Canada Fund for Local Initiatives – Kazakhstan (2024)

The Embassy of Canada to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan 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 or high commission. 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.

In Kazakhstan, the CFLI may fund projects up to 60,000 Canadian dollars over 1 year. The value of the project should be directly equivalent to the proposed level of effort and the organizational capacity to deliver the proposed results.

Proposals should be submitted in Canadian dollars, with a clear link to conversion rates. 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.

In Kazakhstan, while applications addressing 1 of the 5 CFLI priorities (see below) will be considered, preference will be given to proposals aiming to advance the human rights agenda, media freedom and democratic reforms; strengthen women’s rights organizations; and develop lasting solutions to protect and promote the rights of the most vulnerable and marginalized people (themes may include gender-based violence and the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people). 

How to apply

• All projects must be completed between the date of signature of the Contribution Agreement and the closing date specified in the Contribution Agreement. Proposed activities should aim to start in or about June 1, 2024, and must be completed by February 28, 2025. These dates are notional and may change depending on the day of approval. Final reporting and payments must be completed by March 15, 2025.
• The deadline for submission is March 31, 2024, at 23:59 (GMT+5). Applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered. Proposals should be submitted electronically to the following email: ASTNAGR2@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.
• Proposals must be completed in English.
• 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.
• Applications will be assessed for approval on their merits by a selection committee.
• Due to the large number of applicants, only successful candidates will be contacted.
• To obtain an application form or for questions about the application process, please contact the CFLI Coordinator via phone +7 701 062 0777 or write to  ASTNAGR2@international.gc.ca.
• 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 (June 2024 to March 2026) may be permitted depending on 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)
• Local municipal, regional or national government institution or agency of the recipient country

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 administrators are 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:

1. gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
2. inclusive governance, including diversity, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
3. peace and security, with a focus on conflict prevention and building peace.
4. 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.
5. environment and climate action focusing on adaptation and mitigation, as well as on water management.

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 and female and male decision 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
• 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
• 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 charges
• equipment rental, and/or purchase (only when the purchase is required to meet project objectives, reflects good value for money, and the recipient has a strong care-and-maintenance plan in place for equipment sustainability)
• hospitality costs, excluding alcoholic beverages
• installation, maintenance, shipping and/or transportation costs, including fuel, computers and communication devices
• lease or rental of vehicles
• legal costs
• medical costs
• miscellaneous expenses integral to the project
• outreach, communication and information dissemination costs
• publishing costs
• radio and television broadcast fees
• research-related costs
• salary costs, including stipends, 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

The following costs are not eligible for CFLI funding:

• nuclear technologies and facilities
• assistance to military or paramilitary organizations
• gifts
• luxury goods
• direct fiscal support to a government
• seed funding and/or microfinance
• core funding or recurrent costs of an organization
• expenses incurred prior to the signing of the contribution agreement, or after it expires.