Questions and Answers – Call for proposals – Health and Rights for Women, Adolescent girls and Children

• Is information available on previously funded projects? (August 27, 2019)

  Information about projects that have been funded by the department is available through Project Browser.

• Is it possible to have a conversation with Global Affairs Canada on this call? (September 3, 2019)

  No. To ensure consistency, transparency and fairness, and to ensure that all potential applicants have access to the same information at the same time, any questions related to this call should be directed to correspondance.pid@international.gc.ca. Questions must be submitted before 12 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time on Thursday, September 5, 2019, and answers will be published at Questions and answers. The department also held a webinar on August 29, 2019, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Eastern Time, to review information pertaining to this call page and the application form. One hour was dedicated to questions and answers.

• After selection, will Global Affairs Canada share information about the organizations that submitted an application under this call? (September 3, 2019)

  Results from past calls will be available once the projects have been approved. Organizations can also consult the project browser to find information on projects funded by the department. No information will be shared about unsuccessful proposals and organizations.

• What is the proposal number on the organization attestation form? (September 19, 2019)

  When you start to draft your proposal, the portal will assign a number. This is the number that is required on the attestation form.

• When will the transcript be available on the call page? (September 19, 2019)

  The transcript was posted on the call page on September 17, 2019.

• If our name is changed before the deadline of October 10, do we need to register for a new account in the portal? (September 19, 2019)

  No, Global Affairs Canada can change the organization name upon request if it is accompanied by the legal status document that contains the new legal name. Please send an email to partners-partenaires@international.gc.ca.

• If the contact person has left the organization, how can we change the contact information in the portal? (September 19, 2019)

  Please send an email request to partners-partenaires@international.gc.ca for further instructions.

• Can we submit an application under this call and submit an application under other calls for proposals or funding mechanisms? (September 25, 2019)

  Yes. Organizations can submit applications under other calls for proposals and funding mechanisms. Organizations are responsible for ensuring that they meet the eligibility criteria before submitting an application for all departmental calls for proposals.

• When can applicants expect to receive results of the call? (September 25, 2019)

  Applications to this call will first undergo an eligibility check to verify that the application meets all organization eligibility requirements and required project parameters listed on the call page. Next, we will check that the application demonstrates the required project experience. Applicants that do not meet the eligibility criteria and the required project experience will not proceed further in the assessment process and will be notified at that time. Applicants that meet eligibility criteria and required project experience will proceed to the merit assessment. Following our completion of merit assessment and the selection of projects, we will notify all applicants of their results. We cannot provide any specific timelines as to when this information will be shared with applicants. We cannot provide a specific timeline for when this information will be released to applicants.

• How does Global Affairs Canada define an “adolescent,” and what is the age range? (September 25, 2019)

  Global Affairs Canada does not have an official definition of “adolescence” but aligns with the definition used by the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO defines “adolescence” as the transitional phase of growth and development between childhood and adulthood, including any person aged 10 to 19.

• Are local partners encouraged to participate in this call? (October 2, 2019)

  If the applicant proposes to work with its own local offices or with local partners in the countries where the project would take place, then information about them should be included in the Local Partners - Information form. During the merit assessment, the rationale for the initiative will be assessed, including measures for enhancing local ownership; alignment with local priorities; and evidence of stakeholders’, intermediaries’ and beneficiaries’ support for the project and commitment to sustain project results.

2. Application Process and Eligibility

• Are non-Canadian organizations eligible for this call if they apply in partnership with a Canadian organization who will be the lead signatory? (August 27, 2019)

  To be eligible for this call, the proposed signatory or signatories must be legally incorporated in Canada. However, Canadian organizations are permitted to collaborate with other organizations (Canadian and/or non-Canadian), either as signatories (Canadian organizations) and/or non-signatories (Canadian or non-Canadian organizations).

• Can a non-Canadian organization be included in the project as a collaborating partner and what is the difference between a co-signatory and a collaborating partner? (August 27, 2019)

  Yes, a non-Canadian organization can be included as a collaborating partner. However, a non-Canadian organization will not be able to sign the funding agreement with Global Affairs Canada as lead signatory or co-signatory.

• Do all members of a group of organizations need to sign the funding agreement with Global Affairs Canada? (August 27, 2019)

  All organizations identified as signatories in the Initiative Summary section of the proposal will be required to sign the funding agreement and meet all the organization eligibility requirements.

• Do non-signatory partners need to be registered in the Partners@International portal? (August 27, 2019)

  No. Only the signatories need to be registered in the portal.

• Can non-signatory partners involved in technical support for the project be located outside of Canada? (August 27, 2019)

  Yes. Only the signatory organizations need to meet the organization eligibility requirements for this call.

• Can an organization be a signatory on a proposal (as lead) and also be a member of another group of organizations as a non-signatory partner? (August 27, 2019)

  Yes. As a signatory, you may submit only one application under this call. You may also participate as a non-signatory partner on other proposals. All organizations applying as a signatory or as a non-signatory must be prepared to carry out their commitments in more than one project should those projects be selected for funding.

• Can projects from non-signatory partners be used as examples for the required project experience? (August 27, 2019)

  Yes, the required project experience examples can be collectively demonstrated by the lead applicant, other signatories or non-signatory partners.

• Is Global Affairs Canada specifically seeking requests from groups of organizations? (August 27, 2019)

  Organizations can apply on their own or with other applicants. Canadian organizations wishing to submit a proposal that does not meet the project experience requirements are encouraged to partner with other applicants.

• Are there any Global Affairs Canada priority countries in sub-Saharan Africa for this call (outside of official development assistance-eligible countries)? (August 27, 2019)

  No, there are no specific priority countries in the sub-Saharan Africa region for this call. Your project must propose activities in one or more official development assistance-eligible countries. Approximately 75% of the funding from this call will be allocated to projects that include activities taking place in sub-Saharan Africa. As per section 5 of the Organization Attestation, funding must not knowingly be used, either directly or indirectly, in a manner that contravenes Canada’s economic sanctions and export and import controls regimes. More information is available at Types of sanctions and Export and import controls.

• Is it mandatory for projects submitted under this call to be implemented in developing countries, or can they be implemented in Canada? (September 3, 2019)

  Yes, it is mandatory. To be eligible to apply to this call, your proposal would have to take place in one or more official development assistance-eligible countries. Approximately 75% of the funding from this call will be allocated to projects that include activities taking place in sub-Saharan Africa.

• Are non-government-controlled areas eligible under this call? (September 3, 2019)

  Yes, non-government-controlled areas are eligible under this call as long as the area is in an eligible country for this call. As per section 5 of the Organization Attestation, funding must not knowingly be used, either directly or indirectly, in a manner that contravenes Canada’s economic sanctions and export and import controls regimes. More information is available at Types of sanctions and Export and import controls.

• Do projects identified in section 5.1 of the application form have to be recent projects? (September 3, 2019)

  Yes. For this call, “recent past projects” refers to project examples in the past five years.

