The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives in Jordan

The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) supports small-scale, high-impact projects, in developing countries. 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.

Thematic priorities

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

1. Inclusive governance, including diversity, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, with a specific focus on one or more of the following areas:
   • Advance women’s leadership and decision making in governance and public sector management at all levels;
   • Strengthen legal systems and promote reforms that eliminate all forms of discrimination against women, girls, and other marginalized groups;
   • Improve access to justice for women, girls, and other marginalized groups;
   • Support citizen participation, including through innovative and technology-enabled means, to promote ownership and sustainability in social, political, and economic processes;
   • Strengthen civil society and increase democratic political participation, including that of women, youth and other marginalized groups; create and maintain, in law and in practice, a safe and enabling environment for civil society and the media (including women’s organizations and women’s rights defenders);
   • Contribute to the elimination of discrimination, prejudice, racism, intolerance and persecution by promoting respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms—including freedom of religion or belief, of expression, of peaceful assembly and of association.
2. 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, with a specific focus on advancing women’s economic rights and leadership.

For projects addressing gender issues, applicants might consider how to ensure that men and boys can be engaged to advance empowerment of women and girls.

Organizations eligible to apply for CFLI funding

Within the context of eligible countries, eligible recipients include:

• local non-governmental, community and not-for-profit organizations,
• local academic institutions working on local projects,
• international, 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 can 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 or 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.

Gender-based analysis

In 2017, Canada adopted a Feminist International Assistance Policy to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as the most effective way to reduce poverty and build a more inclusive, peaceful and prosperous world. In alignment with this policy, a gender-based analysis will be a required element of the CFLI project application process. The purpose of this change is to enhance the gender equality outcomes of the CFLI program.

A gender-based analysis (GBA) will require applicants to: a) consider how women, girls, men, and boys are affected differently by the problem their project is aiming to address, including to ensure the project does not cause harm, b) consult women and/or girls in the development of their project proposal, and c) ensure that those views inform the project design. 

Note that consultations can include, but are not limited to speaking to women and girls from the local community; speaking to women and other individuals who work for civil society organizations that have worked in the local community; speaking to female and male decision and change-makers who have knowledge of the local community.

Inadequate completion of a GBA may affect the consideration of your proposal. 

Two year programming

Projects spanning two fiscal years (April 2019 - March 2021) may be permitted depending on the project objectives and complexity of activities. Funding for each of the two years, however, will be based on a separate budget for each year.

Eligible costs

The following costs are eligible within projects for CFLI funding:

• administrative and overhead costs specifically related to the project (should not exceed 20% of total CFLI contribution);
• capital and/or operating expenditures related to the lease and/or purchase and/or building of infrastructure;
• installation; maintenance; shipping and/or transportation costs; including fuel; computers and communication devices;
• civic education costs;
• conference and event expenditures;
• hospitality costs; excluding alcoholic beverages;
• training and capacity building expenditures;
• costs of services received by recipients;
• outreach; communication and information dissemination costs;
• environmental assessment costs;
• advocacy and lobbying related costs;
• legal costs;
• accounting costs;
• medical costs;
• publishing costs;
• radio and television broadcast fees;
• facilities and equipment rental charges;
• research-related costs;
• salary costs relating to the project;
• security costs;
• translation and interpretation fees;
• domestic travel expenses; using lowest fares possible but not exceeding full fare economy class;
• lease or rental of vehicles;
• vehicle and equipment operation; installation and/or maintenance;
• website development and related costs;
• miscellaneous expenses integral to the project.

The following costs are not eligible for CFLI funding:

• nuclear technologies and facilities;
• assistance to military or paramilitary organizations;
• gifts;
• luxury goods;
• direct fiscal support to a government;
• core funding;
• expenses incurred prior to the signing of the contribution agreement or after it expires.

Mission-specific information for the Embassy of Canada to Jordan in Amman

If your organization is interested in submitting a project proposal, please note the following:

• The deadline for proposal submission is 16:00 Thursday, April 4, 2019 (local time in Jordan).
• Applicants must use CFLI application forms for their proposals, completing all questions on the application and budget forms. Incomplete applications will not be assessed.
• Application may be completed in English, French or Arabic.
• Application forms can be requested at and must be submitted electronically to both the following email addresses: AMMANGR@international.gc.ca and cfli.amman@gmail.com.
• Applicants must submit a copy of the organization’s official registration documentation.
• In the covering email, please state:
• the CFLI priority and sub-themes your project will address;
• where in Jordan the project will take place;
• if relevant, alignment to a government of Jordan strategic plan;
• the total budget; and
• the date the project will be completed.
• One-year projects must end by February 21, 2019, and all final reports must be submitted no later than March 8, 2019.
• In exceptional cases, the embassy may fund a project spanning two fiscal years (spring 2019 - February 2021) (e.g. a project aligned with a school year). However, the maximum funding for any single project remains Can$50,000. Applicants considering a two-year project application should contact the embassy to receive the appropriate budget form. A clear justification for the project length must be presented as part of the application. Two-year projects will be an exception. The budget must be split into two one-year budgets.
• The maximum funding amount per project is Can$50,000 (in recent years the average value of projects has been Can$38,000).
• Important: While project funds will be issued in Jordanian dinars, the amount of funding is in Canadian dollars. Please note that all contributions are made in Canadian dollars and then converted to the local currency. Consult the currency converter for local currency equivalents. The risk related to currency fluctuations lies with the project implementer.
• CFLI can only pay for expenses identified in and incurred after the signing of the contribution agreement between the embassy and the implementing partner.
• All projects must be completed between the date of signature of the contribution agreement and the completion date noted in the contribution agreement.

Project applications are kept on file at missions in accordance with Global Affairs Canada’s information management policies.

Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Please share this call for proposals with other organizations.