The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is a Crown corporation created by the Parliament of Canada in 1970 to help developing countries use science and technology to find practical, long-term solutions to the social, economic, and environmental problems they face. Our support is directed toward creating a local research community whose work will build healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous societies.

IDRC in Guatemala

IDRC has supported research in Guatemala since 1980. Early work focused on improving farming systems, health care, and access to water and sanitation. When the 36-year civil war ended in 1996, IDRC supported initiatives addressed issues related to the peace accord and the legacy of war, including widespread poverty, inequality, and the demand for justice.   Current research is helping the Guatemalan government ensure equitable access to natural resources, health care, and education. IDRC partners in Guatemala are also testing new community-based approaches to fight Chagas disease and analyzing conditions to improve the use of information and communication technologies among small and medium-sized enterprises.

The following, Guatemala-based research projects are either currently underway, or recently completed:

Strengthening Health Systems Governance in Latin American Countries – Phase I

Abstract:  After several decades of dictatorship, political unrest and economic crisis, Latin American countries are experiencing relative stability. However, the region is still the most unequal in the world, and there is evidence of growing prosperity and increasing inequality. This project seeks to improve the governance of health systems by designing and implementing a system to monitor healthcare inequalities, and promote accountability and transparency. Collaborating teams of academics, policymakers and civil society groups from Guatemala, Brazil and Colombia will share the knowledge gained in their own practice and identify ways of improving health system governance and equity. The teams will use the Benchmarks of Fairness (BMF) approach to monitor and evaluate the equity and accountability of various health policies. Since proper use of the BMF method requires cooperation on the part of the ultimate users of the data (locally elected officials, health authorities, civil society groups), the researchers hypothesize that BMF may become a vehicle for improving governance in the health sector. If so, other versions of the approach may be developed for other sectors.

Chronic Disease Control Research Fellowship Program

Abstract:  Guatemala is at stage three of the five stages of the epidemiologic transition, which refers to the transition from infectious to chronic diseases as the leading cause of death. In this stage, chronic diseases account for between 35% and 65% of total mortality. In Guatemala, strategies to halt the growing epidemic of chronic disease are scarce and rarely evidence-based. The Chronic Disease Control Research Fellowship Program therefore aims to strengthen national research capacity to generate policy-relevant knowledge and evidence leading to chronic disease control and improved healthcare provision. The Program will recruit and mentor research fellows to study policy-relevant issues and translate the resulting knowledge into action. The program will focus initially on tobacco control research (smoking prevention, cessation), in recognition that tobacco use is the leading cause of chronic disease. However, as the program evolves, the potential exists to address other issues related to chronic disease control as well.

Creating Global Citizens : Impact of Volunteer and Work Abroad Programs

Abstract:  For several decades, a variety of Canadian academic and nonacademic programs have enabled young Canadians to undertake international practicums through volunteer and work abroad programs. More than 65,000 Canadians have participated in such programs over the last half-century. During the past decade, however, short-term placements have become the norm. Although it is claimed that such placements enable participants to develop a sense of global citizenship, this has not been systematically examined. Do such postings foster better cross-cultural understanding? Do they modify volunteers’ attitudes, professional choices, consumption patterns and work ethics? What cumulative impact do short-term postings have on host organizations? This project will seek answers to these questions and their implications for Canadian foreign policy.

To learn more about IDRC, please see their website.