• Can organizations participate in multiple applications as signatory or non-signatory applicants? (September 3, 2019)

  As a signatory, you may submit only one application under this call. You may also participate as a non-signatory partner on other applicants’ proposals. If your organization submits more than one application under this call, as a signatory, we will only consider the application with the earliest submission time-stamp.

• The call page states that the amount of funding will be $325 million over five years. However, in ‘the Required project parameters’ section, it states that the proposed projects will last at least five years but no more than seven years. In the case of a seven years project, does it mean that years six and seven would have to be self-funded by the organization? (September 3, 2019)

  No. Global Affairs Canada will support the full duration of projects of at least five years and up to seven years under this $325-million call.

• Are we eligible to apply if we are legally incorporated in Canada, but our headquarters is located in another country? (September 17, 2019)

  No. To be eligible for this call you must be a Canadian organization with a head office located in Canada.

• Can you explain what it means to be a non-signatory partner other than that the partner cannot be a Canadian organization? (September 17, 2019)

  There is no requirement that non-signatory partners be non-Canadian organizations. Non-signatory partners can be either Canadian or non-Canadian organizations. Non-signatory partners would not sign the financial instrument with Global Affairs Canada, but must be prepared to carry out their commitments in the project.

• Is there a way to find out whether it would be acceptable to submit a proposal from a specific Canadian organization as a main partner? (September 17, 2019)

  To be fair to all applicants, we will not respond to questions on specific organizational circumstances or specific project proposals. Please consult the “Organization Eligibility” section of the call page for more information.

• How would contractors be classified: as a signatory or a non-signatory partner? (September 17, 2019)

  A signatory is the organization(s) that would sign the funding agreement with Global Affairs Canada. A signatory is not considered a contractor/subcontractor. A “subcontractor” is an individual or organization that the signatory enters into a sub-contract with to undertake activities or perform work on behalf of the project. Please note that Global Affairs Canada is not responsible and shall not be held liable for contractual commitments entered into by the signatory with any third party for the implementation of the project. Please consult the Contribution Agreement – General Terms and Conditions page for more information.

• Will Global Affairs Canada evaluate proposals in groupings according to budget tiers, for examples, projects valued at $5 to $10 million, then $10 to $20 million, then $20 million or more? (September 17, 2019)

  No.

• Can the organization attestation form be signed by a university provost? (September 19, 2019)

  Someone who acts as financial authority for the organization must sign the organization attestation.

• Can we attach letters of engagement from governments and institutions in the beneficiary country and from Canada? (September 19, 2019)

  No. This is not a requirement for this call.

• Why do you require a performance measurement framework in a preliminary proposal? (September 19, 2019)

  Please note that this call is not requesting preliminary proposals. You are asked to submit a full proposal.

• Can for-profit organizations apply as long as they do not derive any profit from the proposed project? (September 19, 2019)

  Yes.

• Are not-for-profit organizations eligible? (September 19, 2019)

  Yes, not-for-profit organizations are eligible as long as they meet the eligibility criteria.

• Can U.S. citizens be part of the proposal as consultants? (September 19, 2019)

  Yes, consultants who are U.S. citizens can be part of the proposal.

• Are universities eligible to apply? (September 19, 2019)

  Yes, universities are eligible to apply as long as they meet the eligibility criteria noted on the call page.

• Can a local partner be a co-signatory? (September 19, 2019)

  No, all signatories must be Canadian organizations.

• Are small and medium organizations allowed to apply? (September 19, 2019)

  Yes, all organizations that meet the eligibility criteria may apply.

• Are high-income ODA recipients eligible for funding? (September 19, 2019)

  Yes, all ODA-eligible countries are eligible for funding under this call.

• Can a non-Canadian organization act as a technical assistance partner for the project? (September 19, 2019)

  Yes, non-Canadian organizations can be non-signatory partners.

• Can a local partner receive part of the overhead cost? (September 19, 2019)

  Yes. The decision to share the overhead allocation with a local partner rests with the signatory organization.

• What is the maximum number of countries that can be included in a multi-country proposal? (September 19, 2019)

  There is no explicit maximum number of countries. However, proposals will be assessed on their ability to achieve results and apply a cost-effective approach to project implementation.

• Do the project examples provided in section 5 of the application form need to be in the same country or countries and/or the same health area as the proposed project? (September 19, 2019)

  The project examples do not have to be in the same country as the proposed project. The examples should demonstrate how you have previously achieved results similar to what you aim to achieve in your proposed project.

• Can you clarify the list of eligible countries? (September 19, 2019)

  A link to the list of ODA-eligible countries is available in the “Required project parameters” section of the call page, under “geographic alignment.”

• What is the difference between signatory and non-signatory partners? (September 19, 2019)

  Signatory partners would sign the financial agreement with Global Affairs Canada.

• Do all signatories need to be based in Canada? Or, in the case of a consortium, is it possible to have a minimum of one Non-Governmental organization(NGO) based in Canada (with their head office in Canada)? (September 19, 2019)

  All signatories must be Canadian organizations and must have a head office in Canada.

• Do you accept multi-regional, multi-country proposals? (September 19, 2019)

  Yes. The proposed project must take place in one or more ODA-eligible countries.

• Can an organization be the lead on one project and also be a co-signatory on another? (September 19, 2019)

  No. As a signatory, you may submit only one application under this call. You may also participate as a non-signatory partner on other proposals.

• Are non-Canadian NGOs allowed as co-applicants or co-signatories? (September 19, 2019)

  No, only Canadian organizations are permitted to be signatories.

• Is a Swedish organization able to participate in this call as a signatory? (September 19, 2019)

  No. All signatories must meet all eligibility criteria, including being an organization legally incorporated in Canada.

• What information is requested in the description box of section 5.1 of the application form? (September 25, 2019)

  The description box in section 5.1 should be used to describe your organization’s relevant experience. You may refer to experience in delivering results in the relevant sector, country, etc. The example tables in section 5.1 should be used to provide specific project examples that support the experience described.

• Do all signatories have to upload documents, such as the organization’s attestation form, local partner information form and declaration, to their respective organization’s profile, or do they have to be uploaded together by the principal applicant? (September 25, 2019)

  The documents required for the call, such as the organization’s attestation, declaration and local partner form, should be included together in the principal applicant’s profile for all signatories.

• Where can we upload the organization’s policies, such as a sexual harassment policy? (September 25, 2019)

  Organization-specific documents, such as sexual harassment policies, can be uploaded to the profiles of the signatory partners.

• What information is required in the local partner information form, and should we include all partners or only local partners? (September 25, 2019)

  The local partner form should include information about the local partners that will be involved in the project implementation.

