Indo-Pacific Engagement Initiative

Indo-Pacific Regional Connectivity Envelope

The Regional Connectivity Envelope (RCE) is part of Global Affairs Canada’s Indo-Pacific Engagement Initiative (IPEI). We designed the RCE to enhance connections between Canadian non-governmental and non-profit organizations, Canadian researchers and think tanks, and those in the Indo-Pacific region. We made it easier for Canadian organizations to participate in or organize events in the Indo-Pacific region, and in Canada, in cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners.

We will launch a call for proposals in the coming months, providing further guidance on eligibility and application requirements. We will provide more details on how Canadian organizations can apply once we launch the RCE.

Activities

Eligible events (must be aligned with the Strategic Objectives of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy) include knowledge-sharing or creation of activities^{Footnote 1} such as:

• Conferences
• Workshops
• Roundtable discussions
• Panels
• Cultural events
• Indigenous Reconciliation
• Training
• Research

Recipients may use the project funds to pay for:

• Event registration fees
• Equipment rental
• Travel costs
• Accommodation
• Research materials
• Event organization costs

Applicants

The RCE will be open to Canadian based non-governmental organizations, for example:

• Educational institutions
• Research institutes
• Non-governmental organizations
• Civil society organizations
• Think tanks
• Indigenous organizations
• Recognized cultural organizations or associations representing communities of Indo-Pacific origin
• Recognized community or advocacy groups (especially those representing women, youth, and the LGBTQ+ community)

Recipients must also establish a relationship with an Indo-Pacific regional organization and demonstrate this relationship in their application.

Location

Projects may take place in Canada or the Indo-Pacific, priority will be given to projects that take place in the Indo-Pacific region. The project’s Indo-Pacific regional organization must be from the Indo-Pacific region.^{Footnote 2}

Indo-Pacific Scholarships and Fellowships for Canadians

The Indo-Pacific Scholarships and Fellowships for Canadians Program (IPSFC) is one of the five programs of Global Affairs Canada’s Indo-Pacific Engagement Initiative (IPEI).

The Program is designed to support the development and expansion of national expertise on issues related to the Indo-Pacific and create linkages between Canadian researchers and relevant host institutions in the region.

The Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) is building its presence in the Indo-Pacific by fostering knowledge through this outbound scholarships and fellowships enabling Canadians to travel to the Indo-Pacific region to pursue graduate studies, conduct research activities and expand their network. By growing this expertise, the Program will aim at:

• significantly building Canadian competencies in areas relevant to the Indo-Pacific Strategy.
• increasing connectivity between Canadian and Indo-Pacific institutions dedicated to research and education.
• supporting new research streams and projects in Canada focused on the Indo-Pacific.
• contributing to building Canada’s academic and research knowledge base.

The announcement of the launch of the competition opening the application period for scholarships and fellowships will be in 2025. Further information on eligibility and application requirements will be available soon.

Applicants

The program will be open to the following eligible applicants:

• Canadian and Permanent Residence (PR) cardholder graduate students who wish to study (linked to research activities) in the Indo-Pacific region for 1 full academic year or 12 months;
• Canadian and PR academics and researchers who wish to conduct research activities in and on the Indo-Pacific region for 6-12 months.

Research activities

Study (linked to research activities) or research activities must be aligned with the Indo-Pacific Strategy objectives, covering topics such as:

• Regional diplomacy
• Regional political change
• National and regional security
• Trade and economic cooperation
• Technological innovation
• Sustainable development
• Climate change
• Natural (including marine) resources management
• Applied scientific cooperation.

Location

Host universities or research institutions must be based in one of the eligible countries and economies^{Footnote 3} in the Indo-Pacific region, as defined by the Indo-Pacific Strategy:

• Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam.
• South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka.
• Northeast Asia: Japan, Mongolia, Republic of Korea, Taiwan.
• Oceania: Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.