Questions and Answers – Call for Concept Notes – Education for Refugee and Displaced Children and Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa

General

• How many projects will be funded through this call? (April 6, 2021)

  Global Affairs Canada may fund any number of proposals or none, up to the maximum funding available. As per the required project parameters, funding requested from Global Affairs Canada must be at least $5 million but no more than $20 million.

• If successful, when will applicants be invited to submit a full proposal? (April 6, 2021)

  After completing the merit assessment, we will invite a limited number of eligible organizations whose concept notes align best with the objectives and parameters of the call to submit a full proposal. However, an invitation to submit a full proposal is not a guarantee of funding.

• Is there a preference for English or French application packages? (April 6, 2021)

  The application packages can be submitted in either English or French or a combination of both. There is no preference.

• How can I download the application forms? (April 6, 2021)

  Use only Adobe Reader/Adobe Acrobat and Internet Explorer to work on the standardized PDFs to be submitted with your application package. If you use other software, you may not be able to validate the form or submit it, or the data you enter may not appear once submitted to the department, and the application will be considered ineligible.

  If you are having difficulty downloading the forms, it is generally due to the type of software you have (or do not have) on your computer. Please read and follow the help instructions. If you have all the correct software installed, download the form to your desktop and open it directly in Adobe Reader; otherwise, other software installed on your computer may try (and fail) to open the form using your default settings.

  It is your responsibility to ensure that you properly follow the guidelines and submit the required forms to qualify.

Application process and eligibility

• Could you share the list of ODA-eligible countries for this call? (April 6, 2021)

  Please consult the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list of official development assistance (ODA) eligible countries: http://www.oecd.org/dac/financing-sustainable-development/development-finance-standards/daclist.htm. Note that only ODA-eligible countries with the highest concentration of refugees and IDPs in sub-Saharan Africa are eligible for this call.

• Can individual faculties/institutes of a same university submit different concept notes? (April 6, 2021)

  Global Affairs Canada can sign only funding agreements with legal entities. In this call, only one application can be submitted from any legal entity as a signatory. In the context of universities, unless a faculty or institute has a separate legal identity from the rest of the university (which would include having an autonomous budget), only one application can be submitted per university.

• Can local partners include private-sector companies such as telecommunications , construction or other for profit making entities that support local initiatives? (April 6, 2021)

  Yes, local partners can include private-sector companies. However, as indicated in the required project parameters section on the call page, your proposed project cannot generate a profit for you or any other implementing organization. Please note that private-sector partners could also contribute additional funding sources to the proposed initiative, including through increased cost sharing beyond the minimum requirement of 5%.

• Do individual professors need to register in Partners@International in order to apply, or do they need to apply through their university? (April 6, 2021)

  Individuals are not eligible to apply to this call. Organizations must meet all of the published eligibility requirements, and universities can submit only one application unless an institute or centre is incorporated as a separate legal entity from the university. An organization must be registered in Partners@International in order to submit an application.

• Is the applicant’s annual revenue flow a factor in determining eligibility? (April 6, 2021)

  Revenue flow by itself is not a factor that will be assessed for eligibility but it will be a factor assessed in eligible applications. Applicants and co-signatory(ies) must commit to providing at least 5% of the total eligible direct project costs over the life of the project in cash and/or in kind in accordance with Global Affairs Canada’s Policy on Cost-Sharing for Grant and Non-Repayable Contribution Agreements in order to be eligible. Applicants must provide 2 separate signed financial statements for the most recent fiscal years; audited statements are preferred. If you are invited to submit a full proposal, Global Affairs Canada will undertake an assessment of your organization’s capacity to manage the project funding and to meet cost-share obligations, including through an accountant’s review of your financial statements.

• Can a relevant education program implemented with the local partner for 4 years, but via 2 funding sources funded one after another (2 fundings of 2 years each) be used to demonstrate the required project experience? (April 6, 2021)

  Yes, project experience can be funded by various donors.

• Can we submit a concept note that takes place in a region that already has a funded project? (April 6, 2021)

  Yes. Global Affairs Canada does not apply any limit on the number of initiatives in a specific region or country. However, in the case of multiple initiatives in a single region or country, the applicant will need to avoid duplications, demonstrate the specific focus and added value of the proposed initiative given the presence of other projects, and demonstrate coordination with other active stakeholders in the region, if applicable.

• Must we include activities or outputs in our theory of change? (April 6, 2021)

  As per the instructions under Section 1.3 "Expected outcomes and theory of change" on the Call for Concept Notes form, you must create a separate paragraph for each intermediate outcome, where you briefly explain how the project’s activities or outputs will lead to the immediate outcomes, and how the immediate outcomes will lead to that intermediate outcome. Note that although candidates must include activities or outputs in the theory of change, the Logic Model requires only the ultimate, intermediate and immediate outcome statements.