• In the logic model, the template extends to outputs, while the budget model requires that activities be formulated as in the logic model. How far should we define the logic model, and where do we enter activities if the budget model does not allow it? (September 25, 2019)

  That is correct: the logic model includes outcomes and outputs but not activities. The activities listed in the budget should logically and realistically lead to each output. As stated in the theory of change guidance of the application form, “if the activities of the project are not obvious from the outputs, add a paragraph at the end detailing the activities which will lead to the outputs. Do not include sub-activities” (page 5, section 3.1, paragraph 4).

• Is there a limit on the number of non-signatory partners and/or subcontractors that can be involved in the proposal? (September 25, 2019)

  There is no limit on the number of non-signatory partners that can be involved in the proposal, but they must be ready to fulfill their commitment in the project. Please keep in mind that the decision to partner with multiple organizations should demonstrate the best approach to achieving project results in a cost-effective manner. However, there is a limit on subcontracting costs, which shall not exceed 20% of the total value of Global Affairs Canada contributions. Subcontractors must be at an arm’s-length relationship as defined in the General Terms and Conditions.

• Does the relevant project experience provided in section 5.1 have to have occurred in a developing country, or can we provide an example from within Canada? (September 25, 2019)

  An example from within Canada would not be eligible. As stated on the call page, the applicant must demonstrate at least three years of experience working in women’s, adolescent girls’ and children’s health and rights in developing countries.

• Can we provide two examples of humanitarian projects if the focus of both projects was health services? (September 25, 2019)

  Yes, a humanitarian example would be acceptable if this experience demonstrates at least three years of experience working in women’s, adolescent girls’ and children’s health and rights in developing countries.

• Would a proposal be less favourable if the two project examples provided were from overseas non-signatory partners instead of the signatory? (September 25, 2019)

  No. As stated on the call page, the signatory(ies) and/or non-signatory partners must provide two examples of recent past projects in section 5.1 of the application form.

• How will Global Affairs Canada assess a proposal in which the lead signatory organization does not have extensive organizational experience in health but has assembled a group of organizations to address the outcomes of this call? (September 25, 2019)

  The proposal will be assessed based on the eligibility criteria listed in the call page. Recent past project experience can be provided from both the signatories and non-signatory partners.

• In the context of a university applicant, should the required project experience be from the principal applicant or the university as a whole? (September 25, 2019)

  As stated on the call page, the signatory(ies) and/or non-signatory partners must provide two examples of recent past projects in section 5.1 of the application form. In the case of a university, if the experience is provided from another department of the university that will be involved in the delivery of the project, then the experience of this department would be eligible.

• If we are proposing a multi-country project, should we have one logic model for each country in the proposal? (September 25, 2019)

  For the purpose of this call, the application form is requesting one logic model that incorporates activities in all countries for the entire project.

• What does “legally incorporated in Canada” mean? (September 25, 2019)

  Global Affairs Canada can only sign financial agreements with organizations that are legal entities. For Canadian organizations, this means that the organization has received a corporation file number from Industry Canada, recognizing it as incorporated in Canada. In order to be eligible for this call, you must be a Canadian organization that is legally incorporated in Canada and therefore must be able to provide proof of legal status as outlined above. For more information on this topic, please consult Business corporations.

• Can local government ministries, departments and agencies in official development assistance-eligible countries be non-signatory local partners? (September 25, 2019)

  Yes. However, the signatories are responsible for ensuring that the non-signatory partners are able to comply with the terms and conditions of the contribution agreement and, more specifically, to the reporting requirements (narrative and financial reports).

• May a non-signatory partner receive funds from a signatory under this call? (September 25, 2019)

  Yes. The distribution of project funding from the signatory to the non-signatory partner is the responsibility of the signatory organization.

• Are non-signatory partners required to have a code of conduct to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse? (September 25, 2019)

  The signatory organization that would sign the financial agreement with Global Affairs Canada is required to have and make publicly available a code of conduct (CoC) to prevent, investigate and respond to sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. As outlined in section 22.6 of the Contribution Agreement - General Terms and Conditions, “the signatory organization shall provide a written copy of its CoC to all personnel, local partners and ultimate recipients. The signatory organization shall also ensure that local partners and ultimate recipients either a) sign an attestation stating they shall respect the organization’s CoC or b) adopt their own policies and procedures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse in keeping with the goals and objectives of the signatory’s code of conduct.”

• If an organization is registered in Canada for less than two years but is part of a larger international “parent” organization, can the larger international organization provide the required financial statements? (September 25, 2019)

  No. The signatory organization must be a Canadian organization that is legally incorporated in Canada and must provide two separate financial statements for its most recent fiscal years.

• Are there any eligibility requirements for non-signatory partners? Do non-signatory partners need to be Canadian organizations? (September 25, 2019)

  No, there are no specific eligibility requirements for non-signatory partners.

• How significant of a component should the engagement of men and boys be to the proposal? (September 25, 2019)

  Any initiative that addresses gender inequality must engage with men and boys to address unequal social norms that contribute to this inequality. The proposed project should include a gender equality strategy that outlines the project’s proposed engagement with men and boys in advancing gender equality.

• Are there any specific expectations for non-signatory partners? (September 25, 2019)

  No. However, the signatories are responsible for ensuring that the non-signatory partners are able to comply with the terms and the conditions of the contribution agreement and, more specifically, to the reporting requirements (narrative and financial reports).

• Where can we access the application forms and the instructions to apply for this call? Are we required to submit our application online? (October 2, 2019)

  Please consult the section “How to submit your application package” of the call page where you can find the links to the forms as well as instructions on how to submit your application.

• Does the group of organizations have to be registered as a joint legal entity in Canada? (October 2, 2019)

  No, this is not a requirement. However, all signatories must be Canadian organizations, legally incorporated in Canada and able to provide proof of legal status.

• For the two examples of recent projects, is it better to indicate the experience most relevant to sexual and reproductive health or the experience that best reflects the ability to carry out a project at the scale of the call? (October 2, 2019)

  Please note that Global Affairs Canada will not comment on specific project or proposal ideas or eligibility. In section 5.1 of the application form, you are asked to provide project examples that demonstrate how, in the past, you have met requirements similar to those of your proposed project. Collectively, the two examples must demonstrate the following:

  • at least 3 years of experience working in women’s, adolescent girls’ and children’s health and rights in developing countries
  • at least 3 years of construction experience in developing countries (for applicants seeking to undertake structural works, including WASH)
• How will Global Affairs Canada verify that organizations have a code of conduct to prevent, investigate and respond to sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, as is now mandatory since September 1, 2019? (October 2, 2019)

  Organizations are required to attest under section 4 of the Organization Attestation form that they have a publicly available code of conduct to prevent, investigate and respond to sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.

• Will the proposals be assessed on how well they integrate key performance indicators from the Feminist International Assistance Policy and the SRHR guidance? (October 2, 2019)

  No. Proposals will be assessed on the appropriate and realistic selection of indicators and targets, with a focus on assessing the applicant’s understanding of managing and monitoring for results.

