The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives – Jamaica (2022)

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

Program Description

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. As Canada continues its international development assistance during the COVID19 pandemic, supporting local development projects is of high priority. As the world navigates the pandemic, local organisations have a key role to play in fostering a solid recovery. Communities and organisations working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are well placed to identify solutions to the emerging challenges. As international development partners around the world join forces to navigate the period, the High Commission of Canada is leveraging CFLI to support Jamaican organisations who provide services to communities and individuals most at risk. The current crisis is both a health crisis and a socioeconomic one, exacerbating existing inequalities, and further exposing vulnerabilities at the family, community and national levels. This crisis particularly impacts women, girls and other vulnerable groups who are at increased risk of experiencing increased levels of poverty. We encourage you to think creatively but projects with a comprehensive development response will be prioritised, including projects that address a singular or varying aspect of the response, namely: supporting leadership and economic independence, showing innovation in reducing digital inequalities, strengthening socio-economic and educational opportunities for women and girls, creating new business models and new ways of delivering products and services that create sustainable livelihoods and that benefit poorer communities and individuals. This year, along with the usual Call for Proposals for local projects, Canada Fund is also seeking regional projects that respond to emerging development issues across the region. Projects will need to complement Canadian priority issues, increase visibility and/or advocacy on priority issues for Canada and support the most vulnerable and marginalized. Regional projects are to focus on migration, indigenous leadership, and/or health and disaster mitigation (in response to COVID-19). The average CFLI contribution for local projects is $10,000 to $25,000 Canadian Dollars.

The average CFLI contribution for regional projects is $30,000 to $35,000 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.

How to Apply

• All projects must be completed between the date of signature of the Contribution Agreement and February 28, 2023.
• The deadline for submission is Friday, April 1, 2022 at 23:59 (GMT+ 5). Applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered.Proposals should be submitted electronically to the following email: kngtn-gr@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.
• CFLI application form: Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) Project Application for Funding Form (.pdf, 249.15 KB)
• Help: Opening PDFs on your computer
• To obtain an application form by email or for questions about the application process, please contact the CFLI Coordinator at: kngtn-gr@international.gc.ca
• Project applications are kept on file at missions in accordance with Global Affairs Canada’s information management policies.

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,
• 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.

Thematic priorities

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

• gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
• peace and security, with a focus on conflict prevention and building peace.
• environment and climate action focusing on adaptation and mitigation, as well as on water management.

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

• migration
• indigenous leadership
• health and disaster mitigation (related to the impact of COVID-19)
• all of the above priority areas should include among their objectives the empowerment of women and girls

Regional projects are to consider collaboration with local community groups, CSOs, NGOs in any eligible Official Development Assistance (ODA) country. ODA-eligible countries being considered include: Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Regional projects that are delivered by a local civil society organization or other local entity vs. a multilateral organization will be more favourably considered. Only applications from Jamaican based/registered organisations will be accepted. An organisation may submit an application for both a local project and a regional project. An information session will be convened to answer questions specific to the Call for Proposals.

Gender-based analysis

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 requires a gender-based analysis (GBA). The purpose of this 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
• 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:

• 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

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,
• seed funding and/or microfinance,
• core funding or recurrent costs of an organization
• expenses incurred prior to the signing of the contribution agreement, or after it expires