths to engage their reflective responses to our interpretations of their daily experiences. The international, interdisciplinary research team co-constructed their understanding of protective factors in the youths’ days through viewing and reviewing the visual materials in concert with the participants’ perceptions of them and in consultation with local CAs. The lessons learned from adapting these visual methods to gain appreciation of protective processes in youths’ lives are offered.Item Amplify-and-Forward Cooperative Diversity for BICM-OFDM Systems(2010) Islam, T; Schober, R; Mallik, R K; Bhargava, V KIn this paper, we propose a novel amplify-and- forward cooperative diversity scheme for wireless systems using the combination of bit-interleaved coded modulation (BICM) and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). In the proposed scheme, multiple relays transmit concurrently over disjoint sets of sub-carriers. A careful joint design of the sub- carrier allocation at the relays and the interleaver at the source ensures that the proposed scheme can exploit the maximum spatial and frequency diversity offered by the wireless channel. An upper bound on the asymptotic worst-case pairwise error probability of the proposed cooperative diversity scheme is developed which provides insight into to the influence of various code and channel parameters on performance. Simulation results corroborate the analytical results regarding the diversity gain of the system and confirm the effectiveness of a newly developed relay selection criterion.Item Análisis de vulnerabilidad de la cuenca del río Chinchiná para condiciones estacionarias y de cambio climático(Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 2012-03) Ocampo López, Olga LucíaEl análisis de vulnerabilidad de la cuenca del río Chinchiná es un estudio técnico de diagnóstico que aporta información básica y estratégica para el plan de gestión integral del recurso hídrico. Incluye la caracterización física y climática y el balance hidrológico. La investigación estima las alteraciones en las variables climatológicas, en el régimen hidrológico y en la oferta hídrica por variabilidad climática; evalúa los cambios en la temperatura, la precipitación y la escorrentía por los eventos cálidos -El Niño- y fríos -La Niña- del fenómeno ENSO- Oscilación del Sur. Empleando indicadores del régimen hidrológico, identifica y confirma aspectos críticos como la baja capacidad de retención y regulación hídrica, el stress hídrico por disponibilidad per-cápita de agua; la presión por el uso y la alteración muy alta de la calidad del agua; indicadores que se traducen en una alta vulnerabilidad hídrica de la cuenca. A partir del análisis estadístico de las series históricas se evidencian las señales de cambio climático, reflejadas en aumento de las temperaturas medias en 0.5°C, mínimas en 0.45°C y máximas en 0.25°C, en promedio, para el período 1981-2010, con respecto al registro histórico-1951-1980 y el incremento en la frecuencia de las precipitaciones extremas-percentil 95 y 99-. En relación a la oferta, el balance hídrico reporta reducciones, en algunas estaciones hidrológicas. Las cuencas de alta montaña andinas como el río Chinchiná son vulnerables a los cambios climáticos; la vulnerabilidad por desabastecimiento se ha incrementado de moderada a alta por la muy baja capacidad de regulación y retención hídrica y el uso moderado del recurso; sin embargo, dicha vulnerabilidad podría acentuarse con el cambio climático, por efecto de la posible reducción en la oferta y por una mayor demanda de agua por el crecimiento de la población y de las actividades económicas / Abstract: Chinchina River Basin vulnerability analysis is a diagnostic technical study which provides basic and strategic information for integrated water resource management. It includes physical and climatic watershed characterization and hydrological balance. The research estimates changes in climatic variables, hydrological regime and water supply due to natural climate variability. Effects on temperature, rainfall and runoff produced by “El Niño” and “La Niña” are also evaluated. Using hydrological indicators, critical issues such as low retention and water regulation capacity, water stress by per capita water availability, pressure for water use, water pollution and high vulnerability have been confirmed. Statistics analysis of historical series has shown signs of climate change by increasing in average temperatures of 0,50°C; 0,45°C in minimum temperatures and 0,25° in maximum temperatures for the period 1981-2010 in relation to the historical record-1951-1980. In addition, increasing frequency of extreme rainfall events over the 95 and 99 percentile has been detected. Regarding water balance, hydrological simulation of rainfall-runoff phenomenon has projected reduction in water supply. The Andean mountain Chinchina River Basin is vulnerable to climate change; however, the potential water availability reduction and the increasing demand from a population growth and economic activities would accentuate the water resources vulnerabilityItem Analysis and Design of Cooperative BICM-OFDM Systems(IEEE, 2011-06) Islam, Toufiqul; Schober, Robert; Mallik, Ranjan K; Bhargava, Vijay KIn this paper, we propose a novel cooperative diversity scheme for wireless systems employing the combination of bit–interleaved coded modulation (BICM) and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). The proposed scheme utilizes an amplify–and–forward protocol where relays are assigned to multiple groups. Relays in the same group transmit concurrently over disjoint sets of sub–carriers and relays in different groups transmit in different time slots. We derive closed–form expressions for the asymptotic worst–case pairwise error probability and the diversity gain of the proposed cooperative BICM–OFDM scheme. Based on the derived analytical results we develop design guidelines for sub–carrier allocation, relay grouping, and relay selection. Simulation results corroborate the derived analytical results and confirm the effectiveness of the developed optimization framework.Item Analysis and relay placement for DF cooperative BICM-OFDM systems(2011) Islam, T; Nasri, A; Schober, R; Mallik, R KIn this paper, we study a decode-and-forward cooperative diversity scheme for wireless systems using the combination of bit-interleaved coded modulation (BICM) and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). We propose a simple cooperative maximum-ratio combining scheme for the destination which can successfully exploit the full spatial and frequency diversity offered by the channel. Taking possible decision errors at the relay into account, we develop a closed- form upper bound on the asymptotic worst-case pairwise error probability (PEP) of the considered cooperative diversity system which provides insight into the influence of various code and channel parameters on performance. The PEP expression is then exploited for optimal relay placement. Simulation results corroborate