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Groundbreaking IDRC-supported vaccine trial is launched for the Sudan Ebola virus

 
Uganda’s Ministry of Health and WHO with support from IDRC and other partners have launched a first-ever vaccine trial for Ebola Sudan virus — at an unprecedented speed for a randomized vaccine trial in an emergency.
A pair of hands prepares a vaccination syringe.
Tommy Trenchard/Panos Pictures
A health worker prepares a vaccine during a mobile clinic visit in Gulu, Uganda.

In a global first, the vaccine trial was set up in just four days after the outbreak was confirmed on January 30, 2025. This was possible due to advanced research preparedness and extensive collaboration among Uganda’s health workers, global partners and hundreds of scientists. A research project jointly funded by IDRC, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Public Health Agency of Canada paved the way for the grantee, WHO, to co-implement the trial with Uganda’s Ministry of Health and Makerere University.

The current recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus candidate vaccine was donated by IAVI and also funded by WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, and supported by Africa CDC. This candidate vaccine has already undergone the necessary phase 1 and 2 clinical trials to ensure its safety and immunogenicity.

The vaccine is now being tested to assess clinical efficacy — a crucial step toward combating future outbreaks. While no licensed vaccine exists yet for Ebola Sudan, the trial could be a game changer in the fight against this Ebola strain. This is a major step forward for pandemic preparedness, and potentially a model of preparedness for future outbreaks of other infections.

Strengthening Africa’s health systems remains crucial for early outbreak detection, rapid response and effective containment of pandemics. Investing in health infrastructure, workforce training and supply chains ensures access to life-saving treatments while preventing economic and social disruption. In parallel, investing in locally led social science and preparedness research is essential for bridging gaps by encouraging creativity, informing policy and facilitating the adoption of new vaccines and technologies. Resilient health systems not only protect Africa but also strengthen global health security against future pandemics.

As part of its ongoing engagement in pandemic preparedness, IDRC is hosting its third (hybrid) roundtable on understanding the private sector’s role in catalyzing Africa’s vaccine innovation ecosystem on March 4, 2025. It will be held at the 6th Africa Health Agenda International Conference 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda. Online participation will be free. Registration is available here.

2025 Bentley and Hopper-Bhatia research award recipients announced

 
The 2025 recipients of the Bentley and Hopper-Bhatia research awards are advancing research on the transformation of food systems in East Africa and on women and youth-led green entrepreneurship in Kenya.
Photos of Sofia Joma and Mercy Muthuuri.
Sofia Joma received the Bentley and IDRC Research Award. Mercy Muthuuri is this year’s recipient of the Hopper-Bhatia and IDRC Research Award.

IDRC is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of the Bentley and Hopper-Bhatia Research Awards. Sofia Jomo, a graduate of `the food, nutrition and dietetics master’s degree program at Kenyatta University in Kenya, is the 2025 recipient of the Bentley and IDRC Research Award. Mercy Muthuuri, a student in the master’s degree program in public policy and global affairs at the University of British Columbia, Canada received the Hopper-Bhatia and IDRC Research Award.

The Bentley Award is offered to an IDRC-supported researcher doing work related to agriculture. Sofia is researching the commitments and progress that East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Rwanda) have made in transforming their food systems following the United Nations Food Systems Summit. Her work is part of the Centre’s Climate-Resilient Food Systems program.

The Hopper-Bhatia and IDRC Research Award is offered to young researchers in the early stages of their careers doing work related to the empowerment of girls, women and Indigenous communities. Mercy is undertaking research on financing women and youth-led green entrepreneurship for an inclusive and low-carbon transition in Kenya. By analyzing systemic barriers, innovative financial tools and institutional frameworks, her work, part of IDRC’s Sustainable Inclusive Economies program, aims to provide actionable recommendations to promote inclusive, gender-responsive and youth-focused climate finance solutions. The findings will contribute to Kenya’s green transition while advancing global commitments to gender equity and sustainable development. 

IDRC grantee honoured with the Order of Canada

 
Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta, a long-time IDRC research partner and a leading expert in several areas of public health, has been appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian honours, recognizing his pioneering contributions to global health.
Photo of Zulfiqar Bhutta
Aga Khan University

Bhutta, renowned for his innovative research in maternal and child health, nutrition and food security, preparedness and health systems strengthening, climate change and health, and other areas, has improved the lives of millions in underserved communities worldwide. He has contributed to shaping WHO policies, developing community health programs, and improving sexual and reproductive health in fragile health systems.

As a distinguished university professor and founding director of the Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health and the Institute for Global Health and Development at Aga Khan University in Pakistan and a global health leader at SickKids Centre for Global Child Health in Toronto, Canada, his work reflects a commitment to innovation and service.

In recent years, Bhutta has led a number of IDRC projects, including one to improve maternal and newborn health in Tanzania and another to inform interventions related to reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health in conflict settings.

