Funding to provide Legal Services and Supports for Racialized Communities (Canada)

Deadline: 10-Jan-22

The Justice Partnership and Innovation Program (JPIP) is launching an anticipatory call for proposals that seeks to fill gaps in legal services and supports for racialized communities in Canada.

This anticipatory call for proposals aims to support increased access to culturally appropriate and accessible legal information, supports and advice for racialized communities across Canada. This will support individuals and communities to increase their understanding of the law and their rights, how to exercise those rights in legal matters and to make informed decisions.

This will empower individuals to be active participants in addressing their legal matters and to access the justice system meaningfully. JPIP provides contribution funding for projects that support ensuring a fair, relevant and accessible Canadian justice system.

JPIP supports activities that respond effectively to the changing conditions effecting Canadian justice policy. Priorities include access to justice, family violence, and emerging justice issues. The long-term goal of JPIP is to contribute to increasing access to the Canadian justice system and strengthening the Canadian legal framework.

Objective and Outcomes

• The ultimate objective of the initiative is to increase access to justice for racialized communities, including Indigenous peoples, across Canada.
• Projects must align with the planned outcomes for the initiative:
  • Immediate: Increased accessibility and dissemination of legal information and resources, and increased capacity of organizations to develop and offer justice related services to racialized communities.
  • Intermediate: Increased public awareness and knowledge of justice issues.
  • Ultimate: Increased access to justice.

Components

The call includes two main funding components:

• Public Legal Education and Information
  • The objective of this component is to support individuals to increase their awareness and knowledge of their rights and legal options. This will empower individuals to make informed decisions in regards to legal issues they may be facing.
  • Funding is available for projects to develop culturally relevant public legal education and information (PLEI) materials and resources, such as print materials, online resources, information sessions/workshops and sample legal documents to aid racialized communities in learning about their rights and the justice system. Information, tools and supports would assist individuals to navigate options available to them on a range of legal issues spanning the civil and criminal justice systems.
    • Key Activities
      • Projects should include the following key activities:
        • Needs assessment to identify the main barriers, needs, and priorities for the identified target communities. If a previous needs assessment or similar exercise has been undertaken, please outline this in the proposal.
        • Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+), which can be integrated into the needs assessment. GBA+ is an analysis of the diverse and intersectional needs of the target populations and the impact the project will have on these groups, key considerations for the development and implementation of project activities.
        • Partnership Development / Racialized Community Engagement
• Legal Advice and Supports
  • This component will help to remove barriers to justice faced by members of racialized communities. Projects will support the provision of legal supports and advice to help individuals understand their options and support them to navigate their specific legal situation.
  • Funding is available to support a limited number of pilot projects with organizations currently providing legal supports and services to racialized communities (including community-based organizations and legal clinics).
    • Key Activities
      • Proposals should include an examination of the following:
        • Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+), which can be integrated into the needs assessment. GBA+ is an analysis of the diverse and intersectional needs of the target populations and the impact the project will have on these groups, key considerations for the development and implementation of project activities.
        • Target populations
        • Legal priorities
        • Identified approach for the provision of legal advice (please include the proposed client eligibility criteria, if applicable, for accessing legal advice, number of hours of legal advice that will be offered, etc.)
        • Accessibility considerations (including providing a safe space, access to technology, translation/interpretation, access for individuals with disabilities, etc.)

Note: Applicants can include one or both funding components in their proposal.

Funding Information

• Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI) Projects: Up to a maximum of $500,000
• Legal Advice and Supports Pilot Projects: Up to a maximum of $750,000
• PLEI and Legal Advice (both funding components): Up to a maximum of $1,000,000
• Length of project: Funding is available up to March 31, 2026.

Target Population

• Applicants must demonstrate their experience in working with racialized communities and delivering culturally relevant services. In addition, applicants should have experience in supporting individuals in legal matters.
• If an applicant does not have the necessary experience, the application should demonstrate how this expertise will be obtained (for example, through partnerships, hiring expertise, community engagement, etc.)

Eligibility Criteria 

• They strongly encourage organizations that have experience in developing or delivering public legal education and information and/or working on justice issues to submit proposals. Organizations with significant experience working with racialized communities, including Indigenous communities, are also strongly encouraged to submit proposals.
• Applicants should be able to demonstrate in the proposal their experience in the development of legal information, services and supports for and with racialized communities.
• If an organization does not have significant experience serving racialized communities, the application should demonstrate how this expertise will be obtained (for example, through partnerships and/or community engagement).
• Eligible applicants include:
  • Canadian not-for-profit organizations
  • Legal clinics and associations
  • Bands, Tribal Councils, self-governing First Nations and Inuit
  • Indigenous organizations
  • Private sector organizations.

For more information, visit https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/f_15.html