• Are the required financial statements to be submitted for the entire legal entity (e.g. the entire university) or for the individual program department/research lab applying for this call? (October 2, 2019)

  In the case of universities, unless a faculty or institute applying for this call has a separate legal identity from the university, the financial statements would be provided at the university level.

• Is it possible that the signatory organization does not have specific experience in women’s rights but in the overall human rights approach? (October 2, 2019)

  In section 5.1 of the application form you are asked to provide project examples that demonstrate how, in the past, you have met requirements similar to those of your proposed project. Collectively, the two examples must demonstrate the following:

  • at least three years of experience working in women’s, adolescent girls’ and children’s health and rights in developing countries; and
  • at least three years of construction experience in developing countries, for applicants seeking to undertake structural works, including water, sanitation and hygiene.

3. Project Information

• The call encourages comprehensive and integrated programming and then highlights three levels: community, health facility and health system. Does this mean that all projects must address health at all three of these levels? (August 27, 2019)

  No, projects do not need to address all three levels (community, health facility and health system). However, projects should demonstrate a comprehensive and integrated approach to their proposed areas of programming.

• Are there specific areas/priorities that can be addressed through operational research and/or health system integration? (September 3, 2019)

  No, partners are free to identify their own areas/priorities.

• Will Global Affairs Canada fund “minor structural works” such as developing new on-site WASH facilities (e.g. boreholes, latrine blocks) as well as biomedical or health care waste management (HCWM) facilities (e.g. placenta pits, small-scale incinerators)? (September 17, 2019)

  New health facilities (i.e. clinics and hospitals) will not be considered. Only minor structural works will be considered and on a case-by-case basis.

• Under the “Required project parameters” section, it states “Refurbishment and minor structural works will be considered where necessary.” Does that include the rehabilitation of existing deep-capped boreholes and the installation of solar panels, submersible pumps and water tanks on existing boreholes for organizations with 3 years of experience? (September 19, 2019)

  The rehabilitation of existing boreholes and the installation of solar panels, submersible pumps and water tanks for existing boreholes will be considered.

• Our local partner is proposing to renovate existing structures to establish new health clinics. Would this activity qualify as acceptable under the call requirements? (September 19, 2019)

  The renovation of existing structures to establish new health clinics will be considered on a case-by-case basis as long as the works respect the criteria: for example, the costs of such renovation should not be more than 20% of the budget.

• Does a project need to address all 6 identified critical gap areas of sexual and reproductive health rights? (September 19, 2019)

  No, sexual and reproductive health rights projects are not required to address all 6 critical gap areas. They may address any number of gap areas.

• Must eligible renovation work be focused on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and waste management at health facilities or can it also include non-structural measures within the health facility to improve service delivery environments? (September 19, 2019)

  Eligible refurbishment activities and minor structural works are not limited to WASH and waste management at existing health facilities. Other types of refurbishment and minor structural works will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• Would a proposal covering all 3 intermediate outcomes be favoured over a project focusing on 2 out of the 3 intermediate outcomes? (September 19, 2019)

  Proposed projects must contribute to at least 2 of the intermediate outcomes. Projects addressing 3 outcomes will not be favoured over those addressing 2.

• Does each example provided in the “Relevant applicant experience” section of the application form need to be for a specific project, or can we provide a program example that consists of several projects funded by Global Affairs Canada in maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health? (September 19, 2019)

  The examples provided can be for a specific project or a program consisting of several projects. Most importantly, the examples must demonstrate the applicant organization’s technical expertise and experience, as well as its financial management experience on a similar scale to the proposed project.

• Is the required project experience working in health restricted to providing health services or can it also include advocating for health rights and other interventions on the same subject? (September 19, 2019)

  Advocacy activities for health rights and for sexual and reproductive health and rights can be counted as relevant experience if the proposed project will also focus on this area.

• To meet the required project experience, could we include a project that is not yet completed, but which we have implemented and which has been achieving results for more than 3 years? (September 19, 2019)

  Yes, as long as the completed experience demonstrated through this project is for a minimum of 3 years at the time that you submit your application to this call.

• Can research be included as part of the proposed activities? (September 19, 2019)

  Yes, research can be included as part of the proposed activities.

• Can we have more than 30 performance indicators, and what level of precision is required at this stage? (September 25, 2019)

  Yes. More than 30 indicators can be provided. There are no strict limits on the minimum or maximum number of indicators you use, but it is requested that you identify approximately 15 to 30 indicators you plan to monitor for this project. Be sure to provide:

  • gender-sensitive indicators at every level
  • at least one indicator for the ultimate outcome
  • at least one indicator for each intermediate outcome
  • at least one indicator for an immediate outcome statement
  • at least one indicator for an output

  Precision at this stage should focus on demonstrating a clear and realistic plan for results-based monitoring, including appropriate and realistic indicators and targets; an understanding of managing for results and the resource and timing implications of using particular data-collection methods; and gender-sensitive indicators, especially for measuring the pre-identified gender inequalities. For more information on how your proposal will be assessed, refer to the “Managing for results” section of the full proposal assessment criteria.

• Do we need to repeat the information on environmental sustainability from section 2 in section 3.1 of the application form? (September 25, 2019)

  No. There is no need to repeat the information from section 2 in your theory of change. However, be sure to note at every level of your theory of change how your gender equality and human rights analyses are reflected.

• What type of refurbishment will be considered under this call? Can you provide a list of specific activities that would be eligible? (September 25, 2019)

  There is no list that describes specific eligible refurbishment activities. Refurbishment and minor structural work will be considered where necessary, such as if required for meeting site-specific water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and biomedical waste management needs in existing health facilities. They will be considered on a case-by-case basis and should not exceed 20% of the total proposed budget. Construction of new facilities/structures will not be considered.

• Do we need to select project sites already at the proposal stage, or is it sufficient to present the selection criteria for project sites in the proposal? (September 25, 2019)

  Proposed countries need to be identified. It would be preferable to identify the project sites to provide a specific local context, but presenting selection criteria for project sites would be acceptable if accompanied with a good rationale for this approach.

• Is the environmental analysis (2.3) synonymous with a contextual analysis? (September 25, 2019)

  The required environmental analysis is not an analysis of the context. In completing your environmental analysis, you must follow the instructions in the five bullets in section 2.3 of the application form.

• In section 2.2: Negligible environmental risks and opportunities, what do you mean by “exclusively” in the development of the proposal? (September 25, 2019)

  According to Global Affairs Canada’s Environmental Integration Process, a project involves negligible environmental risk or opportunity if every single activity and sub-activity is encompassed within one or more of the sectors/activities in the list provided. In question 2.2, if any activity or sub-activity is not encompassed within at least one of those sectors/activities, you must answer “No” for question 2.2 and proceed to question 2.3. If you answer “Yes” for question 2.2, you must identify which of the sectors/activities are addressed by your project. It is not necessary to complete question 2.3 if you answer “Yes” for question 2.2.