• Where in the concept note should we indicate how sub-grantee recipients will be selected, and what monitoring and control mechanisms will be used ? (April 6, 2021)

  How sub-grantee recipients will be selected, what monitoring and control mechanisms will be used should be included under Section 1. 3 "Expected outcomes and theory of change" on the Call for Concept Notes form.

• Do local partners need to be confirmed at the concept note stage? (March 31, 2021)

  If local partnerships are not secured upon submission of the concept note, we expect to see at least a plan of how partnerships will be established. It is not necessary to include an exhaustive list with all the names of the partner and/or recipient refugee and IDP organizations. The main partners should be presented in the Local Partner Information Form, which is required at the concept note stage.

• Can project examples from the signatory organizations be funded by non-Canadian sources? (March 29, 2021)

  Yes. Project experience can be funded by non-Canadian sources. You are required to list the funding agency (the organization that provided funding for the project) in section 2.1 of the concept note application form.

• Must outputs and activities be included in the logic model? (March 22, 2021)

  No. Your Concept Note must include a logic model that visually depicts the outcome statements down to the immediate results of the theory of change and reflects the series of changes that are critical to the project’s success.

• Can you apply without having a Canadian organization as a signatory? (March 22, 2021)

  No. To be eligible to apply, your organization must be Canadian. For the purpose of this call, this means that your organization is legally incorporated in Canada, established with an office and employees in Canada and can provide proof of legal status (for example, a letter of incorporation).

• Can a non-Canadian organization be included in the project as a signatory partner? (March 22, 2021)

  No, however, Canadian signatory partners can form partnerships or consortia or other with non-Canadian organizations through sub-agreements that do not involve Global Affairs Canada.

• Can the relevant project experience come from a project implemented by a non-signatory partner, such as a local partner? (March 22, 2021)

  No. Project experience must come from the signatory’s and/or co-signatory’s project or projects.

• In the section on Required Project Experience, how do you define “within the last 7 years”? Do my examples of experience have to be related to completed projects or can they include ongoing projects? (March 22, 2021)

  At the closing date of the call, the project examples must meet the requirements indicated in the section on Required Project Experience. Any project activities that took place on or after March 3, 2014, will count toward the project experience required for this application. Future experience does not count toward the experience criteria.

• Can each signatory provide 1 example, collectively meeting the criteria for Required Project Experience? (March 22, 2021)

  Yes. The required project experience can be collectively demonstrated by the lead applicant and other signatories. Please note that only 2 project examples per initiative are required; you must select the project examples that will be submitted.

• Can an organization that is legally incorporated in Canada for less than 2 years apply for this call? (March 22, 2021)

  No, an organization with less than 2 years of incorporation is not eligible to apply for this call. To be eligible for this call, your organization must provide 2 separate financial statements for the most recent fiscal years.

• Can you apply without having a Canadian organization as a signatory? (March 22, 2021)

  No, to be eligible, your organization must be Canadian, which means for the purpose of this call that your organization is legally incorporated in Canada, established with an office and employees in Canada and can provide proof of legal status (e.g. a letter of incorporation).

• How many examples of experience must be included in the concept note? (March 22, 2021)

  Your concept note must demonstrate the required experience as described on the call page to be considered under this call. One or more organizations among the signatory partners must provide 2 examples of projects in Section 2.1. of the application form. Project examples from non-signatory partners will not be eligible. At least 1 of the project examples must be in the proposed country(ies) of intervention.

• How do you define “local organizations”? (March 22, 2021)

  For the purpose of this call, we define local organizations as grassroots organizations found at the community level in developing countries. These can include a range of non-government, non-profit, and volunteer-driven organizations through which people organize and use community-based approaches to address local problems.

  Local grassroots organizations may:

  • be registered or non-registered in the developing country receiving assistance from the proposed project;
  • have their principal place of business or operations in the developing country receiving assistance from the proposed project;
  • be majority-created and operated by citizens, permanent residents or refugees in the developing country receiving assistance from the proposed project; or
  • be managed by a governing body, the majority of whom are citizens, permanent residents or refugees in the developing country receiving assistance from the proposed project.
• Can we include hyperlinks to a visual presentation in our concept note? (March 22, 2021)

  No. To be fair to all applicants and to ensure that everyone has the same amount of text available to present their concept, we will review only the information entered on the concept note form and the other forms specifically required for this call.

