Apply for funding through an unsolicited concept note

1. Make sure your project idea is in line with Global Affairs Canada’s priorities

There are many more needs and requests for support than any one donor can fund. We only fund select initiatives that strongly align with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and program priorities.

Before you decide to apply:

• Please note that the unsolicited funding mechanism consists of a 2-step process. The first step is the submission of a unsolicited concept note. If the concept note is of interest to GAC, you will be invited to submit a proposal. Before you decide to work on a unsolicited concept note, you may consult the proposal form below. It shows the level of detail you will need to provide in order to be considered for funding, if you are invited to submit a proposal. Do not use the proposal form for your unsolicited concept note. See guidance below.
• Review the general terms and conditions of the contribution agreement. Ensure that your organization understands and has the capacity to respect them if funding is provided.
• Verify the legal status of your organization. We can only provide funding to legal entities. Canadian organizations must also have a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) number.

2. Funding tools

Review the following guidance:

• Guidance for concept notes
• Funding tools provides topic-specific advice on best practices to incorporate into the design of your development initiative, and guidance on policy requirements
• Questions and answers about applying for funding

3. Prepare your application

Your application package must include:

1. A concept note
• Follow the Guidance for concept notes
2. Signed financial statements for your organization’s two most recently completed financial years (allowing for a three-year trend analysis)
• Audited financial statements are preferred
• Other financial statements may be accepted such as:
• review engagement
• compilation engagement/Notice to reader
• internal
• The reliability of the information in the financial statements (the extent to which an external auditor was involved) may have an impact on the assessed risk of working with your organization
• Financial statements provided must pertain to your organization, not to specific projects you have managed
3. Organization Attestation (PDF, 105KB - Help: Opening PDFs on your computer), signed by your organization’s Chief Financial Officer
• This form must be completed and signed before your unsolicited concept note.

Before you submit, check that:

• Everything that must be signed is signed by the authorized officer for your organization.
• All dollar amounts are in Canadian dollars.
• All content is provided in either English or French.

4. Submit your application through the Partners@International portal

You must submit your application for funding through the Partners@International portal. The portal will automatically save and track your submission. Applications sent to individuals outside the portal are not considered submitted.

If your organization is not registered in Partners@International:

• Submit a new registration request through the portal
• Warning: it can take up to ten business days before your registration is finalized
• Once registered, complete your organization profile and create a new application by following the steps indicated below

If your organization is registered in the Partners@International portal:

• Log in
• Click on Proposals
• Click on Create New Proposal
• Choose the Unsolicited Proposal funding mechanism by clicking on Apply (it will always appear at the bottom of the list, after open calls)

Upload documents to the Partners@International portal

• Be sure to upload all final documents to the Partners@International portal
• Properly identify them so that the portal can recognize whether your application package is complete

Press the “Submit” button on your proposal in Partners@International after uploading all documents.

• Check that the status of your application has changed from “Draft” to “Submitted”.
• You should receive an automated email acknowledging receipt.

5. Review the response

You should receive a response within two months of submitting your application (*Please note that this time frame could be longer for concept notes that include an innovative finance or repayable contribution component). The response will either indicate:

• You are invited to submit a proposal.
• The invitation letter will provide you with further instructions, and will include a useable version of the full application form (PDF, 330KB — for help, consult: Opening PDFs on your computer) and detailed budget template.
• We can only base funding decisions on the assessment of a proposal.
• Funding is never guaranteed until and unless a financial instrument is signed.
• You are not invited to submit a proposal.
• We fully plan program budgets before the start of each fiscal year. We invite proposals for either of these reasons:
• to plan for a future year;
• when funds for a particular kind of project unexpectedly become available.
• Your application is saved in the system, so please do not resubmit an unsolicited application for the same project idea within a two-year period.
• We could invite you to submit a proposal at a later date, if funds become available for that kind of project.