• Can we add or modify the intermediate results statements? (September 25, 2019)

  The wording of the ultimate and intermediate outcome statements can be modified to reflect the reality of your project design, making them more specific in terms of the who, what and where of your project while respecting Global Affairs Canada’s definitions and contributing to the call’s ultimate and intermediate outcomes. Your proposed project must contribute to at least two of the three intermediate outcomes listed on the call page.

• Is it mandatory to provide baseline data for inputs in the performance measurement framework? (September 25, 2019)

  No. It is not mandatory to provide baseline data in the performance measurement framework. However, you are encouraged to provide data where it is available.

• Should the children of women beneficiaries targeted by the project be counted as direct or indirect beneficiaries? (September 25, 2019)

  If the project activities and interventions directly target children, then they should be included as direct beneficiaries. Otherwise, they should be noted as indirect beneficiaries. A minimum of 60% of direct beneficiaries of the proposed project should be women and adolescent girls, taking into account the needs and rights of those most marginalized and most vulnerable.

• If you are working in more than one country, can your activities in each country be different from one another as long as they contribute to the outcomes of the call? (September 25, 2019)

  Yes. Project activities in each country must contribute to the achievement of the call’s ultimate outcome and contribute to at least two of the call’s intermediate outcomes.

• Can we propose sexual and reproductive health and rights activities in a conflict-affected country in sub-Saharan Africa? (September 25, 2019)

  Yes. Please note, as per section 5 of the Organization Attestation, funding must not knowingly be used, either directly or indirectly, in a manner that contravenes Canada’s economic sanctions and export and import controls regimes. More information is available at Types of sanctions and Export and import controls.

• Should the lead signatory be present in all countries where the project will be implemented? (September 25, 2019)

  No.

• Do non-Canadian implementing partners have to already have an established partnership with the lead signatory? (September 25, 2019)

  No.

• Can research activities such as impact analysis or an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of an intervention be included in a proposal? (September 25, 2019)

  Yes, research activities are eligible to be included in a proposal as long as they help the project contribute to the ultimate and intermediate outcomes listed on the call page.

• Does the reference to women’s and girls’ rights organizations in the call’s third intermediate outcome statement include community-based organizations that support and focus on women’s and girls’ issues? (September 25, 2019)

  Yes, project activities that seek to strengthen community-based organizations as “key stakeholders” to support and focus on women’s and girls’ issues would be included under the third intermediate outcome statement.

• Will proposals that have more than 60% of direct beneficiaries being women and adolescent girls be given preference in this call? (September 25, 2019)

  Establishing a higher percentage of women and girls as beneficiaries is not necessarily evidence of a strong gender-equality analysis or approach. Priority will be given to proposals that meet the requirement of targeting or fully integrating gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment into their project design. This means that applicants will need to demonstrate that they have conducted a gender-based analysis, which has identified a specific gender equality gap that will be addressed in the proposed project and area of intervention. It is strongly recommended that applicants refer to the Feminist International Assistance Gender Equality Toolkit for Projects for guidance on designing projects that target or fully integrate gender equality.

• Is it mandatory for a Canadian university to partner with a Canadian civil society organization to apply for this call? (September 25, 2019)

  No, this is not mandatory. All organizations that meet the eligibility requirements listed on the call page may apply to this call.

• What type of activities can be included as “advocacy activities”? (September 25, 2019)

  Global Affairs Canada defines “advocacy” as the deliberate process of influencing the laws, policies and actions of governments at all levels, international institutions and the private sector to achieve positive changes in women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Advocacy encompasses petitioning decision-makers inside and outside government, public campaigning, and policy analysis and research related to public campaigning efforts. Examples of advocacy activities include, but are not limited to, activities aimed at the removal of judicial and legal barriers to the fulfillment of SRHR for marginalized or vulnerable groups, including access to safe and legal abortion; strengthening of accountability mechanisms for SRHR; and supporting SRHR advocacy and campaigns by women’s rights, feminist, youth, Indigenous and 2SLGBTQI+ civil society groups, particularly those working to challenge social norms that limit an individual’s control over their body and/or that limit their sexual and reproductive decision making.

• Can you provide advice on or examples of risks and mitigation strategies? (September 25, 2019)

  To be fair to all applicants, Global Affairs Canada cannot provide examples to guide the writing of your proposal. Organizations are encouraged to consult the department’s risk management for information.

• What type of project activities other than those identified as the critical gap areas in SRHR will be considered under this call? (September 25, 2019)

  Please refer to the Objective, Ultimate and Intermediate Outcomes sections of the call page for information on the results and nature of programming that this call seeks to support.

• Is there a limit on how much of the project budget the non-signatory partner(s) can manage? (September 25, 2019)

  No. However, please keep in mind that the role, relevance and value of the signatory organization should be clear to Global Affairs Canada. The signatories are responsible for ensuring that the non-signatory partners are able to comply with the terms and the conditions of the contribution agreement and, more specifically, to the reporting requirements (narrative and financial reports).

• Is the geographic reach of a project (i.e. a multi-country project) a perceived advantage? (September 25, 2019)

  No. Your proposed project must take place in one or more official development assistance-eligible countries. Approximately 75% of the funding from this call will be allocated to projects in sub-Saharan Africa.

• Can you provide an indication of what rate is permitted for indirect costs for a non-signatory partner based in a country other than Canada? (September 25, 2019)

  For this call, the signatory of the financial instrument with Global Affairs Canada must be a Canadian organization. For this reason, the Overhead Compensation Policy for Contribution Agreements with Canadian Organizations under the International Development Assistance Program will apply, which means a maximum overhead allocation rate of 12%. The country of origin of a specific non-signatory partner to the project is not a factor in the overhead allocation rate.

• What criteria will Global Affairs Canada use to determine whether a project is focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)? For example, must a project allocate more than 50% of its budget on SRHR? (September 25, 2019)

  In terms of SRHR, this call seeks to support programming in the following six critical gap areas: reproductive health services, comprehensive sexuality education, family planning and contraceptives, safe and legal abortion and post-abortion care, sexual and gender-based violence (including child, early and forced marriage, and female genital mutilation and cutting) and advocacy activities for SRHR. If your project will address SRHR areas, please include this information in the “sector(s)” section under Initiative Summary in the call application form. Global Affairs Canada will use this information to determine whether a project is focused on SRHR. Guidance on sector codes is available in the Sector Coding Guide for Global Affairs Canada partners.
  The 50% allocation of the call envelope to SRHR will be calculated from activities across multiple projects funded by the call. Individual projects, whether working on SRHR activities or not, do not have to allocate any specific percentage of their resources to SRHR activities. Project budgets should be designed to demonstrate a realistic and cost-effective approach to achieving sustainable development results that improve the quality of, access to and demand for integrated health services and information for women, adolescents and children at the community, health facility and health system levels.

• Does the project need to focus on women, adolescent girls and children? Can it concentrate either on women or on adolescent girls without including children? (October 2, 2019)

  The project does not have to target all three groups (women, adolescents and children). However, a minimum of 60% of direct beneficiaries of the proposed project should be women and adolescent girls, taking into account the needs and rights of those the most marginalized and most vulnerable.

