John G. Bene Fellowship 2026: Up to CA$30,000 for Graduate Research in the Global South

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is inviting applications for the John G. Bene Fellowship 2026, a research funding opportunity supporting graduate students conducting fieldwork on forest restoration, climate resilience, biodiversity, and sustainable food systems in developing countries.

The fellowship offers up to 10 awards, each worth a maximum of CA$30,000, to support eligible master’s and doctoral students undertaking research that addresses environmental challenges while promoting inclusive and community-led development. The fellowship supports practical field research that contributes to international development, particularly in the areas of forest and landscape management, ecological restoration, food systems, and climate resilience.

The 2026 call focuses on strengthening inclusive, community-led nature-based solutions for forest restoration and food system transformation. Research may examine issues such as forest restoration, agroforestry, biodiversity conservation, Indigenous knowledge, environmental governance, gender inclusion, and the resilience of smallholder farming communities. Proposals aligned with IDRC’s REVIVE Initiative, which focuses on post-fire forest and landscape restoration and food system transformation, are particularly welcome.