The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives – Egypt (2025)

The Embassy of Canada in Egypt 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.

The average CFLI contribution is $30,000 to $40,000 Canadian Dollars, and the maximum $50,000 Canadian Dollars. Consult a 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

• The Embassy of Canada in Egypt uses a two-step process to select CFLI funding recipients: Step 1 – concept note, and Step 2 – full proposal.
• Step 1: A concept note must first be submitted by all interested organizations.
  • To obtain a concept note form or for questions about the application process, please email cfli-cairo@international.gc.ca
  • Deadline for submission of project concept notes is May 18, 2025, at 08:00 (GMT+2/Cairo time). Applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered.
• Step 2: Prospective partners whose concept notes are shortlisted (based on assessment of eligibility and merit criteria) will be invited to submit a full proposal.

Information for applicants

• Only proposals submitted using the designated template will be considered.
• Project selection will be completed on the basis of the full proposal according to merit and eligibility criteria.
• Due to the large number of proposals, only successful organizations will be contacted.
• Concept notes and the final application must be completed in English or French.
• The Eligible Costs section below provides details on the types of activities and costs eligible for CFLI funding.
• All projects must be completed between the date of signature of the Contribution Agreement and February 28, 2026, unless otherwise explicitly specified. Projects should be designed to be fully implemented in 3 to 6 months.
• The Embassy may consider two-year project proposals ending on February 28, 2027, on an exceptional basis.

Preference will be given to innovative projects that can deliver measurable results, including projects that target areas outside of the capital.

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 projects must align with at least 1 of the following CFLI priorities. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, as a cross-cutting priority, should be adequately addressed in every proposal, regardless of the selected theme and sub-theme.

• Inclusive governance, including diversity, human rights, and peaceful pluralism.
• Growth that works for everyone, including women's and vulnerable groups’ (particularly refugees) economic rights, decent jobs and entrepreneurship, investing in the poorest and most vulnerable, and safeguarding economic gains.
• 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.

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 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 costs specifically related to the project,
• overhead costs specifically related to the project,
  • Overhead costs related to a project should not exceed 15%.
• capital and/or operating expenditures related to the lease and/or purchase and/or building of infrastructure (for example, office rent specifically relating to the project),
• installation, maintenance, shipping and/or transportation costs, including fuel,
• computers and communication devices,
• internet costs specifically relating to the project,
• salary costs relating to the project,
• 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,
• security costs,
• translation and interpretation fees,
• 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 or recurrent costs of an organization,
• international travel (without prior approval),
• revolving funds, (that is, funds used to advance loans to individuals, i.e. microfinance), expenses incurred prior to the signing of the CA, or after it expires.