Deadline: 15-Aug-25
The Local Engagement and Action Fund (LEAF) is the local development initiatives grant mechanism under the Field Support Services Project – Caribbean (FSSP-C), which is funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to support local organisations in eight Caribbean countries to address key developmental issues through annual calls for proposals over the period 2023-2027.
Themes
- LEAF for YOU: Youth Opportunities Unlocked! Initiatives for disadvantaged or at-risk youth aged 13-29 to realise their potential.
Pillars
- Crime Prevention includes, for example, offering at-risk youth constructive alternatives and opportunities, stay-in-school programs, sporting and cultural activities, leadership development, mental health support, and family counselling.
- Upskilling a future workforce includes, for example, workforce readiness and business skills development, upskilling trainers and trainees at higher certification levels in sectors with high needs, competency-based educational training, expanding the accessibility of training for marginalised, remote or vulnerable groups, and institutional capacity building among TVET national authorities, skills building in emerging sectors, digital and technological literacy, mentorship and apprenticeship in emerging industries.
Funding Information
- The financing available will be divided into small grants (CAD $50,000.00 – 99,000.00) and large grants (CAD $100,000.00 – 250,000.00).
- It is anticipated that most projects will be supported by CAD $50,000.00 to $99,000.00. Exceptional projects that demonstrate capacity, scalability, sustainability, matching capability, and innovation may be eligible for a large grant of CAD $ 100,000.00-$ 250,000.00.
- This call for proposals will support grants that can be completed within 12 months from the time projects are awarded.
Eligible Costs
- Accounting costs
- Administrative and overhead costs related to the project (overhead should not exceed 15% of total LEAF contribution)
- Purchase of equipment, technology and project-related supplies
- Advocacy and lobbying-related costs
- Civic education costs
- Conference and event expenditures
- Costs of services received by recipients
- Domestic travel expenses, using the lowest fares possible but not exceeding full fare economy class
- Environmental assessment costs
- Facilities and equipment rental charges
- Hospitality costs, excluding alcoholic beverages
- Installation, maintenance, shipping and/or transportation costs, including fuel, computers and communication devices
- Lease or rental of vehicles
- Legal costs
- Miscellaneous expenses integral to the project
- Outreach, communication and information dissemination costs
- Publishing costs
- Radio and television broadcast fees
- Research-related costs
- Salary costs relating to the project
- Security costs
- Training and capacity-building expenditures
- Translation and interpretation fees
- Vehicle and equipment operation, installation and/or maintenance
- Website development and related costs
Ineligible Costs
- Entertainment expenses
- Costs incurred before the effective date of the Contribution Agreement or after it expires.
- Items to be given as Gifts
- Luxury goods
- Travel insurance (including health, cancellation, baggage, and more)
- Carrying charges
- Membership fees
- Patents
- Interest expenses
- Costs related to non-authorised accompanying family members;
- Capital and/or operating expenditures related to the purchase and/or building of infrastructure
- Acquisition of vehicles
- Building Construction
- Purchases of land
- Purchases of buildings
- Assistance to military or paramilitary organisations
- Direct fiscal support to the government, including salaries of regular government employees
- Core funding
- Nuclear technologies and facilities
- Support to political parties
- Flow-through or sub-contracting
Eligibility Criteria
- Projects eligible for funding under LEAF are those submitted by non-profit organizations (non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, community based organizations, women’s rights organizations, benevolent society, foundations, charitable organizations, associations, public educational institutions, federations/networks, national institutions (departments and agencies), government and quasi-government entities (national, sub-national), committed to local development. Organisations can collaborate with other eligible entities. In addition, organisations must:
- Be a legally registered organisation;
- Operate in which the project would take place: Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, or Suriname;
- Demonstrable evidence of the human resources necessary to ensure project implementation;
- All organisations are also required to:
- Have an active commercial bank account with at least two signatories,
- Submit an Income and expenditure statement, preferred, or
- Submit the bank statements for the last three months.
- For organisations applying for the large grant are also required to have:
- Audited financial statements (within the last 2 years).
For more information, visit Global Affairs Canada.
