Gender-based analysis plus

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Introduction

In 2018, Parliament passed the Canadian Gender Budgeting Act. The departmental plans and departmental results reports are being used to fulfill the President of the Treasury Board’s obligations to make public, every year, analysis on the impacts of expenditure programs on gender and diversity.

Each organization is responsible for conducting their own Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus).

The Policy on Results indicates that Program officials, as designated by Deputy Heads, are responsible for ensuring data collection for meeting policy requirements.

Applicability

All organizations must complete GBA Plus supplementary information tables in departmental plans and departmental results reports on an annual basis.

Section 1: institutional GBA Plus governance and capacity

Governance

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) maintains several committees that contribute to the implementation of GBA Plus governance in the agency. SSHRC’s Executive Coordination Committee on EDI coordinates and advances EDI priorities to meet the Tri-Agency EDI Action Plan’s objectives. The Advisory Committee on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy is another standing committee that focuses on the Tri-agency Institutional Programs, which SSHRC administers on behalf of the three federal research funding agencies. SSHRC is also a member of the Interagency Coordination Committee on EDI where it supports alignment and harmonization of EDI work across SSHRC and the other federal research funding agencies.

SSHRC’s ad-hoc external advisory committees, specifically the Advisory Committee to Address Anti-Black Racism in Research and Research Training and the Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Systemic Ableism, informed SSHRC’s analyses of the differential impacts of its programs and policies on historically underrepresented groups. In 2023–24, engagement with the Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Systemic Ableism and collaborative efforts across SSHRC contributed to the development of the Accessibility Implementation Plan. The implementation plan details actions SSHRC will take over the next three years to fulfill the requirements laid out in its Accessibility Plan. In March 2024, the committee submitted its report addressing the physical and systemic barriers that researchers with one or more disabilities face when seeking federal research and research training funding.

In addition to SSHRC’s engagement with external advisory committees, the agency engages internally with its Persons with Disabilities Network and the internal Working Group on Anti-Black Racism to support GBA Plus objectives and broader EDI initiatives.

Capacity

In 2023–24, key activities undertaken to advance institutional GBA Plus capacity at SSHRC include the continued collection of self-identification data from funding applicants, co-applicants and merit reviewers; incorporation of a GBA Plus lens in program evaluations; and mandatory training for all staff on accessibility, GBA Plus, and diversity and inclusion.

SSHRC’s continued collection of self-identification data from funding applicants, co-applicants and merit reviewers, and the agency’s annual update of its EDI dashboard, helped advance GBA Plus institutional capacity. The self-identification questionnaire and EDI dashboard are important sources of administrative data on the participation of historically underrepresented groups in SSHRC’s funding programs. Based on six years of collected self-identification data, SSHRC is able to monitor the equity performance of its funding programs and design special measures to help ensure that the agency supports a diverse and inclusive research community.

In 2023–24, SSHRC’s Evaluation Division conducted program evaluations using a GBA Plus protocol that included EDI-focused sub-questions and standardized data collection tools to identify any potential differential outcomes of SSHRC’s programs with respect to research, research training and research careers. This GBA Plus protocol was used in the evaluation of Connection Grants and in the design of the New Frontiers in Research Fund evaluation.

SSHRC continued to implement mandatory training for all staff: Introduction to GBA Plus; Diversity and Inclusion; and Addressing Disability and Inclusion and Barriers to Accessibility. Additionally, Bias in Peer Review is a mandatory training for program-delivery staff. Staff members who handle self-identification data must take the Introduction to Security Awareness course and the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Data and Privacy Protection course. By March 31, 2024, 79.9% of SSHRC staff had completed the Introduction to GBA Plus training course and 69.4% had completed the Addressing Disability and Inclusion and Barriers to Accessibility training course.

SSHRC also provides equity training for all members of its tri-agency executive management governance committees and implements action plans related to EDI objectives from the management responses to the program evaluations for the Canada Excellence Research Chairs, Canada 150 Research Chairs and Canada First Research Excellence Fund.

