The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives – Lebanon

Program description

The Embassy of Canada in Lebanonis pleased to launch 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 Canadian embassy. 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.

Thematic priorities

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

• Supporting human rights: As elections has successfully come to an end, BERUT will focus its action this year on further promoting human rights of vulnerable populations in Lebanon, focusing on women, but also including migrant workers, Palestinian and Syrian refugees, as well as detainees and other vulnerable Lebanese.
• Peace and security: BERUT will continue to focus on projects that promote stability and security, and strengthen social cohesion within Lebanese communities, but also in Lebanon’s most vulnerable areas such as Palestinian camps, impoverished municipalities and suburbs (e.g. North and South Lebanon, Bekaa Valley), and host communities.
• Environment: As environmental issues continue to be a major problem in Lebanon, BERUT will also focus its intervention on projects targeting the environment and climate action.

 Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls will be a cross-cutting theme for all CFLI projects.

Organizations eligible to apply for CFLI funding

Eligible recipients include:

• local non-governmental, community and not-for-profit organizations;
• local academic institutions working on local projects;

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. The CFLI is always looking to fund innovative projects that deliver measurable results.

Gender-based analysis (GBA)

In 2017, Canada adopted its 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, the CFLI project application process now requires a gender-based analysis (GBA). The purpose of this change is 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; and
• ensure that the views of those women and/or girls inform the project’s design. 

Note that consultations can include, but are not limited to, speaking to women and girls from the local community, women and other individuals who work for civil society organizations that have worked in the local community and 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. 

Eligible costs

The following project costs are eligible for CFLI funding:

• administrative and overhead costs specifically related to the project (these should not exceed 15% of the total CFLI contribution);
• 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;
• publishing costs;
• facilities and equipment rental charges;
• research-related costs;
• salary costs relating to the project;
• translation and interpretation fees;
• domestic travel expenses, using lowest fares possible;
• lease or rental of vehicles;
• equipment operation, installation and/or maintenance;
• website development and related costs; and
• other expenses integral to the project, if approved by the mission.

The following costs are not eligible for CFLI funding:

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

How to apply

• The average CFLI contribution is $20,000 to 30,000 Canadian Dollars. Consult the currency converter for local currency equivalents. Please note that all contributions are made in Canadian dollars and then converted to the local currency.
• Organizations must consider inflation costs and possible fluctuations in currency that could occur during the life of the project.
• All projects must be completed between the date of signature of the Contribution Agreement and February 28, 2020.
• The deadline for submission is April 19, 2019 at 23:59 (GMT+3). Applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered. Proposals should be submitted electronically to the following email: BERUTCanadaFund@international.gc.ca
• Only those proposals using the designated application form and including the required budget document will be considered.
• For more information on the types of activities and costs that are eligible for CFLI funding, please refer to the list of CFLI approved activities and costs.
• Proposals must be completed in English or French.
• Project proposals must explicitly answer all questions in the CFLI project application form, including the required gender-based analysis. The proposed project budget should summarize the proposed activities and associated costs.
• Applications will be assessed for approval on their merits by a selection committee.
• Due to the large number of applicants, only the successful candidates will be contacted.
• To obtain an application form or for questions about the application process, please contact the CFLI Coordinator by email at BERUTCanadaFund@international.gc.ca
• Project applications are kept on file at missions in accordance with Global Affairs Canada’s information management policies.