• Do we need to provide a justification in order to include a country that is not listed on the call page (even if the percentage of the budget request is lower than the other country(ies) in our application)? (March 22, 2021)

  Yes. Applicants wishing to propose projects in an ODA-eligible country in sub-Saharan Africa not listed on the call page are required to provide a justification regardless of the percentage of budget allocated for this country.

• Can we describe a relevant project example implemented in a country that is a significant refugee-hosting country, but ranked lower on the Fragile States Index and may not be considered a “conflict situation” relative to other countries in the region? (March 22, 2021)

  Yes. The eligible example must demonstrate, in at least 1 project example within the last 7 years, at least 3 consecutive years of implementing an education-related international assistance project in fragile or conflict situations, including in refugee-hosting countries. However, at least 1 or 2 examples you submit must involve a project that took place in one or more of the target countries.

• Can we include a list of references or other documents with our application package? (March 22, 2021)

  No. Only the information included in the concept note form and other required documents listed on the call page will be assessed.

Project information

• Can we submit a concept note implemented in a country that our organization is not currently registered in but will be at the time the proposed project starts? (April 6, 2021)

  Yes, you can submit a concept note in a country where your organization is not yet registered. However, since you are responsible for ensuring that you comply with the legal requirements of the country(ies) in which you propose to operate, if invited to submit a full proposal, you will be expected to factor in operational risks associated with registering in the proposed countries and identify mitigating measures to manage the impact on the implementation.

• How will implementing partners be required to measure "enhanced learning outcomes"? (April 6, 2021)

  It is the responsibility of the applicant to identify the performance indicators that will be used to measure the outcomes that are the most appropriate for their proposed initiative and relevant to the theory of change. Indicators can be qualitative or quantitative. For more information, refer to the Results-based management for international assistance programming: A how-to guide.

• In terms of required project experience, how are "fragile situations" defined? (April 6, 2021)

  The OECD characterizes fragility as the combination of exposure to risk and insufficient coping capacity of the state, systems and/or communities to manage, absorb or mitigate those risks. Fragility can lead to negative outcomes including violence, poverty, inequality, displacement, and environmental and political degradation.

• Can additional staff be hired in host countries to aid with implementation of the project? (April 6 2021)

  Yes. Remuneration of local employees can be considered an eligible direct cost. Note that as a general rule to be eligible for reimbursement, costs must be reasonable, directly and clearly related to the project and agreed to in the agreement’s budget. All eligible direct cost elements are listed in “Guidance on Eligible Costs for Development Initiatives,” which can be found by following the Funding Guidance link on the call page.

• Applicants are required to include a separate logic model that visually depicts the outcome statements down to the immediate results of the theory of change. How are “immediate results” defined? (April 6, 2021)

  Immediate results are defined as “a change that is expected to occur once one or more outputs have been provided or delivered by the implementer. In terms of time frame and level, these are short-term outcomes, and are usually changes in capacity, such as an increase in knowledge, awareness, skills or abilities, or access* to... among intermediaries and/or beneficiaries.” For more information, refer to the Results-based management for international assistance programming: A how-to guide.

• To what extent must the community of practice component be integrated into the concept note, both narratively and in terms of budget? Will this community of practice be entirely led by the department? (April 6, 2021)

  At the concept note stage, you are expected to provide a short description of the proposed community of practice activities in Section 1.3 "Expected outcomes and theory of change" on the Call for Concept Notes form and in the logic model. If you are invited to submit a full proposal, you will be expected to expand on this section and to provide additional details about the proposed activities and budget. Global Affairs Canada will ensure the initial launch of the community of practice in coordination with successful applicants and by retaining the elements best suited to the circumstances proposed by certain partners. You will also be expected to engage actively with the other successful applicants in this call, their partners and other relevant stakeholders to the extent possible. No additional funding will be provided for establishing the community of practice.

• What types of educational initiatives can be funded through collaboration with refugee- and IDP-led organizations? For example, would technical and vocational education and training be eligible, as long as there is a clear link to improved learning outcomes? (April 6, 2021)

  Based on the mandates and activities of refugee- and IDP-led organizations, the targeted small grants program would fund the work of refugee- and IDP-led organizations in formal and non-formal education. For example, supporting alternative curriculums, teacher training, technical and vocational education and training and workshops for vulnerable groups on issues such as water, sanitation and hygiene and sexual and gender-based violence, among others.

• Do refugee- and IDP-led organizations have to be working in the education sector? (April 6, 2021)

  Yes. As indicated on the call page, refugee- and IDP-led organizations must be working in the education sector. Their engagement can be broader and involve other sectors.

• Is there a preference for which countries my project should target? (April 6, 2021)

  No. As indicated on the call page, your proposed project must target one or more of the listed ODA-eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Applicants wishing to propose projects in ODA-eligible countries that are not on this list of countries—and that have the highest concentration of refugees and IDPs—may do so with an accompanying justification aligned with the call objectives.