Human resources (full-time equivalents) dedicated to GBA Plus

SSHRC has integrated the collection of disaggregated data from participants in all its external facing programs and has developed other channels to qualitatively understand barriers to participation experienced by historically underrepresented groups. All this contributes to SSHRC’s ability to implement GBA Plus. This capacity exists throughout the organization, although very few positions use the term “GBA Plus” to describe their function. In 2023–24, 21.5 full-time equivalents (FTEs) were dedicated to working on GBA Plus (defined broadly as monitoring or addressing the participation or experience of historically underrepresented groups in internal and external programs) across SSHRC.

Section 2: gender and diversity impacts, by program

Core responsibility: Funding social sciences and humanities research and training

Program name	Insight Research
Program goals	Insight Research provides grants to researchers and institutions to support research and related activities in the social sciences and humanities. This program builds knowledge and understanding about people, societies and the world. It also informs the search for solutions to societal challenges.
Target population	Scientific researchers, socio-economic researchers
Distribution of benefits	Distribution Group By gender Third group By income level Fourth group By age group Second group
Specific demographic group outcomes	All Canadians; postsecondary sector
Key program impacts on gender and diversity	Key program impact statistics Statistic Observed resultsFootnote * Data source Comment (Maximum 25 words per statistic) Application rate for the four underrepresented groups 49.0% are women 6.9% are persons with disabilities 26.8% are racialized people (“visible minorities”) 1.8% are Indigenous persons Self-identification questionnaire Rates are calculated by dividing the number of applicants who identify as the designated group by the total number of responses (including those who preferred not to answer, but excluding those who did not complete the self-identification questionnaire). Additional data are available on SSHRC’s EDI Dashboard. Award rate for the four underrepresented groups 50.7% are women 6.7% are persons with disabilities 23.9% are racialized people (“visible minorities”) 2.2% are Indigenous persons Self-identification questionnaire Rates are calculated by dividing the number of awardees who identify as the designated group by the total number of responses (including those who preferred not to answer, but excluding those who did not complete the self-identification questionnaire). Additional data are available on SSHRC’s EDI Dashboard. Merit review committee member participation for the four underrepresented groups 53.0% are women 9.3% are persons with disabilities 25.8% are racialized people (“visible minorities”) 3.4% are Indigenous persons Self-identification questionnaire Rates are calculated by dividing the number of merit review committee members who identify as the designated group by the total number of responses (including those who preferred not to answer, but excluding those who did not complete the self-identification questionnaire). Additional data are available on SSHRC’s EDI Dashboard.

Program name	Research Training and Talent Development
Program goals	This program attracts and retains the best and brightest by recognizing and supporting research talent at varying career stages, including funding for graduate or postgraduate-level research and recognition of achievements through awards and prizes.
Target population	Students, international students, scientific researchers
Distribution of benefits	Distribution Group By gender Third group By income level Second group By age group First group
Specific demographic group outcomes	All Canadians; postsecondary sector
Key program impacts on gender and diversity	Key program impact statistics Statistic Observed resultsFootnote * Data source Comment (Maximum 25 words per statistic) Application rate for the four underrepresented groups 66.6% are women 17.5% are persons with disabilities 23.9% are racialized people (“visible minorities”) 4.2% are Indigenous persons Self-identification questionnaire Rates are calculated by dividing the number of applicants who identify as the designated group by the total number of responses (including those who preferred not to answer, but excluding those who did not complete the self-identification questionnaire). Additional data are available on SSHRC’s EDI Dashboard. Award rate for the four underrepresented groups 68.5% are women 17.2% are persons with disabilities 23.2% are racialized people (“visible minorities”) 4.6% are Indigenous persons Self-identification questionnaire Rates are calculated by dividing the number of awardees who identify as the designated group by the total number of responses (including those who preferred not to answer, but excluding those who did not complete the self-identification questionnaire). Additional data are available on SSHRC’s EDI Dashboard. Merit review committee member participation for the four underrepresented groups 49.5% are women 9.3% are persons with disabilities 9.3% are racialized people (“visible minorities”) 4.1% are Indigenous persons Self-identification questionnaire Rates are calculated by dividing the number of merit review committee members who identify as the designated group by the total number of responses (including those who preferred not to answer, but excluding those who did not complete the self-identification questionnaire). Additional data are available on SSHRC’s EDI Dashboard.

