Guidelines for setting up joint initiatives with SSHRC

SSHRC undertakes joint initiatives as part of its Partnerships Strategy. The agency is committed to supporting partnerships that create knowledge, share understanding, develop talent and produce critical insights. Successful partnerships—including joint initiatives—will allow Canada to respond to the emerging research challenges and questions of the 21st century.

SSHRC welcomes the opportunity to discuss potential joint initiative proposals with other organizations to fulfil mutual priorities and objectives.

As a funding mechanism, joint initiatives facilitate resource pooling and attract new sources of funding for all types and modes of research related to the social sciences and humanities.

Joint initiatives can support and promote training and knowledge mobilization, enable new research approaches, and facilitate collaboration across disciplinary, geographic and sectoral boundaries. They can bring diverse perspectives to bear on the research process. They can also contribute to a dynamic training environment that prepares students and postdoctoral researchers for successful careers within and beyond academia.

Joint initiatives are designed to reflect the objectives and mandates of both parties. They can also inform the decision-making processes for each party while they address current and emerging knowledge needs.

Joint initiatives with SSHRC

The following conditions must be met to establish a joint initiative with SSHRC:

1. Alignment: The proposed initiative correlates with SSHRC’s mandate
   • The initiative falls within both SSHRC’s mandate and its corporate strategic objectives.
   • The initiative must address the overall goal and objectives of at least one of SSHRC’s programs, namely Research training and talent development, Insight research or Research partnerships (knowledge mobilization), or the Imagining Canada’s Future initiative.
   • The partners agree to work within the framework of the existing funding opportunities offered under SSHRC’s Talent, Insight and Connection programs and Imagining Canada’s Future initiative.
2. Excellence: Adherence to SSHRC’s regulations and independent merit review process
   • The initiative must be national in scope so that the area of research is of national interest and applicants from across Canada can apply.
   • All partners agree to an independent merit review process, as well as to comply with SSHRC’s Regulations Governing Grant Applications and Regulations Governing Fellowship and Scholarship Applications.
3. Cost-sharing: Resources from SSHRC and all partners
   • All partners agree to provide substantial financial and/or in-kind support for training, research and/or related activities in the social sciences and humanities, resulting in an efficient cost-benefit ratio for all involved.
   • All partners agree to provide reasonable support for the operational and management costs related to the initiative’s application and merit review process, communication, brokering, monitoring and evaluation activities.
4. Impact: Benefits of the joint initiative to the social sciences and humanities research community
   • The benefits to the public good and to the social sciences and humanities research community are clearly articulated and understood before SSHRC and the partners enter into a formal agreement.

Developing an agreement

Joint initiatives support research, research training or related activities. To formalize a joint initiative, SSHRC and its partner will develop and sign an agreement, most likely a memorandum of understanding, the content of which is tailored to the nature of the joint initiative. In general, the agreement will address topics such as:

• the initiative’s objectives, scope and duration;
• its administrative governance and funding model; and
• the process for implementing and managing the initiative, including the partners’ respective roles and responsibilities in matters related to:
  • communications;
  • information and budget management; and
  • program delivery.

More information

For more information about joint initiatives, contact:

Toll free: 1-855-275-2861
Email: jointinitiatives@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca

Date modified:

2023-05-03