Our international aid funding program is now accepting applications!
Dear colleagues,
I’m pleased to share exciting news with you about the Royal College’s International Development, Aid and Collaboration (IDAC) funding program, facilitated by Royal College International.
IDAC is an initiative that enables us to, through approved project funding, annually support our Fellows who are passionate about international aid efforts – and starting today, I’d like to invite you to apply.
Looking for inspiration?
Last year, the University of Laval’s Andrew Toren, MD, FRCSC, and Jérémie Agré, MD, an ophthalmologist from Côte d’Ivoire, sought to improve glaucoma care in Côte d’Ivoire. Glaucoma is the world’s leading cause of irreversible blindness and it is especially prevalent among populations in West Africa.
Another grant recipient, Douglas McMillan, MD, FRCPC, a career neonatologist with Dalhousie University, set out to develop a new learning and implementation program that will help save newborn lives by teaching the kangaroo mother care (KMC) method in low-resource settings.
Thinking about applying?
Here is what you need to know:
- the call for applications opens today and will remain open until September 7, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. (EDT);
- this grant supports projects that improve health profession education and local capacity in low- and middle-income countries;
- the evaluation process will take place after September 7, 2021 until early next year;
- applicants will be informed of a decision by end of February 2022; and
- funding support for selected projects will begin April 1, 2022.
To apply, or for more details on the program, including the eligibility criteria, please visit our IDAC web page or review our frequently asked questions.
How we’re making a global impact through IDAC
IDAC is an important part of our commitment to support Fellows who are looking to improve medical education and practice globally, for better population health. I was extremely pleased with the response and the amount of interest expressed in the program since its launch in October 2019.
Last September, I introduced you to the first grant recipients of our IDAC program with links to stories on their incredible, diverse and important efforts. If you have not yet had the chance to read them, I encourage you to have a look. It is very exciting to learn about how these projects are progressing and making an impact.
“We’re participating in web conferences with ophthalmologists on a number of topics related to glaucoma. To date, all five glaucoma specialists in our surgical glaucoma service have participated in at least one educational session. At the end of June, Dr. Jérémie Agré will be leading a hands-on surgical teaching session with five local Ivorian ophthalmologists to encourage the practice of sight-saving glaucoma surgery,” Dr. Toren said, in an update to the Royal College.
The kangaroo mother care project continues to move forward as well.
“We’re nearly finished revising the kangaroo mother care flipchart after receiving input from experts around the world. We’re also starting to convert to a virtual format, with field testing expected to begin in Nepal in June and Tanzania in September,” shared Dr. McMillan.
While the pandemic has certainly impacted IDAC and a number of projects, I’m pleased we’re able to offer this funding support for a second year, a few months earlier than our planned fall launch.
Should you have any questions or comments on the program, please contact our international team at IDAC@royalcollege.ca.
Stay well,
Susan
Susan D. Moffatt-Bruce, MD, FRCSC, PhD, MBA, FACS
Chief Executive Officer
Royal College
Royal College International (Interim)