Program name	Research Partnerships
Program goals	This program provides funding to enable social sciences and humanities research collaboration with partners across academic, public, private and not-for-profit sectors. This program helps stimulate leading-edge, internationally competitive research, fosters strong and productive research collaborations with multisectoral partners, and accelerates the use of research results by organizations that can harness them for Canadian economic, social and cultural development.
Target population	Scientific researchers, socio-economic researchers, non-governmental organizations
Distribution of benefits	Distribution Group By gender Third group By income level Fourth group By age group Second group
Specific demographic group outcomes	All Canadians; postsecondary sector
Key program impacts on gender and diversity	Key program impact statistics Statistic Observed resultsFootnote * Data source Comment (Maximum 25 words per statistic) Application rate for the four underrepresented groups 58.3% are women 9.9% are persons with disabilities 19.8% are racialized people (“visible minorities”) 4.2% are Indigenous persons Self-identification questionnaire Rates are calculated by dividing the number of applicants who identify as the designated group by the total number of responses (including those who preferred not to answer, but excluding those who did not complete the self-identification questionnaire). Additional data are available on SSHRC’s EDI Dashboard. Award rate for the four underrepresented groups 62.0% are women 10.7% are persons with disabilities 17.4% are racialized people (“visible minorities”) 4.5% are Indigenous persons Self-identification questionnaire Rates are calculated by dividing the number of awardees who identify as the designated group by the total number of responses (including those who preferred not to answer, but excluding those who did not complete the self-identification questionnaire). Additional data are available on SSHRC’s EDI Dashboard. Merit review committee member participation for the four underrepresented groups 54.1% are women 9.2% are persons with disabilities 12.8% are racialized people (“visible minorities”) 6.4% are Indigenous persons Self-identification questionnaire Rates are calculated by dividing the number of merit review committee members who identify as the designated group by the total number of responses (including those who preferred not to answer, but excluding those who did not complete the self-identification questionnaire). Additional data are available on SSHRC’s EDI Dashboard.

Program name	New Frontiers in Research Fund
Program goals	The New Frontiers in Research Fund provides grants to support transformative, interdisciplinary and high-risk research led by researchers at eligible institutions. The program supports fast-breaking research in response to urgent issues and time-sensitive opportunities for international collaboration. It also provides targeted funding for research in emerging areas. The program is administered by SSHRC on behalf of CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC.
Target population	Scientific researchers
Distribution of benefits	Distribution Group By gender Third group By income level Fourth group By age group Second group
Specific demographic group outcomes	All Canadians; postsecondary sector
Key program impacts on gender and diversity	Key program impact statistics Statistic Observed resultsFootnote * Data source Comment (Maximum 25 words per statistic) Representation of the four underrepresented groups among nominated principal investigators (letters of intent) 38.5% are women 5.6% are persons with disabilities 41.6% are racialized people (“visible minorities”) 1.3% are Indigenous persons Self-identification questionnaire Rates are calculated by dividing the number of nominated principal investigators who identify as the designated group by the total number of responses (including those who preferred not to answer, but excluding those who did not complete the self-identification questionnaire). Additional data are available on SSHRC's NFRF dashboard. Representation of the four underrepresented groups among nominated principal investigators (awards) 46.1% are women 10.3% are persons with disabilities 29.1% are racialized people (“visible minorities”) 1.2% are Indigenous persons Self-identification questionnaire Rates are calculated by dividing the number of awarded principal investigators who identify as the designated group by the total number of responses (including those who preferred not to answer, but excluding those who did not complete the self-identification questionnaire). Additional data are available on SSHRC's NFRF dashboard.

