The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives – Brazil (2023)

Application deadline extended to January 23, 2023 at 23:59.

The Embassy of Canada in Brazil 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. 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.

The average CFLI contribution is CAD $ 30,000 Canadian Dollars per eligible project. Please 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 at the prevailing applicable rate. 

How to apply

• The timeline for submission of concept notes is December 28, 2022 through January 23, 2023 at 23:59. Applications sent after this deadline will not be considered.
• The concept note application form can be obtained by writing to the following e- mail: BRSLACFLI@international.gc.ca
• Only 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, described later in this document.
• Proposals must be completed in Portuguese, 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.
• Proposed activities must be completed by February 28, 2024.
• The project submission process is carried out in 2 stages: first, participants are invited to complete a concept note in a form available on Google Forms; in the second phase, organizations that have their concept notes pre-selected will be contacted and invited to submit a detailed project proposal for final selection. This invitation is for the first stage of the process: submission of a concept note.
• Applications will be evaluated for merit approval by a selection committee.
• Owing to the large number of applicants, only organizations with approved proposals will be contacted.
• Project applications are kept on file at missions in accordance with Global Affairs Canada’s information management policies.
• For questions about the application process, please email the following address: BRSLACFLI@international.gc.ca

Organizations Eligible to Apply for Canada Fund Funding

Eligible recipients are limited to:

• Local non-governmental, community and not-for-profit organizations.

Thematic priorities

All projects must produce concrete, tangible and lasting results and be aligned with at least one of the following CFLI thematic priorities:

• Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
• Human rights and human dignity (including groups that are victims of discrimination, such as black, brown, indigenous, quilombolas, LGBTQIA+, and refugees and migrant communities).
• Inclusive governance, including diversity, democracy and the rule of law.
• Environment and climate action with a focus on adaptation and mitigation as well as water management.
• Peace and security, with a focus on conflict prevention and peace building.
• Urgent and targeted response to emergent disasters or crises, particularly those related to the Venezuelan migration crisis that are in line with Canada's International Feminist Assistance Policy and support migrant and refugee populations and host communities.

All proposed activities must respect the measures implemented in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and consider the possibility of implementing the project taking into account more restrictive measures.

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 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;
• ensure that the views of the women and/or girls consulted inform the project’s design.

Note that consultations can include, but are not limited to, speaking to women and girls from the local community concerned; women and other individuals who work for civil society organizations and who 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;
• international flights or airfares (regional travel may be approved on an exceptional basis);
• expenses incurred prior to the signing of the contribution agreement, or after it expires.