The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives - Jordan (2025)

The Embassy of Canada in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 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.

The average CFLI contribution is $35,000 to $75,000 Canadian Dollars (CAD$100,000 is the maximum allocation amount for a project eligible under CFLI). 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

The Embassy of Canada in Jordan uses a two-step process to select CFLI funding recipients: Step 1 – concept note, and Step 2 – full proposal.

• Step 1:  A concept note must first be submitted by all interested organizations.
  • To obtain a concept note form or for questions about the application process, please email the CFLI Coordinator at AMMANPublicAffairs@international.gc.ca and place the abbreviation “CFLI” at the beginning of the subject line.
  • Deadline for submission of project concept notes is March 21, 2025, at 23:59 (GMT+3/Amman time). Applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered.
  • Concept notes must be submitted electronically to the following email: AMMANPublicAffairs@international.gc.ca
• Step 2:  Prospective partners whose concept notes are shortlisted (based on assessment of eligibility and merit criteria) will be invited to submit a full proposal.
  • The CFLI project application template will be sent to shortlisted prospective partners by email.
  • The email will specify the deadline for submission of full proposals.
  • Full project proposals must explicitly answer all questions in the CFLI project application form, including the gender-based analysis, and include a project budget summarizing the proposed activities and associated costs 

Information for applicants

• Only proposals submitted with the abbreviation CFLI placed at the beginning of the subject line and using the concept note template will be considered.
• Project selection will be completed on the basis of the full proposal according to merit and eligibility criteria.
• Due to the large number of applicants, only successful candidates will be contacted.  
• Concept notes and the final application must be completed in English, French or Arabic.
• The Eligible Costs section below provides details on the types of activities and costs eligible for CFLI funding.
• All projects must be completed between the date of signature of the Contribution Agreement and February 28, 2026, unless otherwise explicitly specified.
• Preference will be given to innovative projects that can deliver measurable results, including projects that target areas outside of the capital.

Organizations eligible to apply for CFLI funding

Eligible recipients include:

• Local non-governmental, community and not-for-profit organizations,
• Local academic institutions working on local projects,
• Regional institutions, organizations and agencies working on local development activities,
• Municipal, regional or national government institutions or agencies of the recipient country working on local projects,
• International non-governmental organizations working on local development activities,
• Canadian non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations that are working on local development activities.

Note: Preference will generally be given to grassroots not-for-profit organizations. Consortia or partnerships between two organizations are encouraged. 

Thematic priorities

All projects must align with at least 1 of the following CFLI thematic priorities and address one of the listed sub-themes. Gender equality (GE) and the empowerment of women and girls (EWG) is a cross-cutting priority.  All CFLI proposals, regardless of the selected theme, are expected to adequately integrate this priority.

• 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.
• Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
• Championing human rights, inclusive and accountable governance, democracy and fundamental freedoms, peaceful pluralism, and respect for diversity.

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.