The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives – Canada and the United Nations in New York (2023)

Deadline: 16-Jun-23

The Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in New York is pleased to launch its call for proposals for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).

The CFLI is a program designed to support small-scale, high-impact projects in developing countries, which align with Canada’s thematic priorities, including inclusive governance, peace and security, and gender equality. The program is directed at projects conceived and designed predominantly by local partners in countries eligible for Official Development Assistance. Projects will be selected and approved by the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in New York. The CFLI serves to foster partnerships between Canada and recipient countries and their civil societies, by supporting local endeavours and creating connections with the United Nations.

Thematic Priorities

• All projects must align with at least 1 of the following CFLI thematic priorities:
  • Inclusive governance, including diversity and 2SLGBTQI+, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
  • Peace and security, with a focus on conflict prevention and building peace.
  • Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Funding Information

The average CFLI contribution is $30,000 to $90,000 Canadian Dollars (CAD$100,000 is the maximum allocation amount for a project eligible under CFLI).

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible recipients include:
  • Local non-governmental, community and not-for-profit organizations in ODA-eligible countries,
  • Local academic institutions working on local projects in ODA-eligible countries,
  • International non-governmental organizations working on local development activities in ODA-eligible countries,
  • Intergovernmental, multilateral and regional institutions, organizations and agencies working on local development activities in ODA-eligible countries,
  • Municipal, regional or national government institutions or agencies of the recipient country working on local projects in ODA-eligible countries, and
  • Canadian non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations that are working on local development activities in ODA-eligible countries.
  • 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 in ODA-eligible countries. 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.
• Gender-based analysis
  • 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.

For more information, visit CFLI.