Indo-Pacific Regional Connectivity Envelope – Questions and assessment criteria

Section 1.1 – Project description

Describe, in detail, the proposed project, including its objectives, expected outcomes, outputs and activities (outputs and activities will be captured through the activities table). Description should include how the project contributes to one immediate and one intermediate outcome of the RCE logic model. Be sure to elaborate on the country, regional and local contexts, institutional and policy issues, and relevant actors, causes and trends (as applicable). Describe what steps your organization has taken, such as studies, or consultations with stakeholders, as well as groups, and/or institutions in the planning and designing of the project. If your project includes facilitation activities, include who is the audience for this event(s) and how this project does not duplicate other events in the sector/region.

Assessment criteria

• The project’s objectives expected outcomes and activities are fully explained, clear, realistic and logical;
• The project contributes to at least one immediate and one intermediate outcome of the RCE Logic Model, which is aligned to the activity sub-category;
• The project’s location is logical for the described initiative, and is appropriate given the national, regional and local context;
• There’s a clear link between the project description and the activity type selected in section 1.0;
• The applicant has undertaken some form of consultation or study in the project's design, which is fully described/explained and informs the project design;
• The project’s audience is well defined, and links logically given the project’s stated objectives, outcomes and activities.

Section 1.2 – Project alignment of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy

Describe, in detail, the proposed project’s alignment with the objectives of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS). Your description should include the following:

• Which strategic objective(s) of the IPS does this project align with?
• How do the proposed project objectives and activities achieve the strategic objective described?
• How will the proposed project develop or strengthen your organization’s networks and/or partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region?

Assessment criteria

• The description clearly outlines how the proposed project aligns to the IPS and the identified strategic objective(s);
• The proposed project clearly explains how it would positively contribute to the achievement of IPS goals and objectives.
• The proposed project would develop or strengthen the applicant’s networks and/or partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region. There’s a clear description of how this network and/or partnership would contribute to the applicant’s operations in the region.

Section 1.3 – Project-level risks and mitigation strategies

Describe the key risks and associated mitigation strategies. These should be the greatest risks in terms of likelihood and potential impact on the achievement of results. A risk is a possible event that, depending on its management, can have either a negative or a positive effect on the achievement of results.

Assessment criteria

• There’s a clear description of risks that could have the greatest impact on the achievement of project outcomes;
• The proposed response measures are comprehensive, appropriate, and well designed to reduce the impact and/or likelihood of the identified risks;
• The proposed response measures are financially and technically feasible.

Section 1.4 – Implementation of the project

Outline your project plan including the following:

• Information on organizations involved in the activities (who, when, where, and how);
• How will you monitor and manage the project, including finances, personnel and performance?
• The indicators you will use to measure the project’s performance to achieve the immediate and intermediate outcomes from the RCE logic model. (LM). How you will gather information on them;
• Provide a description of the project team’s organizational structure with key roles and responsibilities.

Assessment criteria

• Project plan is realistic and well described;
• The proposal describes the organizations (implementing, contractors, etc.) involved in the project's delivery. Those organizations are reasonable choices who will be able to deliver on their commitments;
• There’s a strong monitoring plan for finances, personnel and performance;
• The proposal identifies logical, realistic and measurable indicators to measure performance towards the RCE LM;
• The project team is well developed and has the capacity to deliver on the proposed project.

Section 1.5 – Gender equality integration

Provide an initial analysis of any gender implications in the project. Consider the roles played by women and men, girls, boys and other members of society as implementors AND participants of the project. Please refer to the Gender-Based Analysis Plus tool for further guidance.
Consider and address the following as it applies to your project:

• As the applicant, how has gender equality been addressed in the implementation of this project? Are women involved in the conception and delivery of this project?
• What are the gender dynamics and power relationships in the targeted population(s) of the project? This includes between and among diverse women and men, girls and boys. Who are the most marginalized between and among them?
• Which gender equality issue(s) or barrier(s) will be addressed that are essential to the success of the project?
• What are the specific approaches and measures proposed to address the gender inequalities identified?

Assessment criteria

• The analysis describes how the applicant organization integrated gender equality in the project's implementation;
• Women have been involved in the conception of the project and will also be involved in the delivery;
• The gender dynamics and power relationships of the target audience are well described;
• The analysis identifies gender equality issues or barriers relevant to the project;
• The analysis identifies ways to close the gender gaps which are logical, and reasonable for the project context.

Section 1.6 – Environmental sustainability

How does the proposed project address the environmental implication of planned activities? Please describe how the project integrates international best practices on environmental sustainability and minimizing carbon outputs.

Assessment criteria

• The proposal identifies any environmental implications that are a direct result of project activities;
• The proposal integrates environmental best practices and realistic steps have been taken to lower carbon output.

Section 1.7 – Indo-Pacific regional organization

Describe why you have selected this organization as locally based regional organization, including describing their area of expertise and their relevant experience. Describe how the locally based regional organization will be meaningfully involved in the project's delivery.

Assessment criteria

• The Indo-Pacific regional organization has agreed to collaborate on the project by signing the RCE project collaboration attestation;
• The Indo-Pacific regional organization is logically linked to the initiative and the Canadian organization through area of professional expertise and experience.

2.0 Relevant applicant experience and capacity to deliver the project

Section 2.1 – Financial management

Describe your organization’s financial management structure and practices, highlighting relevant senior positions involved in financial management (for example: Chief Financial Officer) and the financial management system your organization uses. Does your organization make annual financial statements publicly available?

Assessment criteria

• The organization has strong financial management practices, with appropriate oversight from senior financial managers;
• The organization uses a recognized financial system;
• The organization has a dedicated financial function;
• The organization publishes annual financial statements.

*Note: this criterion will be further assessed in the RCE risk matrix.

Section 2.2 – Current or past project example

Complete this table for the project example. Examples may be from a project started from 2018 to present. Use a relevant example which proves capacity to deliver the proposed project. The project examples did not have to have been funded by GAC or have been publicly funded. Maximum 1 page.
Description of the project including:

• Relevance of the example to the proposed project (in other words, location, outcomes results, recipient, etc.);
• Key risks managed and response measures employed;
• Any result achieved related to gender equality;
• Lessons learned and course corrections adopted;
• Project administration including financial management;
• Actual results and outcomes.

Assessment criteria

• The described project example demonstrates experience relevant to the proposed project and a capacity to deliver the proposed project;
• The proposed project demonstrates actual achieved results, strong project administration, and an integration of lessons learned.

*Note: this criterion will be further assessed in the RCE risk matrix review.