Applications are now open for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) support program. CFLI provides modest funding for small-scale, high-impact projects in over 120 countries eligible for official development assistance. The program has an annual programming budget of $26.8 million, with projects averaging $31,000 each. CFLI is very unique to the extent that its projects are planned and implemented mainly by local organizations, and are selected and approved by the relevant Canadian Embassy or High Commission.
Canada Fund for Local Initiatives funds approximately 650 projects every year. 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 across the globe. CFLI also helps local civil-society organizations to flourish and succeed. These organizations would not have succeeded if allowed to compete for funding from larger donors.
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Main Focus of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives
CFLI mainly focuses on such projects as:
- Financing of projects in response to natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies
- Inclusive governance, including diversity, democracy, human rights, 2SLGBTQI+ rights and the rule of law.
- Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
- Human dignity, covering health, education and nutrition.
- Peace & security, with a focus on conflict prevention and building peace.
- Environment & climate action, focusing on adaptation and mitigation, as well as on water management.
- 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.
Eligibility Requirements
Organizations under the following categories are eligible for CFLI assistance:
- Local non-governmental, community and not-for profit organizations
- International non-governmental organizations
- Canadian non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations
- Local academic institutions
- Municipal, regional or national government institutions or agencies of the recipient country
- Intergovernmental, multilateral and regional institutions, organizations and agencies
Note that Local civil society organizations will receive most of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives financial assistance. However, other organizations and institutions listed may also apply for funding if they are working with local partners on local projects that meet the CFLI objectives.