• By “diverse groups” of women, adolescent girls and children rights holders, does Global Affairs Canada mean that the target audience must include diverse groups or that the diversity of needs within the same specific target audience must be recognized? (October 2, 2019)

  By diverse groups of women, adolescent girls and children rights holders, Global Affairs Canada means that the human rights analysis should identify those who are the most marginalized, vulnerable and likely to be left behind due to specific and possibly overlapping identity factors (for example: sex, race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age or disability) or other factors (for example: socio-economic status, geographic location, migrant labour or worker status, displacement or refugee status) in the particular context in which the project will take place. The project’s theory of change should describe how this diversity will be accounted for in the project’s outcomes and activities.

• Is there any information about the amount of money that will be allocated to each objective of the call? (October 2, 2019)

  No. This call will fund projects that aim to improve the health, human rights and well-being of diverse groups of women, adolescent girls and children. The only established funding allocations in this call are listed on the call page:

  • at least 50% of the funding will be allocated to projects that address sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly for women and adolescent girls, on identified critical gap areas;
  • approximately 75% of the funding from this call will be allocated to projects taking place in sub-Saharan Africa
• Are we expected to share the project’s intellectual property with Global Affairs Canada? (October 2, 2019)

  As per section 19.2 of the general terms and conditions for contribution agreements, Canada can exercise all the intellectual property rights reserved to the owner of the intellectual property rights (i.e. the organization) in any work created with respect to the project.

• Should the project beneficiaries and project intermediaries be included in the theory of change? (October 2, 2019)

   Yes, beneficiaries and intermediaries should be included in the theory of change. For more information, please refer to section 3.1 of the application form and to pages 94, 96 and 101 of the Results-based management for international assistance programming: A how-to guide for definitions of beneficiaries, intermediaries and stakeholders.

• Can you please clarify what is meant by activities taking place outside of Canada as an ineligible public engagement activity? (October 2, 2019)

  Public engagement (PE) activities are aimed at strengthening Canadian support for and participation in international assistance. These activities should enable Canadians to better understand women’s and children‘s health and rights programming and encourage them to take action to enable change. PE activities must take place within Canada in order to be considered eligible.

• How do we incorporate public engagement activities in the budget? Can we include this as a separate line item? (October 2, 2019)

  Public engagement activities should be included in section 1.5.7 of the budget template.

• Please clarify what is meant by ineligible public engagement activities? (October 2, 2019)

  Ineligible public engagement activities would include activities related to fundraising, for-profit activities or partisan politics.

• If our project has public engagement activities, does it have to be part of the logic model or can it just be mentioned in the proposal and budgeted separately? (October 2, 2019)

  Public engagement activities should be included in the logic model at the output level so that its link with and contribution to the results of the project can be clearly seen.

• In which of the 3 intermediate outcomes does the ‘’demand for integrated services’’ fall? (October 2, 2019)

  We will not respond to questions on specific organizational circumstances or specific project proposals. It is up to the applicant to decide how to design their logic model using the guidance provided on the call page.

• Can you provide an example of an indicator for the ultimate or intermediate outcomes? (October 2, 2019)

  Organizations can consult Results-based management for international assistance programming: A how-to guide. Results-based management, including the performance measurement framework, is one of the criteria for assessing the merit of proposals submitted for this call.

• In which section of the proposal should consultations be included? (October 2, 2019)

  As we assess proposals as a whole, there is no specific section to reflect consultations within the application form. Consultations should be included where relevant in the proposal.

• Can an organization submit a proposal that includes activities in countries listed as “avoid all travel”? (October 2, 2019)

  “Avoid all travel” is the department’s highest level of risk for a country and indicates an extreme risk to personal safety and security. While programming can take place in one or more countries eligible for official development assistance, the department recommends that organizations consult and take into account Travel Advice and Advisories when developing their project and assessing their risks. The level of risk and the ability of organizations to respond to the risks will be assessed by Global Affairs Canada when assessing the merit of proposals.

• Are proposals that focus solely on research and creating an evidence base on sexual and reproductive health and rights eligible for this call for proposals? (October 2, 2019)

  This call is not seeking research-only proposals. The call will support projects that improve the quality of, access to and demand for integrated health services for women, adolescents and children at the community, health-facility and health-system levels. Applicants can submit proposals that include research components as long as they contribute to this objective.

• How can the organizations demonstrate the “financial management of a similar project” in the project examples? (October 2, 2019)

  In section 5.1 of the application form you are asked to provide project examples that demonstrate how, in the past, you have met requirements similar to those of your proposed project. During the merit assessment, your organization‘s ability relevant to the initiative, including your ability to demonstrate the organization’s financial capacity to carry out a project of the proposed size and nature, will be assessed.

• Are projects that address the needs of specific groups, such as 2SLGBTQI+ individuals or persons with disabilities, eligible for this call? (October 2, 2019)

  Successful proposals will reflect a human-rights-based approach demonstrating how the initiative’s planning and design incorporate the findings of a human rights analysis and consider the key human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination, inclusion and participation, transparency and accountability as long as they contribute to the objectives of the call. Global Affairs is seeking proposals that aim to strengthen the participation of all stakeholders, regardless of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, race, religion, disability, or migrant or refugee status. Please refer to the Human “Rights and Additional Guidance” sections of the call page.

• How will Global Affairs Canada ensure that approximately 75% of the funding from this call will be allocated to projects that include activities taking place in sub-Saharan Africa? (October 2, 2019)

  Global Affairs Canada will calculate the 75% allocation of total call funding to projects in sub-Saharan Africa from across multiple projects funded by this call for proposals. Individual projects, therefore, do not have to allocate any specific percentage of their resources to sub-Saharan Africa.

4. Financial Information

• Does the 5% of project costs that may be allocated to Canadian public engagement activities include staff remuneration and staff travel costs involved in delivering those activities? (September 3, 2019)

  Yes, the 5% includes all expenses related to public engagement activities.

• Are local implementing partners considered to be subcontractors with an arm’s-length relationship with the organization, or are they local employees? (September 17, 2019)

  It is up to the organization to design their proposed project management structure. For example, in the case of a local partner, a Canadian organization would normally sign a sub-agreement with the local implementing partner to formalize the latter’s obligations to the project and to the achievement of anticipated results. In this case, no profit is allowed. Most often, these agreements are for the duration of the project. In the case of a contract with a subcontractor, the relationship is usually more specific and the subcontractor must be in an arm’s-length relationship; a Canadian organization may hire a subcontractor for a limited period to undertake activities or perform work to address specific needs (expertise) for the project.

• How should we complete the budget breakdown by activity? Should it be based on specific activity groups from the logic model? (September 17, 2019)

  There is no specific requirement in terms of format for the budget by activity. However, a breakdown by activity in alignment with the logic model is preferred as it will allow us to assess the level of effort proposed in relation to the anticipated results of the project.

