Investing in Solutions - Strategic Plan 2015-2020Part of Canada’s foreign affairs and development efforts, IDRC invests in knowledge, innovation, and solutions to improve lives and livelihoods in the developing world. Bringing together the right partners around opportunities for impact, IDRC builds leaders for today and tomorrow and helps drive change for those who need it most.The International Development Research Centre Act describes the Centre's mandate: "to initiate, encourage, support, and conduct research into the problems of the developing regions of the world and into the means for applying and adapting scientific, technical, and other knowledge to the economic and social advancement of those regions."International Development Research CentreIDRC_f893a218-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f10IDRC was established by an act of Canada’s parliament in 1970 to help developing countries find solutions to their challenges. a leader among the world’s top funders of development research, IDRC wields considerable influence in this field, and boosts Canada’s reputation as an innovative and important player on the world stage. The world’s most prominent government and private donor agencies consistently seek out IDRC for collaboration, and these donor partnerships account for a significant and increasing share of the Centre’s programming.Monte SolbergThe Honourable Monte Solberg, P.C. -- ChairpersonJean LebelPresidentCanadaIDRC Board of GovernorsThe Centre is governed by a board of up to 14 governors, whose chairperson reports to Canada's parliament through the Minister of International Development.Minister of International DevelopmentKnowledge, innovation, and solutions to improve the lives of people in the developing world_f893a3c6-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f10_f893a48e-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f10KnowledgeInnovationSolutionsKnowledge & ChangeInvest in knowledge and innovation for large-scale positive change_f893a538-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f101IDRC supports the generation of knowledge and innovation for positive change. The Centre will seek to enhance the well-being of larger numbers of people through these investments, accelerating development research on its way to big impact. This will contribute to improvements in areas such as food security; maternal, newborn, and child health; employment for women and youth; and science and innovation... Within five years: * across its programming, IDRC will be working with public and private sector actors who can advance ideas and innovation through to large-scale implementation * IDRC will have supported at least 20 initiatives that deliver solutions at scale * IDRC will be recognized for sharing its learning in scaling up solutions, helping position Canada as a leader in innovative approaches to developmentIdeas & InnovationsGenerate, identify, and test scalable ideas and innovations, further supporting those with implementation potential_f893a5ec-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f101.1SolutionsConnect solutions with actors who can help advance those solutions to achieve large-scale impact_f893a696-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f101.2ActorsSuccess FactorsExamine early wins in scaling up, in order to identify and share critical success factors_f893a740-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f101.3LeadersBuild the leaders for today and tomorrow_f893a7fe-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f102Enabling leaders in government, research, and business in the developing world strengthens societies, and builds important relationships for Canada. The Centre will increase its focus on emerging leaders, who can contribute in areas such as sustainable economic growth, and governance. Within five years: * IDRC will have identified and supported at least 500 individuals whose leadership potential merited special investment * at least 50 IDRC-supported individuals and organizations will have made significant advances in their fields, emerging as knowledge leaders, exerting influence, and bringing solutions to large populationsGrants & FellowshipsSupport high-potential individuals through grants and fellowships, as well as access to networks that will help increase their influence and impact_f893a8b2-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f102.1TransformationStrengthen think tanks and other institutions that can make transformative development contributions_f893a966-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f102.2Think TanksPartnershipsBe the partner of choice for greater impact_f893aa24-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f103Partnerships and networks are key to development impact. With a focus on broadening the Centre's growing partnership base and brokering new relationships, IDRC will foster collaborations that generate powerful ideas, integrate expertise from the private sector, and multiply resources devoted to development solutions... Within five years: * IDRC will be working with partners from all sectors, generating new ideas and implementation opportunities * IDRC will have supplemented its Canadian parliamentary appropriation with $450 million in additional resources from partnersBaseBroaden further its partnership base to include the private sector and emerging funders_f893aad8-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f103.1Private SectorOpportunities & CollaborationEnable new access to international opportunities and collaboration for Canadian and developing country researchers_f893ab8c-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f103.2Canadian ResearchersDeveloping Country ResearchersImplementationTake action to ensure that the Centre is best positioned to make its mark_f893ac86-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f104AGENDA FOR ACTION -- Achieving IDRC's strategic objectives will require hard work and discipline. IDRC will take action in six significant ways to ensure that the Centre is best positioned to make its mark:FocusFocus the Centre's programming IDRC will focus its programming to help Canada meet its foreign affairs and development goals, and where the greatest opportunities for impact exist in relation to the Centre's strategic objectives._f893ad44-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f104.1These areas of focus will be: * agriculture and environment * Inclusive economies * Technology and innovation Private SectorWork alongside the private sector_f893ae02-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f104.2IDRC believes the private sector has a key role to play both in innovation and in the delivery of solutions. across its programming, IDRC will build relationships that bring new and traditional players together to achieve results, and pursue opportunities for solutions to be applied at scale.CommunicationCommunicate strategically_f893aeca-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f104.3IDRC will increase the visibility and recognition domestically and internationally of Canada's development contributions, informing Canadians about the significant outcomes of the Centre's investments. This will also help position the Centre as a partner of choice.International PresenceLeverage the Centre's international presence_f893b26c-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f104.4IDRC's global staff, who work closely with Canada's missions abroad, will continue to contribute substantially to the relevance and effectiveness of the Centre's programming. This will particularly be the case when connecting solutions with local actors, identifying and supporting emerging leaders, and fostering multi-sectoral partnerships.ResourcesBe smart with resources_f893b32a-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f104.5IDRC will continue to plan responsibly and find efficiencies as it focuses its programming and advances Canada’s foreign affairs and development objectives. The Centre will remain prudent with resources and agile in its processes, maximizing the use of resources for delivery of impact.Staff DevelopmentInvest in staff development_f893b3fc-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f104.6IDRC Staffas IDRC's effectiveness is closely linked to the competencies and expertise of its staff, it will invest strategically in the professional development of its employees. This will allow the Centre to mobilize the talent it needs to reach its ambitious objectives.SuccessAchieve success_f893b4ce-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f105ACHIEVING SUCCESS -- Success in carrying out this strategic plan will rely on IDRC's continued ability to learn and adapt. As the context in which the Centre works continues to change, and as experience working toward the strategic objectives is built, the Centre must remain nimble and adaptable. ... planning, monitoring, and reporting will keep the Centre focused on the impact of its investments -- and ultimately on knowledge, innovation, and solutions to improve the lives of people in the developing world.DiscussionRegularly discuss the implementation of the various elements of the plan with its Board of Governors, and adjust course as needed_f893b596-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f105.1Progress ReportsShare progress with Canadians about the plan's strategic objectives and the Centre's results_f893b668-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f105.2EvaluationContinue to evaluate the Centre's programming in a rigourous manner, learning from successes and failures_f893b7d0-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f105.3PlanningEvaluate implementation of the plan overall, in order to inform the next strategic planning cycle_f893b898-dcc2-11e5-a241-26fcb57b6f105.42015-01-012020-12-312016-02-26http://www.idrc.ca/EN/Documents/IDRC-strategic-plan-2015-2020.PDFOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net