2024 NordForsk-led International Joint Initiative on Sustainable Development of the Arctic:
Full application guide

On this page

• Completing the application
• Required information
• Submitting the application
• Submitting the application as the research administrator
• Contact information

Completing the application

To be eligible to create and submit an application, you must have previously submitted a registration for the NFRF 2024 NordForsk-led International Joint Initiative on Sustainable Development of the Arctic competition and have been notified of a successful outcome through the NordForsk assessment and selection process.

You must complete your application using the Convergence Portal. The Portal is only supported on the latest versions of Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Apple Safari and Mozilla Firefox.

Follow the instructions provided in the Portal to complete your application. The information needed to complete an application is outlined below.

The NPI must complete all sections of the application and submit the application via their institution’s research administrator. Co-PIs will be able to see and edit all sections of the application.

NPIs must verify the page lengths and formatting of any attachments uploaded to the application. If a submitted application contains one or more attachments that do not comply with the page length or formatting standard, the application may be removed from the competition.

Required information

All relevant information from the registration will be prepopulated in the full application. You must include the following content to complete an application.

1. Equity, diversity and inclusion in research practice (EDI-RP, referred to as EDI in previous NFRF competitions)

   Applications must not include any self-identifying information about members of the research team in the EDI-RP section, but you may include information that reveals team members’ affiliations, including departments, lab groups, etc. Focus on the team’s commitment to EDI, not on its EDI profile. See NFRF’s Best Practices in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research guide for more details.

   Applicants may draw on institutional EDI policies and practices where these exist, but they must be tailored to the particular context of the fields and teams involved. Applicants are encouraged to be specific and concise.

   In this section, provide the following:

   1. information about the team’s specific circumstances related to EDI, including identification of structural biases that could affect members of underrepresented groups (character limit: 2,500);
   2. the best practices to be applied for each of the following elements (character limit: 250):
      • team composition and recruitment processes;
      • training and development opportunities; and
      • inclusion.

   For each, a brief explanation must be provided, including: how each practice applies to the team’s specific context; how it will be implemented; the expected impacts; and how the impacts will be measured (character limit: 2,500).

2. Equity, diversity and inclusion in research design (EDI in research design-RD, referred to as GBA+ in previous NFRF competitions)

   Indicate whether EDI considerations are appropriate for the project and whether they have been integrated into the proposed research. If the team believes no EDI considerations are applicable to the research design, provide a rationale for this. These fields must be completed before your application can be submitted.

3. Support of early career researchers (ECRs)

   Explain how ECRs will be included in the team and integrated in a meaningful way, including plans to support their leadership and development throughout the project (character limit: 3,500).

4. Certifications, licences and permits

   Answer the questions as they relate to the proposed research project. Consult the Requirements for Certain Types of Research for more information or clarification, if needed. With the exception of research taking place outdoors, which may require submission of an Impact Assessment at the time of application (follow the instructions in the Portal), no forms or certifications are required at the time of application. If you are awarded a grant, the necessary certification requirements must be met in accordance with the Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions.

5. Supporting documents

   Upload each document as a separate attachment, with page limits as noted, following the instructions for attachments:

   1. Description of the potential outcomes of the project, including the benefits to Canada’s Arctic (maximum one page if written in English; maximum 1.2 pages if written in French).

   2. Summary of the Canada-based portion of the project (maximum 4 pages if written in English; maximum 4.8 pages if written in French).

      The summary should focus specifically on how it meets SSHRC’s Guidelines for the Merit Review of Indigenous Research . It should cover the research project from inception to development to outcomes and community uptake and should include a data management plan. It is expected that the summary demonstrates the co-development and co-leadership of the project.

   3. Letter of support (maximum 4 pages if written in English; maximum 4.8 pages if written in French).

      The letter must be from an appropriate representative (an individual or organization) of the community, communities or region where the research will take place and/or the community that has requested and will benefit from the research findings. It must indicate that the proposed research project is of interest to and supported by the community, communities or region. Note that the letter does not require any commitment of funds, resources, infrastructure or time from the community.

   4. Budget justification (maximum two pages if written in English; maximum 2.4 pages if written in French)

      Provide a breakdown and explanation of the direct costs of the research project. Provide sufficient information to allow reviewers to assess the appropriateness of the requested resources. If needed, you can also use this section to describe other resources, including funding, materials or equipment that will contribute to the project. A breakdown of the indirect costs of research is not required and should not be included.

Submitting the application

Review your application to ensure that it is complete.

From the “Finalize Application” section, follow the prompts to submit your application.

After you accept the terms and conditions, the status of your submission will change to “Received by Administrator”. If you want to make any changes at this point, you may request that your research administrator return the application to you.

Once your research administrator has approved and submitted your application, the application status will change to “Received by Agency”. No changes can be made at this point.

Submitting an application as the research administrator

When you receive an application submitted by an NPI at your institution, you will be asked to approve the application and submit it. By submitting it, you are confirming that:

• the participants meet the eligibility requirements; and
• the proposed research project meets the eligibility requirements.

By forwarding the application, the research administrator, on behalf of the institution, will also be certifying that the NPI:

• is affiliated with the institution or organization;
• has the necessary time and resources to carry out the activity; and
• will email NFRF-FNFR@chairs-chaires.gc.ca if there are any changes during the tenure of the grant, including changes in the composition of the partnership, such as the addition of new co-PIs, co-applicants, collaborators, etc.

Contact information

If you have questions:

• about the NFRF program, contact NFRF-FNFR@chairs-chaires.gc.ca; or
• about the Convergence Portal, contact the Online Services Helpdesk at websupport@convergence.gc.ca or 613-995-4273.