He is also leading a number of research efforts to unpack the link between social determinants and women’s health, including climate change. For example, Bhutta is currently leading the following IDRC projects: 

With over 1,400 publications and numerous recognitions, including the John Dirks Canada Gairdner 2022 Global Health Award, Bhutta’s achievements inspire health-care advancements globally.

Shaping science: IDRC grantee recognized for infectious disease research

 
Placide Mbala giving a talk at the Institut National de la Recherche Biomédicale in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Institut National de la Recherche Biomédicale
Placide Mbala giving a talk at the Institut National de la Recherche Biomédicale in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Dr. Placide Mbala, an IDRC research partner, has been recognized by the international journal Nature for his groundbreaking work on mpox. He is one of the 2024 Nature’s 10, a feature that recognizes key developments in science over the past year and tells the stories of some of the people behind them.

Mbala, an epidemiologist at the Institut National de la Recherche Biomédicale in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has been instrumental in tackling the deadly mpox outbreak that spread across Central Africa earlier in 2024, claiming hundreds of lives. His pioneering, innovative research revealed a new strain of the virus, capable of human-to-human transmission, and provided vital insights that have since shaped global response strategies.  

Mbala’s remarkable contributions include:  

  • identifying a new mpox strain and its transmission patterns, facilitating timely containment efforts 
  • advocating for equitable access to vaccines and therapeutics in African nations 
  • leading collaborative efforts to engage local communities and protect vulnerable populations 
  • advancing global understanding of the spread of mpox through innovative genomic analysis 

This is also a success story of African and Canadian research collaboration. IDRC and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research jointly fund one of Mbala’s research projects, Enhancing surveillance and detection of mpox across Africa. Teams of researchers in nine African countries and five Canadian provinces are collecting, analyzing and delivering evidence on mpox risks and vaccine and therapeutic effectiveness to public health officials, policymakers and impacted communities.  

Mbala’s work highlights the importance of science in addressing public health crises. His commitment to ending the “scientific amnesia” surrounding neglected diseases like mpox is an inspiration. His leadership extends beyond research — mobilizing response efforts, fostering international collaboration and championing equity in global health. 

Read the full Nature news feature here

Growing solutions: New deal expands AI-powered air-quality monitoring in South Africa

 
An IDRC-supported team in South Africa, part of the Global South AI for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (AI4PEP) initiative, is working with a national fibre network operator to expand the reach of air-quality sensors.
Kya Sand burning site in South Africa
Kya Sand Burning Wasteland Community Forum NPC
Kya Sand burning site in South Africa

The innovative technology, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), is called AI_R and was developed by the South African Atmospheric Quality Monitoring (SACAQM) team. Designed to measure air-pollution levels in real-time and provide critical data for analysis, 30 of these cost-effective, cutting-edge devices have been monitoring air quality in and around Johannesburg, in South Africa’s Gauteng province, since 2023. 

The collaboration with Evotel will see the installation of 120 more AI_R monitors across Gauteng province in 2025, and result in the largest and most cost-effective air-quality network in Africa. 

“By working with Evotel, we’re taking a significant step forward in addressing air pollution challenges in Gauteng,” said Professor Bruce Mellado, SACAQM executive director. “This partnership allows us to make high-quality environmental data accessible to all.” 

Gauteng faces growing air-pollution challenges due to rapid urbanization and industrial activity. Poor air quality has severe health implications. It is responsible for more deaths across the African continent than the combined death toll of HIV, malaria and tuberculosis, particularly for vulnerable populations. 

Evotel’s network infrastructure ensures the seamless operation of these sensors. “We’re proud to support SACAQM in this vital initiative,” said Albert Oosthuysen, Evotel’s CEO. “Together, we’re creating a healthier and more sustainable Gauteng.” 

The sensors are developed in South Africa at a cost of about USD100 (CAD143) each. Mounted on windowsills to capture data, the devices use limited amounts of electricity and can withstand various weather conditions. There are plans to deploy the sensors across South Africa.

Learn more about this project

Learn more about the Global South AI4PEP initiative.  

The Innovation Agencies in Africa Network: Aiming to transform the continent’s innovation landscape

 
IDRC and South Africa’s National Research Foundation, Department of Science and Innovation and Technology Innovation Agency are pleased to announce the launch of the Innovation Agencies in Africa Network.
Group photo at Kenya Innovation Week.
Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA)
Launch of the Innovation Agencies in Africa Network at Kenya Innovation Week in November 2024.

The network aims to boost collaboration and resource-sharing among African innovation agencies to drive sustainable and inclusive growth through the development of solutions tailored to Africa's unique challenges. 

The need for a connected African innovation landscape is clear. Rapid technological advancements and pressing issues like climate change demand homegrown, globally competitive solutions. A recent study by the Trilateral Research Chair in Transformative Innovation at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa underscores the pivotal role of innovation agencies in bridging public policy with private sector and academic capacities. 

