Gender-based analysis plus

Yes—Through a self-identification questionnaire completed by applicants and merit review committee members, the Insight Research program collects sufficient data for monitoring and reporting the program’s impacts (i.e., application rates and award rates) by different identity factors.

In 2024-25, SSHRC will strengthen its capacity for GBA Plus through the ongoing engagement of researchers and students with disabilities in the implementation of the agency’s Accessibility Plan.

Canada Research Chairs Program:

• Following the implementation of the new population-based equity target setting methodology, a summary table of each institution’s equity targets during the 2021 to 2029 period was published. The program continues to monitor these targets and to implement consequences in cases where institutions do not meet their targets by each deadline.
• Public reporting on nomination rates was expanded to include the period from 2000 to 2016, prior to the collection of data on all four designated groups.
• The program has also increased its analysis of intersectional and disaggregated data and collects annual reports from participating institutions on the progress of their EDI activities related to the program.
• Questions related to EDI are also included in annual chairholder reporting.
• The 2023 evaluation of the program recommended to further clarify the definition and application of the concept of research excellence throughout the nomination and review processes, in alignment with the program’s EDI requirements. Additional future initiatives include implementing requirements for very small institutions to develop and implement EDI action plans, and engagement with Indigenous Peoples on the program’s equity targets for Indigenous Peoples.

Canada Excellence Research Chairs and Canada 150 Research Chairs:

• Core team members from each program (e.g., faculty, trainees, other highly qualified personnel and administrative staff) also complete the self-identification form as part of the annual progress reporting requirements for the two programs.
• The latest competitions of the programs incorporated a stronger focus on EDI as a measure of excellence in both research design and the composition of the research teams. Research funded is expected to demonstrate leadership in EDI, including for identity factors such as race, ethnicity, sex, gender, religion, age, and mental or physical disability, through gender-based analysis plus, or through sex- and gender-based analysis plus, at all stages of the research process. This includes the submission of a comprehensive EDI action plan within one year of the start date for funded teams, which will be evaluated to ensure it meets program requirements.

Canada First Research Excellence Fund:

• The program provides each institution with aggregate EDI data on a yearly basis to help inform their progress. These data are used to monitor performance related to EDI.
• The last competition of the program incorporated a stronger focus on EDI as a measure of excellence in both research design and the composition of the research teams. In particular, all new applications require a program-specific comprehensive EDI action plan, which will need to be submitted within one year of the start date of the grant, and which will be formally evaluated to ensure it meets program requirements. This will provide valuable information for monitoring representation within the program and will complement the annual collection of self-identification data from participants.
• The midterm review process for each grant also involves a review of the institutional and scientific strategy of the initiative, which includes the EDI action plan, the performance measurement plan, and other plans or actions that support EDI. Consequences may be applied in cases where sufficient progress in implementing the EDI action plans is not found.

Yes—Through a self-identification questionnaire (also a harmonized tri-agency form), the Research Training and Talent Development program collects sufficient data for monitoring and reporting on its impacts (i.e., application rates and award rates) by gender and diversity (persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples and members of visible minorities).

In 2024-25, SSHRC’s Evaluation Division will use a GBA Plus protocol in a pilot study on SSHRC direct funding to graduate students who identify as having disabilities. SSHRC will also strengthen its capacity for GBA Plus through the ongoing engagement of researchers and students with disabilities in the implementation of the agency’s Accessibility Plan.

Yes—Through a self-identification questionnaire (also a harmonized tri-agency form), the Research Partnerships program collects sufficient data for monitoring and reporting impacts (i.e., application rates and award rates) of the program by gender and diversity (persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples and members of visible minorities).

SSHRC will strengthen its capacity for GBA Plus through the ongoing engagement of researchers and students with disabilities in the implementation of the agency’s Accessibility Plan.

Yes—Through a self-identification questionnaire (also a harmonized tri-agency form), the New Frontiers in Research Fund collects sufficient data for monitoring for potential biases in its merit review process and reporting on representation of individuals from the four designated groups in the program (women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples and members of visible minorities).

SSHRC will strengthen its capacity for GBA Plus through the ongoing engagement of researchers and students with disabilities in the implementation of the agency’s Accessibility Plan.

No—Due to the nature of the program, self-identification data are not collected for the Research Support Fund as applicants are institutions and not individuals.

The Research Support Fund will implement a renewed reporting framework as part of the management response to the 15-year evaluation of the Research Support Fund, which will take into account monitoring and reporting of the program’s contributions to implementing institutional objectives related to EDI in the research enterprise.

Yes—This program has collected self-identification information as part of the application process for the second stage of the competition.

The Canada Biomedical Research Fund collects, through a self-identification questionnaire (also a harmonized tri-agency form), sufficient data on research participants and reviewers to monitor for potential biases in its merit review processes (i.e., application rates and award rates) and to report on representation within the program in terms of participation of individuals from the four designated groups (women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples and members of visible minorities). All applicants to the stage 2 competition were required to complete the self-identification questionnaire as part of the application process. During stage 1 of the competition (Research Hubs Selection), and stage 2 (research, talent development and infrastructure projects aligned with the hubs) applicants were required to demonstrate active and rigorous measures implemented to support Early Career Researchers and eliminate or prevent systemic barriers that may result in individuals from underrepresented groups having unequal access to, or being excluded from, participating in activities.