• Can we adapt and contextualize our ultimate and intermediate outcomes? (April 6, 2021)

  As indicated on the call page, you may refine the call’s ultimate and intermediate outcome statements to ensure that they are grounded in the reality of your project design, making them more specific in terms of your project’s who, what and where. Refer to Results-based management for international assistance programming: A how-to guide to ensure that your outcome statements respect Global Affairs Canada’s definition of intermediate and ultimate outcomes.

• Are we required to partner with existing refugee or internally displaced persons (IDP)-led organizations or can project funds be allocated toward the establishment of such organizations? (March 31, 2021)

  The objective of this call is to support existing refugee and/or IDP-led organizations and not to establish new ones.

• Can project funds be used to map and identify refugee and IDP-led organizations? (March 31, 2021)

  While local partnerships may not be fully secured at the concept note stage, the main partners should be presented in the Local Partner Information Form, which is required at the concept note stage. If you are invited to submit a full proposal, we expect local partnerships to be confirmed following more exhaustive local consultations. No expenses can be incurred prior to signing the contribution agreement. Therefore, project funds would not be used to do an initial mapping to identify refugee and IDP-led organizations during the development of the proposal.
  
  Expenses related to more extensive mapping upon signature of the agreement are eligible.

• What kind of activities can sub-granting funds be allocated toward? (March 31, 2021)

  Based on the identified mandates and activities of refugee and IDP-led organizations, a targeted small grants program would fund the work of refugee and IDP-led organizations working in the education sector.
  
  Grants can be used to 1) fund core activities of the refugee and IDP-led organizations that operate in the education sector; 2) fund education-related programming that aligns with the refugee and IDP-led organizations’ mandate or objectives; and 3) be a flexible response fund for adaptive activities in the event of unforeseen events (e.g. conflict, health pandemic).

• Beyond capacity building, sub-granting and advocacy activities, can we propose direct/joint implementation of additional activities for education service delivery, such as teacher training? (March 31, 2021)

  We expect applicants and their partners to focus on providing support through grants and capacity building to local organizations, including refugee and IDP-led organizations. Applicants are not expected to propose undertaking direct education programming themselves, but may support the activities of refugee and IDP-led organizations in the delivery of their education programs.

• Do public engagement activities need to be reflected in the logic model? (March 31, 2021)

  Yes. Public engagement activities should be reflected in your logic model.

• Can we propose public engagement activities that are in Canada and in the targeted countries of intervention? (March 31, 2021)

  Canadian public engagement funds can be used only to target audiences based in Canada. However, a proposed initiative can also include community outreach / engagement activities in the country(ies) within its project activities.

• How is "education-related international assistance project in fragile or conflict situations” defined? (March 31, 2021)

  Within the context of this call, education-related international assistance addresses barriers that refugee, other forcibly displaced and host community children and youth, particularly girls, face in accessing quality education and life-long learning that is equitable, inclusive, gender-responsive, conflict sensitive and locally driven. Activities can target pre-primary, primary, secondary, non-formal, technical, vocational and higher education levels that will lead to relevant and effective learning outcomes in situations with high levels of institutional or social fragility or in areas affected by conflict.
  
  As per the definition provided by Inter-Agency Networking for Education in Emergencies, “education in emergencies provides physical, psychosocial and cognitive protection that can sustain and save lives. Common situations of crisis in which education in emergencies is essential include conflicts, situations of violence, forced displacement, disasters and public health emergencies.”

• Will concept notes that propose virtual programming be eligible for this call? (March 31, 2021)

  Yes. As indicated in Additional Guidance in the call page, innovations, including digital delivery methods, are eligible.

• Can Global Affairs Canada elaborate on how it defines “internally displaced peoples?” (March 31, 2021)

  Internally displaced persons (IDPs), according to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, are “persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters and who have not crossed an internationally recognized state border.”

• Can scholarships be proposed as part of my concept note? (March 31, 2021)

  Applicants are not expected to propose undertaking direct education programming themselves. Scholarships could be part of sub-grants allocated to support education-related programming in line with the refugee and/or IDP-led organizations’ mandate or objectives.

• May internationally relocated refugees originally from the region of implementation count as local partner refugee-led organizations? (March 31, 2021)

  Localization is at the heart of this concept note. While you could propose to work with refugee-led organizations that are no longer located in the country of intervention, as per Required Project Parameters in the call page you are required to demonstrate that “your organization proposes to work with local partner(s) in the country(ies) where the project would take place.”

