International Policy Ideas Challenge 2026 – Call for proposals

On this page:

• Concept
• Eligibility
• Financial award
• Coaching
• Themes
• Proposal requirements 
• How to apply
• Process and timeline
• Additional information 

Concept

Global Affairs Canada (GAC), in collaboration with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), is pleased to announce the ninth edition of the International Policy Ideas Challenge (IPIC). The objective of the program is to draw on the network of talented Canadian graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and early-career civil society researchers to identify concrete, innovative solutions to emerging international policy challenges faced by Canada.

The program offers applicants a chance to test their skills at translating academic expertise into policy language and insights. Applicants are invited to submit brief proposals. GAC will select between 5 and 10 submissions and provide coaching/mentoring to the winning candidates for further developing their proposals into full policy briefs with actionable recommendations. Winners will present their briefs to Government of Canada officials as part of a virtual session that will take place in December 2026.

Eligibility

The International Policy Ideas Challenge invites applications from current graduate students (Master’s or PhD level) and post-doctoral fellows enrolled at a recognized Canadian or international post-secondary institution.

Researchers affiliated with a Canadian non-profit organization (e.g., a non-governmental organization or a think tank) who are within 6 years of graduation from a graduate program at a recognized post-secondary institution will also be considered.

Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.

Indeterminate and term employees of the Government of Canada are not eligible to apply. Additionally, employees of GAC, including students and casuals, are not eligible to apply.

Team applications, with a maximum of 3 members, are permitted; however, a lead researcher must be identified. A team application that includes collaborators from other universities is permitted. In the case of a team application, all members are expected to meet the above requirements.

Financial award

Between 5 and 10 awards will be granted. For each winning proposal, $5,000 will be provided to the lead (or sole) researcher upon formal presentation and submission of the final brief to GAC and SSHRC.

Coaching

In addition to the financial award, all winners will receive mandatory coaching/mentoring as a team on their research, policy analysis and presentation skills. The coaching/mentoring will include group and one-on-one sessions for which each winner will be paired with a subject-matter expert. Instruction will be provided in the official language of the application, and all sessions will be delivered online.

By the end of the program, winners will have a deeper understanding of GAC, SSHRC and Canada’s international policies relevant to their areas of specialization. During the program, winners will also learn how to prepare a policy brief, develop policy recommendations and present their ideas to policymakers in a compelling manner.

Winners are expected to fully participate in all 4 coaching/mentoring sessions. These will be delivered online during spring and summer 2026:

1. A 2-day group session on AMC and Canadian foreign policy 101.
2. A 1- to 2-hour one-on-one coaching/mentoring session with a coach/mentor with relevant subject-matter expertise to discuss policy brief content and potential recommendations
3. A 1- to 2-hour follow-up coaching/mentoring session with a coach/mentor to discuss the completed draft policy brief
4. A half-day group session to practice presentations

Winners will also receive a course package with key readings. The package will include guidelines on writing a persuasive policy brief and delivering an effective presentation.

Themes

Applicants are invited to propose research topics that directly impact Canada’s interests in foreign policy, international trade, or international assistance. Submissions should bring forward innovative ideas and fresh perspectives, clearly demonstrating why the chosen issue is critical for Canada in today’s complex global environment. Proposals should identify the key dilemmas, vulnerabilities, or opportunities Canada faces and outline preliminary policy recommendations on how Canada might adapt or recalibrate its international strategies in response to these challenges.

Policy proposals must address at least one of the four themes outlined below. While GAC has suggested topics under each theme to guide applicants, these lists are not exhaustive. Applicants are welcome to propose other issues connected to the main themes, particularly those that integrate Canada’s priorities on security, prosperity, global engagement, and strategic autonomy. Proposals that adopt an integrated, cross-cutting approach, bridging foreign, economic, and international assistance policy, will be given higher weighting.