Building on efforts like the Science Granting Councils Initiative, the network focuses on the commercialization and strengthening of innovation-driven value chains. A foundational workshop in Johannesburg in March 2024 identified collaboration opportunities, leading to the selection of the Kenya National Innovation Agency, the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology of Namibia and the University of Johannesburg to coordinate the network’s pilot phase from 2025 to 2027. 

The network was launched at Kenya Innovation Week, in November 2024. Future activities include annual forums, collaborative research projects and joint funding initiatives. 

New insights on the future of work in Latin America and the Caribbean

 
Global trends are transforming the labour market in Latin America and the Caribbean, presenting new opportunities for resilience and growth. A study funded by IDRC sheds light on the power of adaptable jobs, addresses gender-specific challenges and explores the profound effects of automation and climate change.
Teacher in classroom, surrounded by students at desks.
IDRC/James Rodriguez, Panos Pictures

Sur Futuro, the Latin American hub of IDRC’s new FutureWORKS initiative, has released an insightful new study, entitled Atlas of Future-Oriented Jobs, which examines the impact of global trends on the labour market in the region.  

Brought to life through innovative data, an interactive map and a dynamic dashboard, the study explores how new technologies, climate shocks, sustainable production practices and aging populations are reshaping job opportunities and risks across the region. 

Traditional measures of job quality — such as rates of informality, wage levels and skill requirements — are becoming insufficient under these evolving conditions. The study introduces a new dimension for evaluating the 21st-century labour market: job resilience. Resilient jobs are those that grow in relevance and offer new opportunities in constantly changing environments, aligning with large-scale social, economic, environmental and technological transformations. 

The study provides a forward-looking perspective on the challenges facing Latin America’s labour market. It identifies resilient jobs — such as those in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields and those in the green economy or care sector — while also highlighting occupations threatened by automation and climate change. It offers an overview of how opportunities and challenges are distributed among countries in the region compared to high-income countries, as well as between men and women. 

Key findings 

  • Future-oriented jobs: 16% of people in Latin America and the Caribbean hold a future-oriented job, with most of these roles in care occupations. 
  • Threatened jobs: 6 out of 10 people in the region are in jobs threatened by automation trends or climate change. 
  • Gender-specific challenges: the future of work presents gender-specific challenges. For men, the primary issue is quantity, while for women, it is diversification and quality. 
  • Trade-offs: there are trade-offs between green jobs, STEM jobs and jobs threatened by automation trends. 
  • Skill specialization: not all future-oriented jobs are created equal; workers in the region tend to specialize in lower-skilled occupational segments, particularly women.

Explore the full report and interactive map on the Sur Futuro website. Look out for similar reports from Africa and Asia coming soon. 

IDRC-supported edtech innovation in Peru wins math award

 
Conecta Ideas Peru, an IDRC-backed innovative technology designed to make learning mathematics fun for children, has received an award from mEducation Alliance for its contribution to advancing quality education outcomes in Peru.
Math questions on a sheet of paper can be less motivating than edtech lessons.
GPE/Deepa Srikantaiah
Gamification of traditional math lessons has been shown to help improve learning outcomes.

The gamification platform has been found to result in large learning gains in math by promoting motivation and student engagement. One of the key reasons for this outcome is the localized approach it takes; the educational games are tailored to the specific needs of teachers and students.

By 2023, it was being used by 7,000 teachers and more than 112,000 students across Peru, including about 11,000 in rural areas.

The educational technology, or edtech, platform takes a gender and equity approach to making math fun. For example, to challenge gender norms, many of the math activities put women in leadership and business roles and depict men doing housework with the intention of impressing upon girls that they should imagine a future in math.

That is important in a country like Peru, where the share of women among new entrants in bachelor degree programs in the fields of mathematics, statistics and the natural sciences is one of the smallest among partner countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. 

The platform was first developed by Latin American researchers at the Center for Advanced Research in Education at the University of Chile, in collaboration with IDRC. Since then, Group for the Analysis of Development (GRADE) joined in as an implementing partner, in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank and Peru’s Ministry of Education with the support of the Old Dart Foundation. 

IDRC is continuing to fund efforts to scale the program to more students in Peru and other Latin American countries. 

The mEducation Alliance awarded Conecta Ideas Peru with the 2024 Math Power Prize. The alliance is a non-profit organization started by the United States Agency for International Development in 2010. It focuses on the evidence-driven and sustainable role of technology in education. The prize includes a USD10,000 (CAD14,117) monetary award.

IDRC has been partnering with leading organizations to develop digital learning tools for international development since the early 2000s. IDRC-supported research has shown that edtech, when well-designed and properly implemented, can increase access to quality education, personalize learning and improve learning outcomes.

Learn more about this project 

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