• What specific information does Global Affairs Canada expect agencies to provide in column K (Details/Comments) of the budget template? (September 19, 2019)

  Please provide additional information that can help us understand your calculations and the nature of the costs.

• What is the definition of “head office” under 1.5.6 in the budget template? (September 19, 2019)

  “Head office” is defined as the office of the Canadian organization in Canada.

• What costs are required in the “monitoring costs” section of the budget template? Should we include external evaluation fees? (September 19, 2019)

  This component can include both the organization’s costs for monitoring, the costs of external evaluation and monitoring activities of the local partner.

• Is it mandatory to fill out column K for each line item in the budget or is it optional? (September 19, 2019)

  It is not mandatory. However, the clarity of the calculation and the nature of the cost—including the comments in column K—may avoid the need for us to ask additional questions.

• Is there a funding limit for research? (September 19, 2019)

  No, there is no specific limit for research funding. This call for proposals will support projects that improve the quality of, access to and demand for integrated health services for women, adolescents and children at the community, health facility and health system levels. Any research proposed should contribute to the objective.

• In section 1.7.2 of the budget template provided by Global Affairs Canada, what is considered large capital expenditures/leases of machinery and medical equipment? (September 25, 2019)

  This refers to large capital expenditures/leases of machinery and medical equipment where each item costs $100,000 or more as per section 5.3.2 of the Overhead Compensation Policy for Contribution Agreements.

• How is the “total value of project” calculated in the budget template? (September 25, 2019)

  The “total value of project” is calculated by adding the sum of columns E and F to the value of lines 1.8.1 and 1.8.2 of the budget template provided for this call.

• What is the level of detail required for budget section 1.2: Remuneration - Local Employee? (September 25, 2019)

  Information should be provided by position to help Global Affairs Canada understand the role of each employee in the project. If some local employees have the same position and have the same salary, the information can be grouped in one line with a reference to the number of employees involved in brackets in the description.

• In the budget template, could you please provide more explanation on how specific budget line costs should be divided between column E (Direct Activity Costs) and column F (Direct Project Management Costs)? (September 25, 2019)

  There are no specific requirements for the division of costs between these two columns. Direct activity implementation costs are defined as direct project costs that are related to the department-funded project and that can be identified specifically with the delivery of an activity or can be directly assigned to an activity relatively easily with a high degree of accuracy. Direct project management and administration costs are defined as direct project costs related to the department-funded project as a whole but not readily identifiable with any specific activity of that project. For example, with remuneration, some positions will be 100% “Direct Project Management Costs,” while others will be 100% “Direct Activity Costs.” There will also be a third group of positions that will be prorated between the two columns. It is up to the organization to make this decision. However, other than remuneration, most costs should be clearly one or the other.

• In this call, are applicants allowed to include cascade funding (sub-grants) in the proposal? (September 25, 2019)

  Sub-agreements are possible and are used to receive proposals from third-party organizations for initiatives that will add value to the results of the project; they are not a fund transfer to a partner organization to deliver specific project activities. However, when sub-agreements are included in a budget proposal, the proposed signatory will have to demonstrate that this is aligned with the results of the project (logic model) and that the signatory will rigorously manage these sub-agreements to meet the terms and conditions, obligations and requirements of the financial agreement with Global Affairs Canada. This includes narrative and financial reporting that can demonstrate results achieved and how funds have been efficiently used. At the time the proposal is submitted, the signatory must demonstrate how much funding will be allocated to sub-agreements and how the signatory will administer these sub-agreements (range of funding, number of initiatives to be funded, selection process, monitoring process during implementation, reporting requirements, etc.). Global Affairs Canada must be able to assess that there is a well-defined plan for these sub-agreements to ensure both the relevance to the results and due diligence of this component of the proposed initiative.

• Can the salary costs of the organization’s personnel working on the project be counted toward its cost-share contribution? (September 25, 2019)

  The organization must first determine that the cost is an eligible direct cost to the project and that it is not considered an indirect cost. Please refer to the Overhead Compensation Policy for Contribution Agreements for more information. Then, and only if the salary cost is paid directly by the organization and not claimed to Global Affairs Canada, may it be considered as an in-cash contribution by the organization. Please note that the non-remunerated time of an organization’s personnel cannot be used to meet the organization cost-share requirement.

• Can the time that our project’s intended recipients contribute to the project be used toward our cost-share contribution? (September 25, 2019)

  No. Please see clause 4.2.4 of the Policy on Cost-Sharing for Grant and Non-Repayable Contribution Agreements, which states, “the contributions of a project’s intended recipients cannot be used to account for the recipient’s cost-share. In the context of this policy, ‘intended recipients’ means the individuals or organizations that directly benefit from the project.”

• If an organization works through local partners, would they be considered as non-signatory partners or as subcontractors restricted to 20% of the budget limit? (September 25, 2019)

  A local partner organization is not considered a subcontractor, and the funds they receive to manage part of a project are not subject to the 20% subcontractor limit. However, the organizations that would sign the financial agreement with Global Affairs Canada are responsible for ensuring that all parties (signatory and/or non-signatory partners) meet all of the terms and conditions of the financial agreement involved in the project.

• If a subcontractor is a Canadian for-profit company and is donating their services at a certain valued cash or in-kind amount, can this count toward the in-kind contribution? (October 2, 2019)

  Only a service that is free of charge is accepted as an in-kind contribution. In this situation, the organization is responsible to determine a value for this contract, subject to approval by Global Affairs Canada.

• There is no separate category for any local intermediary or beneficiary within the budget template. Is there a specific category for us to include line items for any local intermediary or beneficiary costs (e.g. travel costs, other training costs or other direct costs)? (October 2, 2019)

  In the detailed budget, the organization has the flexibility, within a specific budget line (e.g. 1.5.1), to break down a cost at a more detailed level (e.g. local travel – intermediary and local travel – beneficiary). This level of detail provides more clarity to the budget.

• Can you provide guidance on what is acceptable for the inflation rate for goods and services across years of a multi-year proposal? (October 2, 2019)

  Organizations can consult the last annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Canada (for the budget for Canadian costs) and the last annual CPI of the specific developing country of the project (for the budget for the developing country costs of the project) available at the time you prepare the budget for your proposal. That same rate should be applied for each future year of the project (i.e. year 2, year 3, year 4 and year 5).

• If 5% of project direct costs are earmarked for public engagement, are public engagement costs in Canada considered indirect costs? If so, would that mean that it would not count toward the 5% cost share requirements of the total eligible project costs? (October 2, 2019)

  The organization must ensure that each cost for public engagement in Canada that the organization wants to include as a direct cost in its budget is not considered an indirect cost as per the Overhead Compensation Policy for Contribution Agreements with Canadian Organizations under the International Development Assistance Program. Organizations should also consult the call page under the section “Required project parameters” for more information on specific activities that are considered ineligible for public engagement.