• Do the Community of Practice requirements need to be explicit in the project logic model and theory of change? (March 31, 2021)

  Applicants are expected to describe how they intend to pursue a learning agenda informed by research and monitoring and evaluation, and include the proposed design for the community of practice. This should be presented in the theory of change and logic model.

• How does Global Affairs Canada define “improved performance of local refugee and/or IDP-led organizations working on gender-responsive education”? (March 31, 2021)

  The improved performance of local refugee and/or IDP-led organizations working on gender-responsive education is highly context specific. Applicants should define improved performance based on their experience, the local context and the self-identified needs of refugee and IDP-led organizations. Examples could include but are not limited to financial management, human resources and programming, such as:

  i. agendas and strategic plans to effectively respond to gender and intersectional barriers to education;

  ii. policy/advocacy activities to effectively engage with host country local education systems;

  iii. risk assessment and responses measures to conflict and political fragility, among other threats;

  iv. basic financial and administrative management capacity to plan and administer gender-responsive grants, monitor, evaluate and report on their programs; and,

  v. human resource structures and plans are gender-responsive and support recruitment and retention of male and female staff, as well as effective and equitable leadership of the organization.

• Is a reach count for direct and indirect beneficiaries expected at the concept note stage? (March 31, 2021)

  While it is not mandatory to present the expected reach of direct and indirect beneficiaries at the concept note stage, if it is possible, please do so. If you are invited to submit a full proposal, you will have the opportunity to include, expand or clarify the expected reach.

• Can one’s experience be without any funding, but with in-kind cost instead? For example, a 4-year partnership that doesn’t have funding, but relies on operational costs that are covered through other programming that could be listed as in-kind. (March 29, 2021)

  Yes. Project experience can be without funding. Please note that for the “Organizational ability relevant to the initiative” criteria, applicants must demonstrate success in delivering results and ability (expertise and experience) to carry out a project of the proposed size and nature. It is also important to note that the required project experience requires demonstration of experience sub-granting to local grassroots organizations, including ensuring due diligence and monitoring of grants. If project examples had significantly smaller budgets than what is being requested in the proposed concept note, this may negatively impact the assessment of these criteria.

• Do women-led organizations need to be refugee-led organizations or can they be local organizations that work with refugees and/or internally displaced persons (IDPs)? (March 29, 2021)

  Women-led organizations and other local organizations that work with and for refugees and IDPs but are not led by them can be recipients of this call. However, please note that this call is primarily focused on providing support to refugee- and IDP-led organizations in the education sector that are either founded and/or led by refugees and/or IDPs as decision makers.

• Can grants be used to fund activities by refugee- and IDP-led organizations outside of the scope of the 3 types indicated on the call page (i.e. core activities, education-related programming, and flexible response fund activities)? (March 29, 2021)

  Yes. While examples of funding activities listed on the call page are broad and likely encompass most activities, grants could be used for additional activities beyond those listed on the call page with a justification of how they are aligned with the core objectives of this call.

• What specific learning outcomes are the targets of this call? How should they be defined and measured? (March 29, 2021)

  For the purpose of this call, there are no prescribed learning outcomes that must be targeted. Learning outcomes should be identified based on the context and the needs assessment of each project. A definition of learning outcomes for your proposed initiative should be provided in your concept note. Applicants should propose rigorous monitoring and evaluation for all project activities, including any contributions made toward the improvement of functional literacy and/or numeracy levels of children and youth. In terms of measuring outcomes, proposals must demonstrate how they will develop and apply results-based management methodology.

• What activities are defined as “education-related”? Can a refugee-led organization that focuses on community-level livelihood activities that aim to increase household income, with the option of investing that in children’s education, be considered a valid partner? (March 29, 2021)

  Your proposed project must contribute to enhanced equitable and inclusive learning outcomes for refugee, internally displaced and host community children and youth, particularly girls including adolescent girls. You must be able to demonstrate that the activities undertaken by the targeted refugee- or IDP-led organizations will support the ultimate outcome statement.

• What is the evidence base for this approach as an effective way of improving access to quality education for refugees/IDPs? (March 29, 2021)

  The evidence base is limited regarding the best ways of supporting refugee- and IDP-led organizations. The Global Compact on Refugees pledges greater support to civil society organizations, including those led by refugees and IDPs, that contribute to assessing community strengths and needs, inclusive and accessible planning and program implementation, and capacity development.

