The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) is a program designed to
fund small-scale but high-impact projects in Official Development
Assistance (ODA) eligible countries, which align with Global Affairs
Canada’s thematic priority areas for engagement. The program is directed
at projects conceived and designed by local entities. Projects are
selected and approved by the relevant Canadian Embassy or High
Commission. The CFLI also serves to support positive bilateral relations
between Canada, recipient countries and their respective civil
societies by deepening contacts and supporting local endeavours.
The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) program for the eastern Caribbean
is administered directly through the High Commission of Canada for
Barbados and the eastern Caribbean, based in Bridgetown, Barbados. The
CFLI program is funded and administered separately from Canada’s
Caribbean Regional Development Program, which covers the CARICOM
countries.
The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) provides direct funding assistance to:
- Non-governmental, community and not-for-profit organizations,
- Academic institutions working on local projects,
- International, 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,
- Canadian non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations that are working on local development activities.
- The CFLI is always looking to fund innovative projects, which deliver measurable results.
Thematic Priorities
*All projects must align with at least one of the CFLI thematic priorities.
- Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; This specifically refers to sexual and gender-based violence, child and early forced marriage, gender mutilation and cutting; strengthening women’s organizations; and strengthening the capacity and systems of state and non-state actors to advance gender equality.
- Environment and climate action focusing on adaption and mitigation, as well as on water management.
NEW Gender-Based Analysis (GBA)
In
2017, Canada adopted a 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, a
Gender-Based Analysis will be a required element of the CFLI project
application process. The purpose of this change is to enhance the gender
equality outcomes of the CFLI Program.
A Gender-Based Analysis
will require applicants to: a) consider how women, girls, men, and boys
are affected differently by the problem their project is aiming to
address, including to ensure the project does not cause harm, b) consult
women and/or girls in the development of their project proposal, and c)
ensure that those views inform the project design.
Consultations
can include, but are not limited to: speaking to women and girls from
the local community; speaking to women and other individuals who work
for civil society organizations that have worked in the local community;
speaking to female and male decision and change-makers, who have
knowledge of the local community.
CFLI Eligible Costs
CFLI funds can be disbursed to cover costs that are integral to a project covered by a contribution agreement, such as:
- administrative and overhead costs related to the project;
- capital and/or operating expenditures related to the lease and/or purchase and/or building of infrastructure;
- installation, maintenance, shipping and/or transportation costs, including fuel, computers and communication devices;
- 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;
- salary costs relating to the project;
- security costs;
- translation and interpretation fees;
- travel expenses, using lowest fares possible but not exceeding full fare economy class; only within the OECS countries.
- lease or rental of vehicles;
- vehicle and equipment operation, installation and/or maintenance;
- website development and related costs; and/or
- miscellaneous expenses integral to the project.