1. Protecting Canadian sovereignty and security in a changing world

Proposals under this theme may explore:

• The future of Canada–U.S. economic and security relations, and their implications for Canadian sovereignty and shared security.
• Securing Canadian borders, Arctic sovereignty, and protecting critical infrastructure and emerging technologies (e.g., cyber, AI, Quantum).
• Strengthening global and bilateral security collaborations (e.g., North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) modernization and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) commitments).

2. Ensuring prosperity and economic resilience through international trade and investment

Proposals under this theme may explore:

• Deepening and diversifying trade and investment ties beyond the United States, while renewing the Canada–U.S. economic partnership.
• Identifying opportunities to strengthen Canada's trade relationships with trusted allies (European Union (EU), Japan, Australia, etc.) and trade diversification with reliable partners (e.g., EU, Indo-Pacific, etc.)
• Harnessing trade, investment, and development finance to advance sustainable and inclusive growth at home and abroad.

3. Canada’s role in multilateral engagement and global governance

Proposals in this category could address:

• Canada’s contributions to strengthening multilateral and plurilateral institutions such as the United Nations (UN), World Trade Organization (WTO), NATO, and G7 amid growing global fragmentation.
• Opportunities for Canada to work with like-minded middle powers to advance shared priorities in global forums and support reforms in global governance that integrate emerging powers and evolving geopolitical realities, while advancing both global and Canadian interests.
• Exploring Canada’s role in issue-based coalitions (e.g., climate, digital governance, humanitarian response).

4. Innovating Canada’s international assistance and new aid architecture

Research topics under this theme could include:

• Aligning aid with foreign policy and trade priorities to advance sovereignty, security, and prosperity.
• Potential futures for the international aid architecture – the global system of institutions, rules, and practices that govern the flow of development assistance – including opportunities for Canada to contribute to collective efforts to strengthen the international aid system.

Proposal requirements

Proposals should demonstrate your ability to present ideas clearly and succinctly. Challenge winners will be required to outline how they gathered relevant evidence and conducted a rigorous analysis to develop their policy recommendations in the final policy brief.

Proposals should:

• Not exceed 750 words
• Identify which research theme(s) will be the focus of the final policy brief.
• Explain how the proposed analysis will complement and build on existing research and analysis related to the chosen research theme(s).
• Briefly describe the proposed methodology for gathering and evaluating evidence to prepare the final policy brief, emphasizing original perspectives and innovative solutions.
• Explain why the proposal topic is important to Canadian foreign policy and/ to Canada’s security, prosperity, and strategic autonomy.
• Sketch out preliminary policy recommendations to address the challenge.
• Identify actors and locations relevant to the policy idea, such as international organization(s), forum(s), partnership(s), and country(ies)/region(s) involved in the idea's successful implementation.
• For inspiration and insight, visit the International Policy Ideas Challenge winners’ pages to learn about previous winners and their work.

Note:

• The final product will take the form of a policy brief, not exceeding 3,500 words, and it must include a one-page executive summary and policy recommendations.
• Coaching/mentoring sessions will take place in spring and summer 2026, and final briefs will be due in early fall 2026.
• Applicants are invited to consider SSHRC-funded research in the development of proposals.

Guidance on the use and disclosure of generative AI in the preparation of proposals

Proposals must be the original work of the applicant. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that information included in their proposals is accurate and complete and that all sources are appropriately acknowledged and referenced, including AI-generated content*. Applicants must state if and how AI has been used in the development of their application. Submissions, as well as the final policy briefs, may be subject to review using AI detection software to ensure compliance. Submissions and policy briefs that rely excessively on AI, failing to meet the originality requirement, will be disqualified.

*AI-generated content refers to text or other materials produced by AI tools, such as large language models or automated writing software.

How to apply

To apply, please send the following items as PDF file attachments to IPIC-CIPI.OIH-POA@international.gc.ca.