• Do the requirements for implementation, reporting, and monitoring and evaluation remain the same, for example, in cases of deviation or emergency? (March 29, 2021)

  Yes. The due diligence related to the management of GAC-funded projects is based on the Treasury Board guidelines about the management of grants and contributions and is determined by the type of financial instrument. However, the call page includes components that are meant to build in greater flexibility and adaptability to project activities. You are encouraged to include elements such as flexible response funds and crisis modifiers (i.e. solutions that are designed to quickly address anticipated or observed crises) that are aimed at mitigating the impacts of any crisis and will be applicable to project activities as needed.

• What are the criteria for a refugee- or IDP-led organization to be considered a non-registered group? (March 29, 2021)

  Non-registered refugee- and/or IDP-led organizations actively undertake the provision of education-related service to refugees or IDPs but are not necessarily officially and legally registered as an organization in the host community or country. Both registered and non-registered organizations can receive assistance within the context of this call while respecting the legal framework of the host country. Organizations must be active in providing protection of and assistance to refugees and IDPs, with their activities including but not limited to advice and programs on inclusion, integration, meaningful participation, education, empowerment and self-reliance.

• How should the 3 core objectives described on the call page (capacity building, grants, and amplifying voices) be integrated into project design? Which should be prioritized between the core objectives and the ultimate outcome? (March 29, 2021)

  Your proposed project must contribute to the achievement of the ultimate outcome:

  • enhanced equitable and inclusive learning outcomes for refugee, internally displaced and host community children and youth, particularly girls, including adolescent girls, living in select countries of sub-Saharan Africa eligible for official development assistance (ODA)

  Your proposed project must also contribute to all 3 intermediate outcome statements as listed on the call page. The theory of change should clearly and logically describe the project design from ultimate outcome to activities, including associated assumptions, risks and contributing factors.

• In the event that a project targets an ODA-eligible country that is not listed on the call page, what additional justification is expected? (March 29, 2021)

  When proposing countries in sub-Saharan Africa that are not listed on the call page, applicants must provide a short justification demonstrating how the targeted country is aligned with the call objectives.

• Is Global Affairs Canada proposing to contribute specifically to one or a few of 10 targets associated with SDG-4? (March 29, 2021)

  Under the Rationale for the Initiative criteria, concept notes will be assessed on whether the project is aligned with the priorities (including Sustainable Development Goals).

• Could we get additional clarity on what refurbishment means? (March 29, 2021)

  Refurbishment means any improvement to an existing structure, e.g. refugee- and/or IDP-led organization offices, learning spaces and schools. All refurbishment activities must contribute to the objectives of this call. Construction of new facilities/structures will not be considered.
  
  Refurbishments could include: changing hardware, doors and windows; floor, wall, ceiling and baseboard finishes; providing stationary furniture, such as that in laboratories or classrooms, landscaping and urban furniture; caulking of windows and doors; and cleaning of walls and repairing of masonry, decks, stairs and access ramps. Mobile and/or prefabricated water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) structures could be proposed if they are self-contained, meaning that clean water and waste are stored within the structure itself, and if proper maintenance protocols are described.
  
  More extended refurbishment that would not be considered include: redoing a roof or a load-bearing wall, or adding an extension, protective fencing, or water and sanitation infrastructure including wells and latrines.

• Are organizations that work for refugees and IDPs without being led by them considered eligible recipients in this call? (March 29, 2021)

  Local organizations that work with and for refugees and IDPs but are not led by them can be considered recipients in this call. However, please note that this call is primarily focused on providing support to refugee- and IDP-led organizations in the education sector that are either founded and/or led by refugees and/or IDPs as decision makers. An intervention could be proposed to increase the participation of refugees and IDPs in the operations of the organizations.

• Is April 14 a hard deadline? (March 29, 2021)

  Yes. This is a hard deadline. We will not accept concept notes after noon ET on April 14, 2021. To be fair to all applicants, we will not provide extensions to individual applicants.

• Will Global Affairs Canada contribute funds for establishing the community of practice beyond the budget for project activities? (March 29, 2021)

  No. Additional funding will not be provided for establishing the community of practice.

• Can we propose public engagement activities that are in Canada and in the targeted countries of intervention? (March 29, 2021)

  Canadian public engagement funds can only be used to target audiences based in Canada. However, a proposed initiative can include community outreach/engagement activities in the country(ies) of implementation within its project activities.

• What are the parameters of the grant mechanism for refugee- and IDP-led organizations? (March 29, 2021)

  Applicants can design their own grant mechanism, including envelopes, purpose and intended recipients, as long as it contributes toward the objectives stated on the call page.
  
  For example, funding envelopes could include funding for: core activities of refugee- and IDP-led organizations; education-related programming in line with the mandate or objectives of refugee- and IDP-led organizations; a flexible response fund to adapt activities due to unforeseen events (e.g. conflict- or pandemic-related crises).