the derived analytical results regarding the diversity gain of the system and confirm the effectiveness of the proposed relay placement scheme.Item Annual Profile & Inventory - Procedures Manual for Evaluating Knowledge-Translation Platforms in Low- and Middle- Income Countries(2011-11) Johnson, Nancy A; Lavis, John NItem Answering Opinion Questions with Random Walks on Graphs(2009-08) Li, Fangtao; Tang, Yang; Huang, Minlie; Zhu, XiaoyanOpinion Question Answering (Opinion QA), which aims to find the authors’ sentimental opinions on a specific target, is more challenging than traditional fact-based question answering problems. To extract the opinion oriented answers, we need to consider both topic relevance and opinion sentiment issues. Current solutions to this problem are mostly ad-hoc combinations of question topic information and opinion information. In this paper, we propose an Opinion PageRank model and an Opinion HITS model to fully explore the information from different relations among questions and answers, answers and answers, and topics and opinions. By fully exploiting these relations, the experiment results show that our proposed algorithms outperform several state of the art baselines on benchmark data set. A gain of over 10% in F scores is achieved as compared to many other systems.Item Antiretroviral therapy to prevent HIV transmission in serodiscordant couples in China (2003–11) : a national observational cohort study(Elsevier, 2012-12) Zhongwei Jia; Yuhua Ruan; Qianqian Li; Peiyan Xie; Ping LiThe World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that antiretroviral therapy be offered to all HIV-infected individuals with uninfected partners of the opposite sex (serodiscordant couples) to reduce the risk of transmission. Whether a public health approach is feasible, and the outcomes are sustainable at a large scale and in a developing country setting, is assessed in this study. Results show that antiretroviral therapy in serodiscordant couples reduced HIV transmission across China, which suggests that the treatment-as-prevention approach is a feasible public health prevention strategy on a national scale. The durability and generalizability of such protection, however, needs to be further studied.Item Aperçu - Manuel des méthodes d'évaluation des plate-formes d'application et échanges des bases factuelles dans les pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire (PRFI)(2011-11) Johnson, Nancy A; Lavis, John NItem Applying resilience thinking to questions of policy for pastoralist systems : lessons from the Gabra of Northern Kenya(Springer Science+Business Media, 2010) Robinson, Lance W.; Berkes, FikretThe aim of this paper is to explore the relevance of a systematic application of resilience thinking to questions of pastoralist policy, a task that requires taking the concept of resilience beyond the level of a metaphor and operationalizing it. One approach to accomplishing this is the components-relationships-innovation-continuity framework (Cumming et al. 2005), which, in this paper, we apply to analysis of the social-ecological system of the Gabra people in north-central Kenya. While some types of indicators, such as those monitored by humanitarian information systems, can help to identify when the resilience of a system has been eroded, indicators of the components, relationships, and sources of innovation and continuity help o make clear the dynamics of how resilience is being lost. In the case of the Gabra, our analysis suggests that there is a need to envision a third alternative—a stability domain that is distinct both from traditional pastoralism whose viability has been undermined and from the perversely resilient poverty trap that is coming to dominate. While this kind of conclusion may not be new, a resilience-based analysis helps to uncover specific details regarding what such a third alternative might entail and what kinds of policy levers might help to make it possible.Item Artisanal fishers' perceptions about top-down management transcend boundaries: commonalities between SE Brazil and coastal Uruguay(2010-10) Eduardo Chimello de Oliveira, Luiz; Trimble, Micaela; Fabiana Macedo Lopes, Priscila; Begossi, AlpinaItem Assessing community conditions that facilitate implementation of participatory poverty reduction strategies(University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, CA, 2011-11) Muruvi, WanziraiThe study describes organizational and institutional foundations within traditional rural communities that can facilitate implementation of participatory community poverty reduction programs. The focus was on communities within or adjacent to protected areas. Not surprisingly, community groups with the highest potential as implementing agents have strong ties to traditional institutions, suggesting that groups with well recognized power and legitimacy within the community are better positioned to facilitate implementation of community poverty eradication initiatives. A number of indicators of community competence were identified, useful for developing an analytical framework that can be used as a diagnostic tool for determining community competence.Item Assessing resilience across cultures using mixed methods : construction of the child and youth resilience measure(SAGE, 2011) Ungar, Michael; Liebenberg, LindaAn international team of investigators in 11 countries have worked collaboratively to develop a culturally and contextually relevant measure of youth resilience, the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-28). The team used a mixed methods design that facilitated understanding of both common and unique aspects of resilience across cultures. Quantitative and qualitative stages to its development ensure the CYRM-28 has good content-related validity across research sites. Crossover comparison analyses of the findings from the quantitative administration of the pilot measure with 1,451 youth and qualitative interviews with 89 youth support the CYRM-28 as a culturally sensitive measure of youth resilience. The implications of this mixed methods approach to the development of measures for cross-cultural research are discussed.Item Assessing the socioeconomic impact of sea level rise on coastal communities(Department of Geomatics Engineering and Land Management, University of the West Indies, 2010) Grant, Sade; Department of Geomatics Engineering and Land Management, University of the West IndiesThis study assesses the expected impacts of sea level rise on one of the coastal communities of Trinidad, Grande Riviere. As one of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Trinidad is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise. Tourism operations, which are the centre of many of the economic activities in the community, may be affected most by the projected sea level rise. Findings support the need to develop adaptation strategies to minimize impacts of sea level rise on coastal resources of the area in terms of social disruption, economic costs and environmental impacts.