The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives - Ecuador (2024)

The Embassy of Canada in Ecuador is pleased to launch its annual call for proposals for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).

Program Description

The CFLI is a program designed to support small-scale, high-impact projects in developing countries, which align with Global Affairs Canada’s thematic priority areas for engagement. The program is directed at projects conceived and designed predominantly by local partners. Projects are selected and approved by the relevant Canadian embassy. The CFLI also serves to support positive bilateral relations between Canada and recipient countries and their civil societies, by deepening contacts and supporting local endeavours.

The average CFLI contribution is $25,000 to $35,000 Canadian Dollars. Consult the currency converter for local currency equivalents. Please note that all contributions are made in Canadian dollars and then converted to the local currency.

How to apply

• All projects must be completed between the date of signature of the Contribution Agreement and February 28, 2025.
• The deadline for submission is Monday, March 18th, 2024 at 23:59 (GMT - 5). Applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered. Proposals should be submitted electronically to the following email: CFLI-FCIL.QUITO@international.gc.ca
• Only those proposals using the designated application form and including the required budget document will be considered.
• For more information on the types of activities and costs that are eligible for CFLI funding, please refer to the list of CFLI approved activities and costs below.
• Proposal applications must be completed in English, French or Spanish. However all subsequent documentation for successful applicants will need to be submitted in either French or English.
• It is possible to include the cost of document’s translation in the budget of the project for any documents needed to be translated after the signing of the contribution agreement.
• Project proposals must explicitly answer all questions in the CFLI project application form, including the required gender-based analysis.
• The proposed project budget should summarize the proposed activities and associated costs, as accurately as possible.
• Applications will be assessed for approval on their merits by a selection committee.
• Due to the large number of applicants, only the successful candidates will be contacted.
• For questions about the application process, please contact the CFLI Coordinator by email at CFLI-FCIL.QUITO@international.gc.ca.
• Application Form: Please note that the PDF may not appear when clicking on the link, you must download the document first by pressing the download button.
  • Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) Project Application for Funding Form(.pdf, 249.15 KB)
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• Project applications are kept on file at missions in accordance with Global Affairs Canada’s information management policies.

Two-year programming

• Projects spanning two fiscal years (April 2024 to March 2026) may be permitted depending on the project objectives and the complexity of activities.

Organizations eligible to apply for CFLI funding

Eligible recipients include:

• Local, national or community-based organization (non-governmental and not-for-profit) legally registered in Ecuador, South America.
• Local municipal, regional or national government institution or agency of the recipient country
• Local academic institution
• Canadian organization (non-governmental or not-for-profit) that is working on local development activities and legally registered in Ecuador.
• International or regional organization (non-governmental or not-for-profit) that is working on local development activities and legally registered in Ecuador.
• Intergovernmental or multilateral institution, organization or agency working on local development activities

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. 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.

Thematic priorities

All projects must align with at least one of the following CFLI thematic priorities:

• Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
• Inclusive governance, including diversity, democracy, human rights including LGBTQ2 rights, and the rule of law
• Peace and security, with a focus on conflict prevention and building peace.
• Human dignity, covering health, education, and nutrition.
• 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.
• Environment and climate action focusing on adaptation and mitigation, as well as on water management.

For the current CFLI cycle, we added a thematic priority for projects aimed at indigenous groups or vulnerable populations in rural areas of the country aligned with the priorities described above.

Gender-based analysis

In 2017, Canada adopted its 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, 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, female, and male decisions, and change makers who have knowledge of the local community. Inadequate completion of a GBA may affect the consideration of your proposal.

Eligible costs

The following project costs are eligible for CFLI funding:

• Accounting costs specifically related to the project.
• Administrative and overhead costs related to the project (overhead should not exceed 15% of total CFLI contribution)
• Advocacy and lobbying related costs
• capital and/or operating expenditures related to the lease and/or purchase and/or building of infrastructure (e.g. office rent specifically relating to the project)
• Civic education costs
• Conference and event expenditures
• Costs of services received by recipients
• Domestic travel expenses, using lowest fares possible but not exceeding full fare economy class
• Environmental assessment costs
• Facilities and equipment rental charges
• Hospitality costs, excluding alcoholic beverages
• Installation, maintenance, shipping and/or transportation costs, including fuel, computers and communication devices
• Lease or rental of vehicles, if essential for the project
• Legal costs, if required for the project development
• Medical costs, if required for project development
• Miscellaneous expenses integral to the project
• Outreach, communication and information dissemination costs
• Publishing costs
• Radio and television broadcast fees
• Salary costs relating to the project
• Security costs
• Training and capacity building expenditures
• Translation and interpretation fees
• Vehicle and equipment operation, installation and/or maintenance
• Website development and related costs if required for project development
• Internet costs specifically relating to the project

The following costs are not eligible for CFLI funding:

• Assistance to military or paramilitary organizations
• Core funding or recurrent costs of an organization
• Direct fiscal support (regular expenditures) to a government
• Expenses incurred prior to the signing of the contribution agreement, or after it expires
• Gifts
• Luxury goods
• Nuclear technologies and facilities
• Revolving funds, (that is, funds used to advance loans to individuals, i.e. microfinance)
• Purchase of vehicles, land or previously built structures