Developing CIHR's Anti-Racism Action Plan
The CIHR Strategic Plan 2021-2031 commits to implementing actions to address systemic racism faced by researchers in the health research funding system. As such, CIHR is developing an anti-racism action plan which will set out a path for CIHR to incorporate anti-racism into the way that it funds research, how policies and funding opportunities are designed, and how decisions are made.
The action plan incorporates knowledge, evidence, and input gathered from external and internal engagements, as well as literature and policy reviews since 2021.
Action plan development process
The action plan is in development through an iterative process with four overarching phases:
Phase 1: Research and engagement
- Early engagements with the research community to better understand barriers faced by researchers impacted by racism, including meetings with over 20 partner organizations and hosting an online discussion with the broader community.
- Establishment of the CIHR External Advisory Committee on Anti-Racism to guide CIHR’s engagements with the research community and action plan framework.
- Environmental scan to delve deeper into the barriers we’ve learned about, including their root causes and potential solutions.
- Analysis of internal CIHR data to identify priority areas.
Phase 2: Consolidation of findings and development of a framework
- Co-creation of an action plan framework by consolidating findings into draft vision, objectives, outcomes, and an initial list of potential actions.
- Identification and start of implementation of early actions.
Phase 3: More research and engagement to refine the framework
- Small group virtual engagement sessions with health researchers and trainees from communities impacted by racism to further contextualize systemic barriers and prioritize actions CIHR could take to address them.
- Consultations with internal teams across CIHR to review the framework and discuss gaps in knowledge, policies, skills, and resources.
- Literature review on anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Black racism, and the anti-racism policy landscape.
- Dedicated engagements to discuss anti-Black racism.
- Dedicated environmental scan and engagements on anti-Indigenous racism, led by the CIHR Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health.
Phase 4: Finalizing the action plan
- Finalize draft CIHR Anti-Racism Action Plan and accompanying accountability structures and implementation plans.
- Final validation and socialization of the action plan with key internal and external partners.
- Publish action plan.
Progress Update
We are currently moving from Phase 3 to Phase 4 of the action plan development process. We anticipate publishing the action plan in 2025.
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