Program name	Canada Biomedical Research Fund
Program goals	The Canada Biomedical Research Fund (CBRF) is a federal grant program announced in Budget 2021 to support high-risk applied research, training and talent development, as part of a suite of foundational investments to establish a resilient and robust domestic biomanufacturing sector in Canada. The Fund contributes to the pipeline of new technologies and supports the translation of academic research into applications and commercial products. Multiple EDI considerations have been implemented in the design and delivery of the CBRF, including in the requirements for applicants.
Target population	Scientific researchers; universities; non-governmental organizations
Distribution of benefits	Distribution Group By gender Third group By income level Fourth group By age group Second group
Specific demographic group outcomes	All Canadians; postsecondary sector; biomanufacturing sector
Key program impacts on gender and diversity	Key program impact statistics Statistic Observed resultsFootnote * Data source Comment (Maximum 25 words per statistic) Percentage of awarded project team members who self-identify as members of underrepresented groups 18.8% are women 0.0% are persons with disabilities 31.3% are racialized people (“visible minorities”) 0.0% are Indigenous persons Self-identification questionnaire Institutions are the primary applicants for CBRF as this program awards institutional grants. Additional data are available on SSHRC’s EDI Dashboard.

Core responsibility: Institutional support for the indirect costs of research

Program name	Research Support Fund
Program goals	The Research Support Fund (RSF) supports institutions by offering grants to offset the indirect costs of research in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, or health. This program builds institutional capacity by offsetting the central and departmental administrative costs that institutions incur in supporting research, which are not attributable to specific research projects. The Research Support Fund allows postsecondary institutions to advance, among other eligible areas, their own EDI objectives through RSF base program grants as well as through Incremental Project Grants.
Target population	Colleges and/or universities
Distribution of benefits	Distribution Group By gender Third group By income level Fourth group By age group Second group
Specific demographic group outcomes	Postsecondary sector

Supplementary information sources

Canada Research Coordinating Committee (CRCC) 2018–23 Progress Report

GBA Plus data collection plan

The reports produced from the now completed Advisory Committee to Address Anti-Black Racism in Research and Research Training and the Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Systemic Ableism, as well as the standing SSHRC Indigenous Advisory Circle and Indigenous Leadership Circle in Research, have informed and will continue to inform the agency’s understanding of the lived experiences and barriers to fair access in the research funding system faced by historically underrepresented groups.

Notable actions taken in 2023–24 include collection of self-identification data and analysis of SSHRC’s program through the self-identification questionnaire. These actions will continue to be taken to develop and improve data collection and analysis tools for program impact assessment. Additionally, SSHRC’s EDI dashboard will continue to present an aggregated summary of applications, awards, success rates and committee participation related to identity factors collected through the self-identification questionnaire (age, gender, Indigenous, racialized people, disability).

Definitions

Scales

Gender scale

• First group: predominantly men (80% or more men)
• Second group: 60% to 79% men
• Third group: broadly gender-balanced
• Fourth group: 60% to 79% women
• Fifth group: predominantly women (80% or more women)

Income‑level scale

• First group: strongly benefits low‑income individuals (strongly progressive)
• Second group: somewhat benefits low‑income individuals (somewhat progressive)
• Third group: no significant distributional impacts
• Fourth group: somewhat benefits high‑income individuals (somewhat regressive)
• Fifth group: strongly benefits high‑income individuals (strongly regressive)

Age‑group scale

• First group: primarily benefits youth, children or future generations
• Second group: no significant intergenerational impacts or impacts on generations between youths and seniors
• Third group: primarily benefits seniors or the baby boom generation