About the Glyn Berry Program
The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade’s (DFAIT) Glyn Berry Program for Peace and Security supports the development of Canadian and international policies, laws and institutions that seek to promote the protection of individuals from violence and the instability of fragile states. This is operationalized through projects that support democracy, the rule of law and the protection of human rights, within international peace and security efforts. The Program receives funding through Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force’s (START) Global Peace and Security Fund and is named in honour of Glyn R. Berry, a senior Canadian diplomat who was tragically killed in a terrorist attack in Afghanistan in January 2006.
Applying for funding through the Glyn Berry Program
Eligible recipients of Glyn Berry Program funding must be legal entities and include:
- Academic institutions, research institutions and think tanks;
- Multilateral, intergovernmental, international and regional organizations;
- Canadian and foreign non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations;
- Foreign governments; and
- Crown corporations.
Applicants must submit a concept paper. The concept paper should be a maximum of 2 pages and should be submitted by e-mail to the Glyn Berry Program using the contact information provided here. The idea for the project described in the Concept Paper must link to one of the three Glyn Berry Program funding envelopes.
Concept Papers will be evaluated against the following criteria:
- Extent to which the proposed project supports Program objectives;
- The project addresses a gap or need;
- The project is technically sound; and
- The organization can demonstrate that it has the capacity to carry out the proposed activities and achieve the stated objectives.
The Applicant will be notified in writing whether or not the funding proposal has been endorsed.
Funding Envelopes
The Glyn Berry Program endorses project proposals that fall under three different funding envelopes: Democracy, Rule of Law and Accountability, and Conflict Prevention and Vulnerability.
Democracy
The main objectives for the Democracy Envelope are to increase citizen influence over decision-making processes to address crises and democratic openings in repressive, fragile, and emerging contexts; strengthen democracy support policies, norms, and best practices; and strengthen Canada’s community of practice on democracy support.
The Democracy Envelope ($3 million in 2011-2012) of the Glyn Berry Program supports short-term, targeted programming to help empower citizens and enhance democratic processes when contexts are difficult. The focus is on strengthening civil society, independent media, parliaments, political parties and/or electoral processes in order to enhance the capacity of all citizens, including youth and women, to engage effectively in the public arena and influence political decision-making.
The Envelope supports proactive measures in contexts where procedural elements of democracy are present but where citizen influence is significantly eroded and where there are signs of increasing fragility or backsliding toward authoritarianism. In contexts of fragility or repression, which are priorities for the Government of Canada, the Envelope will attempt to engage local actors at key transformative moments in order to support democratic openings when appropriate circumstances exist.
Funding will also seek to advance new policies, practices, tools and multilateral cooperation in support of democracy and democratic processes. It will also promote Canadian values and interests by enhancing Canada’s influence over the international policy debate on democracy support. Furthermore, under the Democracy Envelope funding will seek to enhance the capacity of Canada’s community of practice in order to strengthen Canada’s overall ability to deliver on democracy support abroad.
Rule of Law and Accountability
The Rule of Law and Accountability Envelope ($1 million in 2011-2012) of the Glyn Berry Program is a small but important funding mechanism, with projects aimed at contributing to the reform of institutions in a number of sectors including: transitional justice; security sector reform; sanctions coordination; corporate social responsibility; and the reduction of small arms and light weapons.
A key element of the Government of Canada’s priorities in 2011-2012 is the reform of global justice and security institutions. The Rule of Law and Accountability Envelope contributes to this priority by strengthening justice and security institutions in fragile states, towards peace and security at home.
Conflict Prevention and Vulnerability
The Glyn Berry Program Conflict Prevention and Vulnerability Envelope ($1 million in 2011-2012) supports projects aimed at contributing to protection of civilians; women’s peace and security; children and armed conflict; human rights promotion; peace building; mediation; prevention of genocide and mass atrocities; and indigenous peoples and conflict prevention.
Conflict-affected states, as well as those in conflict, can be stages for some of the worst forms of abuse. Building human rights capacity and institutions to encourage states to respect and implement international human rights norms and standards—especially those pertaining to minority rights—are essential to developing effective international conflict prevention strategies. Societies that respect and promote human rights are less vulnerable to instability and more able to resolve conflicts peacefully.
Application Deadlines
There is no deadline for concept paper submissions for the Democracy Envelope of the Glyn Berry Program. Submissions will be accepted throughout the fiscal year (April –March). Concept papers will still be accepted for Conflict Prevention and Vulnerability and Rule of Law and Accountability envelopes.
In most cases, the Glyn Berry Program proactively identifies and works with partners to develop projects. However, unsolicited proposals are welcome, where the Program’s priorities are clearly being advanced.
Project proposals must clearly demonstrate how the activities, outputs, and outcomes of the project will help advance one or more of the priority area objectives.
Contact Us
Glyn Berry Program for Peace and Security
Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force (START)
The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT)
125 Sussex Drive
Lester B. Pearson Building, Tower B
Ottawa, ON K1A 0G2
Email: glynberryprogramme@international.gc.ca
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