Deadline: 4 April 2019
Applications are now open for ‘Canada Fund for Local Initiatives’ to support small-scale and high-impact projects.
The program is directed at projects conceived and designed predominantly by local partners. Projects are selected and approved by the relevant Canadian embassy or high commission.
Thematic Priorities
All projects must align with at least one of the following CFLI thematic priorities:
- Inclusive governance, including diversity, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, with a specific focus on one or more of the following areas:
- Advance women’s leadership and decision making in governance and public sector management at all levels;
- Strengthen legal systems and promote reforms that eliminate all forms of discrimination against women, girls, and other marginalized groups;
- Improve access to justice for women, girls, and other marginalized groups;
- Support citizen participation, including through innovative and technology enabled means, to promote ownership and sustainability in social, political, and economic processes;
- Strengthen civil society and increase democratic political participation, including that of women, youth and other marginalized groups; create and maintain, in law and in practice, a safe and enabling environment for civil society and the media (including women’s organizations and women’s rights defenders);
- Contribute to the elimination of discrimination, prejudice, racism, intolerance and persecution by promoting respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms—including freedom of religion or belief, of expression, of peaceful assembly and of association.
- Growth that works for everyone, including women’s economic rights, decent jobs and entrepreneurship, investing in the poorest and most vulnerable, and safeguarding economic gains, with a specific focus on advancing women’s economic rights and leadership.
For projects addressing gender issues, applicants might consider how to ensure that men and boys can be engaged to advance empowerment of women and girls.
Funding Information
The maximum funding amount per project is Can$50,000 (in recent years the average value of projects has been Can$38,000).
Eligibility Criteria
Within the context of eligible countries, eligible recipients include:
- local non-governmental, community and not-for-profit organizations,
- local academic institutions working on local projects,
- international, intergovernmental, multilateral and regional institutions, organizations and agencies working on local development activities,
- municipal, regional or national government institutions or agencies of the recipient country working on local projects, and
- Canadian non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations that are working on local development activities.
The majority of CFLI funding is to be directed toward local civil society organizations (including non-governmental organizations) and other institutions working at the local level. Other entities, such as international, intergovernmental, multilateral and regional organizations can be eligible for funding, provided they are working with local partners and on local projects that are consistent with the objectives of the CFLI. Similarly, municipal, regional or national government institutions may receive funding, provided that their projects are essentially local in nature. The CFLI is always looking to fund innovative projects that deliver measurable results.
How to Apply
Application forms can be requested at and must be submitted electronically to both the following email addresses given on the website.
For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=700985936633125&story_fbid=2118570238208014