The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives - Thailand (2023)

Deadline: 31-Mar-23

Embassy of Canada to Thailand, in Bangkok has launched its annual call for proposals for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).

The CFLI is a program designed to support small-scale, high-impact projects in developing countries, which align with Global Affairs Canada’s thematic priority areas for engagement. 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. The CFLI also serves to support positive bilateral relations between Canada and recipient countries and their civil societies, by deepening contacts and supporting local endeavours.

Funding Information

The average CFLI contribution is $15,000 to $30,000 Canadian Dollars (CAD$100,000 is the maximum allocation amount for a project eligible under CFLI).

Thematic Priorities

All projects must align with at least one of the following CFLI thematic priorities:

Inclusive governance, including diversity and 2SLGBTQI+, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
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.
Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Environment and climate action focusing on adaptation and mitigation, as well as on water management.

Eligible Costs

The following project costs are eligible for CFLI funding:

Accounting costs.
Administrative and overhead costs related to the project (overhead should not exceed 15% of total CFLI contribution).
Advocacy and lobbying related costs.
Capital and/or operating expenditures related to the lease and/or purchase and/or building of infrastructure.
Civic education costs.
Conference and event expenditures.
Costs of services received by recipients.
Domestic travel expenses, using lowest fares possible but not exceeding full fare economy class
Environmental assessment costs.
Facilities charges,
Equipment rental, and/or purchase (only when the purchase is required to meet project objectives, reflects good value for money, and the recipient has a strong care-and-maintenance plan in place for equipment sustainability),
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.
Medical 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, including stipends, 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.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible recipients include:
- Local non-governmental, community and not-for-profit organizations,
- Local academic institutions working on local projects,
- International non-governmental organizations working on local development activities,
- 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 may 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 and 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.
The CFLI project application process now requires a gender-based analysis (GBA) to enhance the gender equality outcomes of the CFLI program. A GBA will require applicants to:
- Consider how women, girls, men, and boys are affected differently by the problem their project is aiming to address, ensuring, at the same time, that the project does not cause harm.
- Consult women and/or girls in the development of their project proposal.
- Ensure that the views of those women and/or girls inform the project’s design.