• Proposal (not to exceed 750 words) signed by the lead researcher and saved as a separate PDF file; the lead applicant’s first and last names should be indicated in the upper right-hand corner of the proposal
• Curriculum Vitae for the lead researcher, including contact information
• University-issued enrolment verification or most recently completed graduate degree (GAC reserves the right to request an official transcript)
• One confidential letter of reference (academic or professional) from a supervisor familiar with the lead applicant’s research skills, to be sent directly by the referee to IPIC-CIPI.OIH-POA@international.gc.ca
• Biography of lead researcher and, if applicable, short biographies of collaborators

Only complete applications will be assessed. Proposals will be evaluated by a selection committee on a combination of quality, relevance, feasibility, and originality of the idea, as well as the capability and qualifications of the individual(s) to carry the idea to research and policy brief phases. A higher weighting will be awarded to proposals that explore a topic with an integrated and crosscutting approach, combining foreign, economic, and international assistance policy dimensions of the topic.

Only successful applicants will be contacted. The names of the winners will be announced on the GAC website.

If you have other questions about this call after reading the Additional information section, please send them to IPIC-CIPI.OIH-POA@international.gc.ca. Please note however that GAC cannot provide personalized advice to applicants on their individual situations or the relevance of their research to the themes of the competition. We are only able to offer general clarification of the information contained in the call for proposals.

Process and timeline

Additional information

Eligibility

Freelance researchers

Researchers without a specific institutional affiliation may apply. The competition is academic in nature and is not intended to recruit contractors or consultants.

Application

Multiple applications in the same year

Applicants may submit more than one application in the same year if they have more than one topic idea. However, only one award may be granted per successful applicant.

Proposal requirements

Relevance of proposed themes

To be considered for an IPIC award, proposals must be relevant to Global Affairs Canada’s work and align with at least one theme listed in the call. Proposals outside those themes will not be considered.

Primary research

Primary research, where researchers collect their own data, is not required. Given time constraints, most IPIC policy briefs rely on secondary research using reputable and properly cited sources.

Applicants proposing primary research should consider feasibility, timelines, access to research subjects, and institutional ethics requirements.

Key considerations when preparing a proposal

Proposals must explain why the issue matters to policy makers and how it will be analyzed. Applicants must also demonstrate their ability to gather evidence and conduct unbiased analysis.

Proposal evaluation criteria

A selection committee evaluates proposals based on quality, relevance, feasibility, originality, and the applicant’s ability to produce a useful policy brief and presentation.

Higher weighting is given to proposals using an integrated approach that combines foreign, economic, and international assistance policy dimensions.

Proposals related to the applicant’s research

Proposals may relate to or build on an applicant’s thesis or research program. In such cases, proposals must be adapted to ensure relevance to Global Affairs Canada’s work.

Format of the proposal

There is no required proposal outline. Elements demonstrating feasibility and potential implementation are valuable. Applicants should use their judgment and respect the 750-word limit.

Consultation of previous IPIC policy briefs

The topics of last year’s winning submissions can be found at International Policy Ideas Challenge - 2025 Challenge winners.

Training

Training format and content

As outlined in the call, training includes two group sessions and two one-on-one coaching sessions with subject-matter experts. Training covers Global Affairs Canada, policy-relevant research, strengthening written briefs, improving presentations, and more.

Timing of training sessions

Training will occur between summer and fall 2026 (dates to be confirmed). Sessions will be scheduled to accommodate most winners.

Participation in training

Training is a core component of the IPIC program. It helps winners prepare briefs and presentations and contributes to the winners’ professional development. Full participation in all training sessions is expected.

The $5,000 award

The $5,000 is awarded to IPIC winners and is contingent upon satisfactory completion and delivery of the required research products.

Use of technical professionals for non-written products

Winners may use technical professionals at their university to produce videos or other non-written outputs.

Publication of winning proposals after the IPIC cycle

Applicants may publish their work after the Challenge ends. Publications must acknowledge IPIC support using the exact wording of the acknowledgment statement that GAC will provide.

Copyright remains with the authors of the proposals, while GAC retains a non-exclusive license to use and distribute award-supported work.