• What percentage of the funds can be used to support technology development activities (e.g. system optimization or feature enhancements)? (October 2, 2019)

  There is no specific requirement or limitation identified for technology development activities. However, the organization must ensure that these activities and the resources devoted to them are consistent with the ultimate result of the proposed initiative and consistent with the objectives of this call. The reasonableness of funds budgeted for this type of activity will be assessed in the same manner as any other project activity.

• Are audited statements required, or will signed balance sheets suffice? (October 2, 2019)

  Signatory organizations should provide two separate financial statements for their most recent fiscal years. Audited statements are preferred. If this is not possible, statements or balance sheets can be provided, but they must be signed by a member of the board of directors or delegate or by the owners. 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.

• What types of costs or items are allowable as in-kind contributions? (October 2, 2019)

  The Policy on Cost-Sharing for Grant and Non-Repayable Contribution Agreements only allows cost-share contributions, either cash or in-kind, that are deemed eligible project costs. Any combination of cash or in-kind contributions is acceptable. To be accepted and recognized, an in-kind contribution must:

  • be directly related to the implementation of the project
  • 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
  • not have been paid for by the department or from other federal government sources
• Can non-signatory partner organizations (Canadian or non-Canadian) contribute to the cost-share requirement? (October 2, 2019)

  As described in the Policy on Cost-Sharing for Grant and Non-Repayable Contribution Agreements, the cost-share contribution can be provided by the recipient (i.e. the signatory) or by other Canadian or non-Canadian sources, including other civil society organizations, other donors, other country governments, regional institutions or the private sector. However, eligible cash contributions coming from other sources must flow through the accounts of the signatory to the financial agreement with Global Affairs Canada.

• If the project lead is a university professor, can a percentage of the professor’s salary (to facilitate release from their course delivery) be considered an eligible cost? (October 2, 2019)

  Remuneration can only be paid for time actually worked on the implementation of the project.

• Can salary costs associated with the project for positions carried out in non-official development assistance countries be considered direct costs? (October 2, 2019)

  Yes, if the salary costs are considered direct costs of the project (in other words, costs that are incurred to achieve the results of the project).

• If the proposed project includes multiple countries, can multiple budgets by country be provided? (October 2, 2019)

  For the purpose of this call, only one budget template (incorporating activities in all countries for the entire project) is requested. Organizations can add lines if needed and should provide comments in column K to help Global Affairs Canada understand the nature of the expenses.

• Regarding section 1.6.2 of the budget template provided by Global Affairs Canada, can you provide examples of bulk purchases of goods? (October 2, 2019)

  As per section 5.3.3 of the Overhead Compensation Policy for Contribution Agreements with Canadian Organizations under the International Development Assistance Program, “bulk” is defined as purchases of goods involving one or more transactions to purchase the same goods, such as material, food, agricultural products or medical supplies, that will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

• Can large capital expenditures (such as procuring a vehicle) be included in the budget? (October 2, 2019)

  Yes. The organization must ensure that these expenditures are consistent with the ultimate results of the proposed initiative and the objectives of this call. The reasonableness of funds budgeted for this type of activity will be assessed in the same manner as any other project activity.

• In Appendix 1 of the Policy on Cost-Sharing for Grant and Non-Repayable Contribution Agreements, section 2.2 states that “below the threshold of $200,000, the in-kind contribution will not be accepted by the department.” Can you confirm this? (October 2, 2019)

  Yes. When the value is less than $200,000 the in-kind contribution will not be accepted by the department.

• If the signatory negotiates with a third party to obtain for free a good or a service needed for the project, can this be considered an in-kind contribution? (October 2, 2019)

  Yes. However, please ensure that the following criteria are met:

  • the good or service is a direct cost of the project
  • if the good or service had not been given, it would have had to have been purchased and paid for by the project
  • the good or service is auditable
  • the good or service is not from beneficiary.
• Could existing project resources for other projects funded by Global Affairs Canada be considered as an in-kind contribution? (October 2, 2019)

  No.

• Are there any specific information or guidelines with regard to students and volunteers? (October 2, 2019)

  Please refer to the budget guidance document sent to organizations upon a request for more guidance and information on students and volunteers.

• The budget template has shaded lines relating to volunteers (1.5.8). Similarly, line 1.7.3 (deemed value of non-Canadian and e-volunteers) is also shaded. Does this mean that we cannot use volunteers—e-volunteers and non-Canadians—as part of our in-kind contribution? (October 2, 2019)

  You can use volunteers (e-volunteers and non-Canadians) as part of your in-kind contribution. When preparing your budget, please disregard the shading on lines 1.5.8, 1.5.9 and 1.7.3. This also applies to columns E to H from line 1.5.8 and 1.5.9 “Reimbursable costs for volunteers,” which should not be shaded.

• Can indirect costs be shared among signatories and non-signatories that are submitting a joint proposal? (October 2, 2019)

  Yes. It is up to the signatory organization to decide whether to share this allocation or not. Global Affairs Canada will provide this allocation only to the organization that will sign the financial agreement.

• What is the difference between bulk goods and inputs? Is there a maximum percentage for bulk goods/inputs purchased? (October 2, 2019)

  An input can be defined as all the resources made available to the project. This can be material goods as well as time worked. There is no maximum for bulk purchases, which are defined as the acquisition of goods purchased in large quantities in one or more transactions.

• Would the rehabilitation of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities to make spaces safe at schools be included in comprehensive sexuality education? (October 2, 2019)

  We will not respond to questions on specific project proposals. Refurbishment and minor structural works will be considered where necessary. They will be considered on a case-by-case basis and should not exceed 20% of the total proposed budget. Construction of new facilities/structures will not be considered. This call for proposals will support projects that improve the quality of, access to, and demand for integrated health services and information for women, adolescents and children at the community, health facility and health system levels.

• Do we need to provide a basis of calculation (page 2 of budget guidance) for each activity? (October 2, 2019)

  No. However, in the detailed budget (cost categories), for each budget item, please provide the calculation supporting the budget amount.

• In the budget by activity, does the time worked in the beneficiary country and in Canada for each activity need be estimated? Also, does the total budget per activity need be the same as the general template? (October 2, 2019)

  No. The activity-based budget does not require a breakdown between activities in Canada and those in the recipient country. However, the total budget per activity must be equal to the total direct costs (those funded by the GAC plus those funded by the organization) shown in the detailed budget.

• How is the 20% limit for construction calculated? Is it calculated on the total budget of the project, including the organization’s cost share contribution, or is it calculated only on Global Affairs Canada‘s contribution? (October 2, 2019)

  The 20% limit to construction is calculated based on the total proposed project budget.

• If additional cash inputs are proposed beyond the 5% cost share for use beyond the 20% cap for construction, would this be deemed non-compliant with the parameters of the call? (October 2, 2019)

  Yes. Refurbishment and minor structural must not exceed 20% of the total proposed budget.