The Embassy of Canada in Brazil is pleased to launch its annual call for proposals for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives to support small-scale, high-impact projects in developing countries, which align with Global Affairs Canada’s thematic priority areas for engagement.
The CFLI is a unique fund in that most projects are designed and implemented by small, local civil-society organizations. These organizations understand local needs and priorities and are often best placed to respond to them. This increases the overall impact of projects and strengthens engagement in issues that are important to the prosperity and well-being of local communities.
The CFLI funds approximately 650 projects annually. This includes a range of initiatives from training local election monitors, to improving community resiliency to the effects of climate change, to supporting women’s inclusion in local peace negotiations.
By supporting local groups that may not otherwise qualify for funding from larger donors, the CFLI is also helping local civil-society organizations to flourish and succeed.
Focus Areas
CFLI projects focus on issues such as:
Inclusive governance, including diversity, democracy, human rights, 2SLGBTQI+ rights and the rule of law.
Peace & security, with a focus on conflict prevention and building peace.
Growth that works for everyone, including women’s economic rights, decent jobs and entrepreneurship, investing in the poorest and most vulnerable, and safeguarding economic gains.
Human dignity, covering health, education and nutrition.
The CFLI also provides modest financing for projects in response to natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies.
Thematic Priorities
All projects must produce concrete, tangible and lasting results and be aligned with at least one of the following CFLI thematic priorities:
Environment and climate action with a focus on adaptation and mitigation as well as water management.
Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, including marginalized groups and those victims of discrimination such as black, brown, indigenous, quilombolas, LGBTQIA+, refugee and migrant communities.
Funding Information
CFLI contributions can be up to CAD $100,000 Canadian Dollars per eligible project for one-year projects, and up to $200,000 for two-year projects.
Projects over CAD $200,000 can be considered if they clearly demonstrate a direct partnership with other smaller organizations to increase the effectiveness of local and regional impacts of the project.
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.
Ineligible 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.
Eligibility Criteria
Organizations eligible to apply for CFLI funding include:
Local non-governmental, community and not-for profit organizations
Local academic institutions
International non-governmental organizations
Intergovernmental, multilateral and regional institutions, organizations and agencies
Municipal, regional or national government institutions or agencies of the recipient country
Canadian non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations
Local civil society organizations will receive most of the CFLI funding. Nevertheless, other organizations and institutions listed may also apply for funding if they are working with local partners on local projects that meet CFLI objectives.
The CFLI is always looking to fund innovative projects that support meaningful change in communities abroad.
Application Requirements
Only proposals using the designated application form and including the required budget document will be considered.
Proposals must be completed in Portuguese, or 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.
Proposals must be implemented by the applicant organization.
Proposed initiatives may apply for one or two fiscal years of funding. The length of the project must be indicated at the application stage and cannot be modified after.
Two-year projects must clearly demonstrate the need for two years of implementation in their application.
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.