• Does the Government of Canada have an idea as to the value of the grants? (March 29, 2021)

  Global Affairs Canada has not specified the value of the grants. It is up to the applicants to propose a reasonable range of value for the grants based on the local context and targeted beneficiaries.

• What kind of activities can sub-granting funds be allocated toward? (March 29, 2021)

  Based on the identified mandates and activities of refugee- and IDP-led organizations, a targeted small grants program would fund the work of refugee- and IDP-led organizations in formal and non-formal education, for example, to support alternative curricula, teacher training, and workshops for vulnerable groups on issues such as water, sanitation and hygiene, and sexual and gender-based violence, among others.

• Should the project’s rationale be linked with impacts on poverty reduction, as identified in the Feminist International Assistance Policy? (March 22, 2021)

  Yes. Improving access to education is 1 of the 6 key action areas of the Feminist International Assistance Policy, which focuses on the eradication of poverty globally. For this reason, the rationale for the initiative should describe the expected impact on poverty reduction and demonstrate how gender equality is central to those efforts.

• The intermediate outcomes for this call are centred around organizations led by refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). How does Global Affairs Canada designate organizations as refugee or IDP-led? (March 22, 2021)

  As indicated on the call page, refugee and IDP-led organizations are defined as community-based organizations (CBOs)—including women-led organizations—working in the education sector, which are founded and/or led by refugees and/or IDPs as decision-makers. These organizations must be active in providing protection and assistance to refugees and IDPs, with their activities including, but not being limited to: advice and programs on inclusion, integration, meaningful participation, education, empowerment and self-reliance.

• How does Global Affairs Canada define “‘co-signatory”‘ and “‘non-signatory”‘ partners? (March 22, 2021)

  “Co-signatory” partners are identified as signatories in the Initiative Summary section of the Concept Note and will be required to sign the funding agreement and meet all the organization eligibility requirements. Only the signatory or signatories (the lead applicant or applicants) bear liability and are accountable for the management of the project. To be eligible in this call, the proposed signatory or signatories must be legally incorporated in Canada. However, lead applicants (Canadian organizations) are permitted to collaborate with other organizations (Canadian or non-Canadian) as non-signatories.

• Can dynamic partnerships include organizations that are not Canadian, or those from ODA-eligible country(ies) targeted by the initiative? (March 22, 2021)

  Dynamic partnerships means partnerships with actors including government, civil society, religious and community leaders with different experiences, networks and perspectives at national, regional and local levels. In short, they involve several types of stakeholders contributing to the project objectives.

  Dynamic partnerships may include organizations that are neither from Canada nor from ODA-eligible countries targeted by the initiative. Such organizations cannot be signatories of the agreement, and priority will be given to partnerships with Canadian and national civil society organizations working on education-related issues for and with refugees and/or IDPs.

• Do project activities need to happen in the formal education sector? (March 22, 2021)

  No. Project activities can happen in formal and non-formal education, for example to support alternative curriculums, teacher training, or workshops for vulnerable groups on issues such as water, sanitation and hygiene and sexual and gender-based violence, among others.

• Can proposed project activities take place in more than one country? (March 22, 2021)

  Yes. As indicated on the call page’s “required project parameters” section, your proposed project must target one or more ODA-eligible countries among the list provided under that section on the call page.

Financial Information

• Are there any restrictions on partnering with RLOs or IDP-led organizations that may operate under a social enterprise model? (April 6, 2021)

  Applicants can partner with organizations that operate under a social enterprise model. However, as indicated in the call page, your proposed project cannot generate a profit for you or any other implementing organization.

• Can refugee and IDP-led organizations become granting partners and use grant funds to provide sub-grants to other registered and/or unregistered refugee or IDP-led organisations? (April 6, 2021)

  No, refugee and IDP-led organizations cannot use grant funds provide sub-grants to other refugee or IDP-led organisations.

• Can a match (contributions) from a non-signatory partner be transferred directly to a field implementing partner? (April 6, 2021)

  For funding to be considered as cost-share, it must flow though the bank account of a signatory partner. For additional information, please consult Global Affairs Canada’s Policy on Cost-Sharing for Grant and Non-Repayable Contribution Agreements

• Our revenue for the past 3 years was approximately $500,000. Are we eligible to apply for this call? (April 6, 2021)

  Yes, you are eligible to apply as long as you and your co-signatory(ies)are able to provide at least 5% of the total eligible direct project costs over the life of the project in cash and/or in kind in accordance with Global Affairs Canada’s Policy on Cost-Sharing for Grant and Non-Repayable Contribution Agreements.

