Local Engagement and Action Fund – Guyana and Suriname

Deadline: 15-Jul-24

Global Affairs Canada is pleased to announce the call for proposals for the Local Engagement and Action Fund – LEAF for Guyana and Suriname.

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). The LEAF supports local organizations in eight Caribbean countries to address key developmental issues. There will be an annual call for proposals from 2023-2026. The main objective of the LEAF is to strengthen the support provided to local organizations working in vulnerable sectors by improving access to financial resources, and strengthen capacity to support them in achieving their mandates. The LEAF seeks to fund innovative projects that will be impactful and sustainable.

Themes

• LGBTQ+ – Efforts that promote human rights and improve socio-economic outcomes for 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Guyana and Suriname, including activities that address issues of discrimination and harassment in housing, the workplace and classroom, and in accessing health and justice services. Support for projects that enhance the capacity of local grassroots 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations working in Guyana and Suriname and contributing to policy, advocacy, service provision, and research efforts.
• Youth Empowerment – With specific focus on addressing issues related to youth involvement in crime, teen pregnancy and high-school dropouts, including skills and capacity development for employability. Funding for efforts to help ensure that youth and young adults, particularly young women, have the knowledge, skills and competencies they need for employment and to contribute to economic growth. Support in this area includes on labour-market-driven vocational training, including literacy and numeracy, especially for those who missed out on basic education. Project ideas can also include related assistance such as mental health services, community engagement, and the provision of safe spaces.
• Gender-Based Violence – Support efforts to strengthen the capacity of service providers and to make essential services available and accessible, acceptable and of quality standards, as well as to prosecute perpetrators in line with international human rights standards and guidelines. Activities can include but are not limited to:
  • decentralizing services outside of the capital city, training for healthcare and social workers, building trust between the police and vulnerable communities, establishing ‘safe houses’ for victims of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV), advocacy and public education campaigns, enhancing systematic cooperation and coordination between CSOs and public services, and working with academia to strengthen research capabilities to help guide and inform public policy.

Funding Amount and Duration

• The amount of financing available is between CAD$30,000 – CAD$50,000 per project. The duration for the project is 12-18 months.
• The maximum amount for capacity development activities is CAD$2,000. The CAD$2,000 is included as a part of the overall grant amount being requested. The types of capacity building activities under the LEAF may include but is not limited to:
  • Human Resource (knowledge and skills)
  • Organizational Structure and Framework (governance, leadership,
  • management)
  • Operations (structures, procedures and processes)
  • Communication (internal and external)
  • Collaboration and Relationship Building
  • Financial Management and Viability
  • Infrastructure (material and equipment)
  • Sustainability
  • Adaptive Capacity

Target Countries

• This call for proposals is only for eligible organizations in Guyana and Suriname.

Eligible Organizations

• Projects eligible for funding under the 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, and regional organizations committed to local development.) Organizations can collaborate with other eligible entities. In addition, organizations must:
  • Be a legally registered organization;
  • Operate in Guyana or Suriname;
  • Have an active commercial bank account or credit union account with at least two signatories;
  • Demonstrable evidence of the human resources necessary to ensure project implementation;
  • Little or no experience required;
  • Income and expenditure statement preferred or last three month’s bank statement;
  • An organization currently implementing a Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) grant is not eligible to receive a LEAF grant.

For more information, visit High Commission of Canada to Guyana and Suriname.