Accountability

Every year IDRC hosts an annual public meeting (APM) to share information on the year's activities and provide interested citizens with the opportunity to question Board members and senior managers.

2019

IDRC held its annual public meeting November 19 at our head office in Ottawa, Canada. 

Partnering for global impact: IDRC’s Annual Public Meeting

Watch the video of IDRC’s 2019 Annual Public Meeting:

Access audio, videos, and highlights from previous annual public meetings

2018: Empowerment through research: IDRC’s 10th Annual Public Meeting

2017: Research for global challenges: IDRC’s ninth annual public meeting

2016: Investing in solutions: IDRC's eight annual public meeting

2015: Knowledge, innovation, solutions: IDRC's seventh annual public meeting 

2014: Practical and effective innovation and research: IDRC’s sixth annual public meeting

2013: Finding practical solutions to complex problems: IDRC’s fifth annual public meeting

2012: Investing in self-reliance: IDRC’s fourth annual public meeting

2011: Knowledge and ideas: IDRC's third Annual Public Meeting | IDRC's 2011 Annual Public Meeting: Audio Podcast

2010: Lessons from the field: IDRC’s second Annual Public Meeting

Inaugural - 2009: Highlight: Getting the Word Out: IDRC’s Past, Present, and Future discussed at inaugural public meeting

IDRC publishes an annual report presenting our financial statements and results. It also profiles IDRC-funded researchers, and highlights key projects and achievements. It is the main way we report to Parliament and inform Canadians.

Download our most recent annual report, or select from the following list, dating back six years.

View Quarterly financial reports 

Read our annual reports

2019-2020
Research for a sustainable and inclusive world

2018-2019
Partnering for global impact

2017-2018
Empowerment through research

2016-2017
Research for global challenges

2015-2016
Investing in solutions

2014-2015
Innovating for solutions

Evaluation is integral to our work. It provides evidence of how and why research initiatives succeed or fall short of their objectives. This evidence can improve an ongoing project, strengthen the planning of new initiatives, and refine our programming. Evaluations examine results, and help us better understand how research contributes to solving development problems.

Our approach to evaluation

We conduct formal evaluations to track our results, to generate knowledge, and to remain accountable to the Canadian government and public, donor partners, researchers, and colleagues within the research and development communities. We also apply evaluation practices in our day-to-day work. Solid evidence helps us test assumptions and maintain our focus on results. We work closely with our international partners to evaluate projects and develop methodologies to meet the complex needs of developing countries.

Learn about Evaluation at IDRC (PDF, 606KB)

IDRC’s evaluation system

Within IDRC, evaluation is a shared responsibility that occurs at the project, program, and corporate levels. The decision to evaluate is strategic, and based on issues such as risk, materiality (investment significance), priority, and learning potential. Our evaluation approach depends on who will use the results, and how they will use them.

Project evaluations

Individual research projects are evaluated on a strategic basis, usually commissioned by the responsible project officer or the funded research team.

Program evaluations

We evaluate IDRC programs to help us learn and improve, and to meet our accountability requirements to the Board of Governors. When a program is co-funded, we design the evaluation approach to ensure donor organizations meet their accountability and learning needs too.

We conduct external program reviews toward the end of each program cycle. These are our primary accountability mechanism for the results, effectiveness, and relevance of program spending.

Organizational evaluations

We assess organizational outcomes to examine cross-cutting issues related to results or programming strategies.

• Evaluation of IDRC’s strategy to scale research results
• Scaling science
• Building the Leaders of Today and Tomorrow
• Research Quality
• Communicating research for influence (2012)
• Policy Influence on Research (2009)
• Devolving Programs (2009)
• IDRC’s Participation in Large Conferences (2009)
• Competitive Grant Projects (2008)
• Capacity Building (2008)
• Networks (2005)

Visit our evaluation inventory to read our evaluation reports.

New evaluation methods

​When traditional evaluation approaches do not adequately assess the results of development research, we work with experts to create and test new ones. These methods are rigorous, learning-oriented, and aligned with the complexities of development research.

• Research Quality "Plus" Assessment Instrument
• Accountability Principles for Research Organizations
• Outcome Mapping: Building Learning and Reflection into Development Programs
• Gender Evaluation Methodology
• Organizational Assessment

​Guidelines​ for evaluating development research

Learn more about how to improve the quality and consistency of evaluations:

• Better Evaluation guide on how to commission evaluations of development research programs
• IDRC evaluation guidelines by topic

Connect with your Global Evaluation Community

Living in the Global South? Access free evaluation journals.

Innovation and risk go hand-in-hand, no matter where the research takes place. With many of our projects in some of the world's poorest countries, IDRC often encounters an additional level of risk, such as weak research infrastructure, fragile institutions, and unstable political and economic conditions. We recognize these risks and work to manage them effectively with the support of our knowledgeable staff on the ground.

We manage risk:

• strategically, with a sound governance and accountability structure;
• programmatically, with a well defined strategic and program framework and sound management processes; and
• operationally, with a set of systems and internal controls.

How IDRC manages risk

• A Risk Management Committee supports and monitors the Centre’s integrated risk management approach.
• Senior management, the Risk Management Committee, and the Finance and Audit Committee regularly review and discuss the Centre’s Corporate Risk Profile.
• Projects are assessed for risk before approval, and risks are monitored throughout the project life cycle.
• Grantee institutions are assessed for financial and administrative risk and appropriate monitoring and reporting controls are applied.
• Core operations are guided by internal controls, implementation plans, and work plans which identify and manage risk.

Internal audit

IDRC ensures that its systems and practices are effectively and efficiently designed and help to achieve its corporate objectives. Our internal audit staff enhance and protect organizational value by providing risk-based and objective assurance, advice, and insight to support Senior Management and IDRC’s Finance and Audit Committee. The Finance and Audit Committee oversees internal audit and risk management functions.

Internal Audit Charter

External audit

The Office of the Auditor General audits IDRC’s financial statements annually, and performs periodic special examinations of our operations.

Special examinations

Federal Crown corporations are required under the Financial Administration Act (FAA) to undergo a special examination at least once every 10 years. IDRC’s last special examination noted our sound funding systems and practices and highlighted the value placed on our highly qualified staff in our management of human resources.

Special Examination (2016) 

Special Examination (2008)