The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives – Bangladesh (2022)

The High Commission of Canada in Bangladesh is pleased to launch its annual call for proposals for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).

Program description

The CFLI program is designed to support small-scale, high-impact projects in developing countries—projects that 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.

All projects will be subject to funding approval from the Government of Bangladesh’s Non-Governmental Organizations Affairs Bureau (NGOAB).

The average CFLI contribution is Can$15,000 to Can$50,000 (Can$100,000 is the maximum allocation amount for a project eligible under CFLI). Consult the Bank of Canada’s currency converter for local currency equivalents. Please note that all contributions are made in Canadian dollars and then converted to the local currency.

How to apply

Prospective recipients can obtain a preliminary form to express their interest by contacting the following address: dhaka.cfli@international.gc.ca (Note additional application and budget document forms will be required at a later stage.)

The deadline for submission is May 10, 2022, at 23:59 (GMT+7). Applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered.

Project terms and conditions

• All projects must be completed between the signing date of the contribution agreement and February 28, 2023
• Projects spanning 2 fiscal years (until March 2024) may be considered on an exceptional case-by-case basis, depending on the complexity of the activities and program objectives
• The proposed project budget should summarize the proposed activities and associated costs
• Funds requested for professional fees and project staff should not exceed 15% of the contribution sought
• 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 below
• Project proposals must explicitly answer all questions in the CFLI project application form, including the required gender-based analysis
• Proposals must be completed in English

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 a preliminary form or for questions about the application process, please contact the CFLI coordinator by email at dhaka.cfli@international.gc.ca.

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

Projects spanning 2 fiscal years (April 2022 to Fiscal 2024) may be permitted depending on the project objectives and the complexity of activities.

Organizations eligible to apply for CFLI funding

Eligible recipient organizations include:

• local, national or community-based organizations (non-governmental and not-for-profit)
• local academic institutions working on local projects
• international or regional organizations (non-governmental or not-for-profit) working on local development activities
• local multilateral, regional or national government institutions or agencies of the recipient country working on local development activities
• municipal, regional or national government institutions or agencies of the recipient country working on local projects
• Canadian organizations (non-governmental or not-for-profit) 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 CFLI’s objectives. 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.

Thematic priorities

All projects must align with at least 1 of the following CFLI thematic priorities:

• inclusive governance, including diversity, democracy, human rights, 2SLGBTQI+ rights and the rule of law
• gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls
• environment and climate action focusing on adaptation and mitigation, as well as on water and/or plastic waste management

Gender-based analysis

In 2017, Canada adopted a Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. The FIAP was deemed 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 CFLI program’s gender-equality outcomes.

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 these 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:

• 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 and equipment rental, and/or purchase charges (only when the purchase is required to meet project objectives and reflects good value for money, and for which 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
• security costs
• training and capacity-building expenditures
• translation and interpretation fees
• vehicle and equipment operation, installation and/or maintenance
• website development and related costs

The following costs are not eligible for CFLI funding:

• all expenses incurred prior to the signing of the contribution agreement or after it expires
• assistance to military or paramilitary organizations
• core funding or recurrent costs of an organization
• direct fiscal support to a government
• gifts
• luxury goods
• nuclear technologies and facilities
• seed funding and/or microfinance