• What financial statements must be provided if you are a publicly funded university? (April 6, 2021)

  If you are a Canadian publicly funded university or college/CÉGEP, financial statements are not required. However, because Partners@International requires all organizations to submit two 2 financial statements (otherwise the system will not allow an organization to submit their its proposal), we ask that if you are a publicly funded university or college/CÉGEP you upload a blank page attached to your two 2 most recent fiscal years in Partners@International. The system will then allow you to submit your proposal.

• Can we share the overhead allowance among signatory organizations? (April 6, 2021)

  Financial contributions from Global Affairs Canada are given only to a lead organization that has entered into a contribution agreement with the department. The overhead allocation of 12% is provided to the lead organization (signatory). It is the responsibility of the lead organization to determine how these funds should be allocated to cover the project's indirect costs, including splitting these funds with co-signatories, as they deem appropriate. For further information, please consult the Overhead Compensation Policy for the International Development Assistance Program’s Contribution Agreements with Canadian Organizations.

• If invited to submit a full proposal, are we allowed to adjust our total requested amount in funding? (April 6, 2021)

  Applicants invited to submit full proposals cannot ask for significantly more than what was requested in the concept note stage. They can request approximately the same amount or less. Applicants can choose not to submit a full proposal if the amount they have previously proposed is no longer sufficient for their project proposed.

• What budget figures must be included in the concept note? (April 6, 2021)

  For the concept note, you are required to indicate the total Global Affairs Canada funding requested and the estimated total organization contribution to cost share under the "Project Information" section on the Call for Concept Notes form.

• What in-kind contributions can be used for cost sharing? (March 31, 2021)

  To be accepted and recognized, an in-kind contribution must: be directly related to the implementation of the project (in other words, the good or service would otherwise have been purchased to achieve the desired project results); be offered at no cost; be based on the fair value as opposed to the fair market value*; be identifiable, verifiable and auditable throughout the project life cycle; and not have been paid for by Global Affairs Canada or from other federal government sources. *Refer to Global Affairs Canada Policy on Cost-Sharing for Grant and Non-Repayable Contribution Agreements at https://www.international.gc.ca/development-developpement/partners-partenaires/bt-oa/cost_sharing-partage_couts.aspx?lang=eng#toc_10.

• What is the overhead rate that can be claimed? (March 31, 2021)

  Global Affairs Canada’s policy regarding the compensation of indirect/overhead costs incurred by Canadian organizations carrying out development assistance projects subject to a contribution agreement with Global Affairs Canada provides a fixed overhead compensation rate of 12%. For details, refer to Overhead Compensation Policy for Contribution Agreements with Canadian Organizations under the International Development Assistance Program at https://www.international.gc.ca/development-developpement/partners-partenaires/bt-oa/overhead-compensation_amendment.aspx?lang=eng.

• How do we demonstrate experience with due diligence related to sub-granting? (March 31, 2021)

  The applicant should provide a project example outlining the criteria/selection parameters and processes used to select local organizations in developing countries to receive funding and capacity building. The example should also provide an indication of the monitoring and internal controls used to achieve effective financial stewardship and development results related to the funding and capacity building of local organizations aligned with the objectives of the proposal.

• What is considered to be sub-granting experience? (March 31, 2021)

  Sub-granting refers to funds that the signatory employs via another organization. Even though these funds are managed by another organization, such as a local organization, the signatory partner retains accountability for the financial stewardship and results achieved of this funding.
  
  At least one identified signatory organization must demonstrate experience in providing financial resources to local organizations in developing countries and the management of financial accountability related to those resources. For the purpose of this call, this experience can be covered by demonstrating the management of any type of financial instrument with local organizations in developing countries, together with an indication of how the applicant would adapt this experience to the use of grants.

• What due diligence measures are required for sub-granting? (March 31, 2021)

  Applicants will be responsible to undertake due diligence for the organizations they propose to include in their grant mechanism. Applicants are expected to briefly explain their proposed mechanism for sub-granting, including: selection criteria/parameters; process for undertaking due diligence of the local organizations; monitoring and internal controls; roles and responsibilities and accountabilities for financial stewardship and achievement of development results; and capacity building for these functions aligned with the objectives of the proposal. Applicants invited to submit a full proposal will have the opportunity to expand on the proposed design of the sub-granting mechanism and related due diligence measures.

• Is a budget template available for the concept note? (March 22, 2021)

  For this call, you are not required to include a detailed budget during the Concept Note stage. We will invite a limited number of organizations, whose Concept Notes best align with the objectives and parameters of the call, to submit a full proposal. All applicants will receive the information at the same time. For more information on the eligible cost annex from the funding agreement template, please refer to: https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/funding-financement/eligible_costs_guidance-directives_cout_admissibles.aspx?lang=eng.