RFPs: Connections and Co-Production Grant Program (Canada)

The Connections and Co-Production Grant Program supports early-stage collaboration between researchers and Northern communities in Canada. It provides $20,000–$30,000 for one year to help build trust, co-design research projects, and strengthen partnerships, especially in infrastructure and energy.

Overview

The Connections and Co-Production Grant Program funds activities that help community members and researchers work together at the start of a project.

It is designed for:

Building new relationships between communities and researchers
Strengthening existing partnerships
Co-designing or co-developing a new research project
Supporting early-stage research planning, not full research implementation

This is an early-stage research development grant focused on relationship-building, trust, and knowledge co-production in Northern Canada, especially in Arctic research contexts.

Quick Facts

Grant Name: Connections and Co-Production Grant Program
Location Focus: Northern Canada
Funding Amount: $20,000 to $30,000
Duration: 1 year
Primary Goal: Support community–researcher collaboration before research begins
Priority Areas: Infrastructure and energy
Eligible Applicants: Researchers working in Northern Canada
Key Requirement: Invitation or expression of interest from a Northern community organization
Not Supported: Data collection, data analysis, research equipment, infrastructure purchases, or returning research results

Purpose of the Grant

This grant helps remove common barriers that affect early-stage research partnerships, especially in Northern and Arctic communities.

It supports the work that must happen before formal research begins, such as:

Building trust and mutual respect
Defining shared goals
Identifying community priorities
Co-developing research questions
Designing research methods together
Creating equitable partnerships between communities and researchers

The grant strongly values collaboration between:

Northern Indigenous knowledge systems
Western scientific approaches

What “Co-Production of Knowledge” Means

Co-production of knowledge means research is developed as a shared process, not led only by researchers.

This includes:

Involving community members from the beginning
Respecting Indigenous knowledge systems
Defining the research problem together
Co-creating methods and priorities
Ensuring the project is useful and meaningful for all partners

This approach is especially important in community-based research, Indigenous research partnerships, and participatory research design.

Funding Amount and Duration

The grant provides:

Minimum: $20,000
Maximum: $30,000
Project Length: 1 year

The funding is intended only for relationship-building and early project development.

What the Grant Can Fund

Eligible expenses may include:

Salaries for project staff
Honoraria or support for community participants
Travel and accommodation
Meetings and workshops
Community gatherings
Capacity-building activities
Planning sessions
Co-design activities for future research

Examples of Supported Activities

Holding a community–researcher planning workshop
Organizing meetings to define a shared research problem
Bringing local leaders, Elders, and researchers together
Developing a research framework for a future proposal

What the Grant Does Not Fund

This grant does not support full research activities.

Ineligible costs include:

Data collection
Data analysis
Returning research results
Research equipment
Infrastructure purchases
Research implementation costs

Simple rule:
If the activity is for planning and partnership-building, it may fit.
If the activity is for doing the actual research, it is likely not eligible.

Who Is Eligible?

This grant is for researchers working in Northern Canada, whether they are based in the North or South.

You may be eligible if you:

Work on research connected to Northern Canada
Want to build a new collaboration with a community
Want to expand an existing partnership into a new research project

Required Condition

Applicants must have:

An invitation, or
An expression of interest

from a Northern community organization where the first project activities will take place.

Accepted Partnership Models

The grant welcomes:

North–North partnerships
North–South partnerships
South–North partnerships

Why This Grant Matters

Many strong research ideas fail early because teams do not have funding for the relationship-building stage.

This grant matters because it supports:

Trust-building before research starts
Community participation in project design
Respectful inclusion of Indigenous knowledge
Better alignment with local priorities
Stronger and more ethical long-term partnerships

In Northern and Arctic research, this early stage is often essential for successful outcomes.

How the Grant Works

The program funds the pre-research phase of a project.

Simple Process

Identify a shared issue or research interest
Connect with a Northern community organization
Secure an invitation or expression of interest
Discuss priorities and goals together
Plan eligible activities such as workshops and meetings
Build a budget within $20,000–$30,000
Submit the application
Use the grant to co-design a future research project

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm Project Stage

Make sure your project is still in the early planning phase.

Good fit questions:

Are you still building the relationship?
Do you need to define the research problem together?
Are you co-designing methods instead of collecting data?

Step 2: Secure a Community Partner

Identify the Northern community organization involved in the first phase of the project.

Step 3: Get Formal Support

Obtain:

A community invitation, or
A written expression of interest

Step 4: Design Eligible Activities

Plan activities such as:

Workshops
Listening sessions
Planning meetings
Community gatherings
Methodology co-design
Capacity-building sessions

Step 5: Build a Strong Budget

Your budget should focus on:

Community participation costs
Travel and accommodation
Meeting logistics
Staff time
Honoraria
Planning activities

Step 6: Show Future Impact

Explain what the grant will lead to, such as:

A future full research proposal
A jointly designed methodology
A stronger long-term partnership
A community-prioritized research agenda

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common errors:

Including data collection in the work plan
Requesting funds for equipment or infrastructure
Treating the grant like a full research grant
Applying without clear community support
Failing to explain how co-production will happen
Using vague partnership language without specific activities

Tips for a Stronger Application

Be specific about trust-building activities
Show how community members will shape decisions
Clearly explain the role of Indigenous knowledge
Keep the budget aligned with early-stage planning only
Show how the grant leads to a future project

Best-Fit Applicants

This grant is especially useful for:

Researchers starting new Northern partnerships
Existing community–research teams planning a new project
Arctic or Indigenous research collaborations
Infrastructure and energy research partnerships
Teams needing time to build trust before implementation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the main purpose of the Connections and Co-Production Grant Program?

It supports early-stage collaboration between researchers and Northern communities in Canada, especially for relationship-building, co-design, and trust development before research begins.

2. How much funding is available?

Applicants can request between $20,000 and $30,000.

3. How long is the grant period?

The grant supports activities for one year.

4. Can the grant be used for data collection or research analysis?

No. The grant does not fund data collection, data analysis, or returning research results.

5. Who can apply?

Researchers working in Northern Canada, whether based in the North or South, may apply if they are building a new collaboration or expanding an existing one into a new research project.

6. Is a community partner required?

Yes. Applicants must have an invitation or expression of interest from a Northern community organization.

7. Are infrastructure and energy projects encouraged?

Yes. The grant gives particular encouragement to projects related to infrastructure and energy.

Final Takeaway

The Connections and Co-Production Grant Program is a valuable funding opportunity for researchers and Northern communities that need support at the earliest stage of collaboration.

With $20,000–$30,000 over one year, it helps teams build trust, co-design research, and create stronger partnerships before applying for larger research funding. If your project is still in the relationship-building and planning phase, this grant is a strong fit.