International Humanitarian Assistance – Funding Application Guidelines for Non-Governmental Organizations

12 October 2018

Purpose of NGO Funding Application Guidelines

Global Affairs Canada’s full “International Humanitarian Assistance Funding Application Guidelines for Non-Governmental Organizations” is available upon request (ahi-iha@international.gc.ca ).

The purpose of these Guidelines is to provide Canadian and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with an overview of the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) processes and requirements to be considered for international humanitarian assistance funding.

The full guidelines document provides NGOs with:

• Information on partner eligibility and the process for completing an Institutional Profile;
• Step-by-step instructions on how to apply for humanitarian project-specific funding;
• The articulation of reporting expectations for approved projects;
• All necessary templates for submission of application.

Context on funding through Global Affairs Canada’s International Humanitarian Assistance Bureau

The Department’s International Humanitarian Assistance Bureau (MHD) is the Government of Canada's operational lead for providing international humanitarian assistance in developing countries.

MHD funds organizations possessing the demonstrated knowledge, experience and capacity to meet the needs of vulnerable and marginalised populations, including the specific needs and priorities of women and girls.

MHD is a responsive program that provides assistance to both Complex Humanitarian Situations through an annual funding process and Sudden Onset Emergencies as situations emerge, typically following the flash and emergency appeals.

Process Overview

To be considered eligible for funding, organizations must first have a valid MHD Institutional Profile. The instructions on how to complete an Institutional Profile as well as our 10 requirements for eligibility are available in the complete Guidelines.

Please note, Institutional Profiles may be submitted at any time. However, any Institutional Profile Applications submitted during the annual process to respond to complex crises will be reviewed after this process has been completed.

Only NGOs with valid profiles can apply for programming.

In the case of complex humanitarian situations, MHD follows a two-step process whereby NGO first submit concept notes that are reviewed by MHD. These concept notes may then be identified for further development into full proposals by NGOs, which might be considered for potential funding after a thorough review.

In the case of sudden onset emergencies NGOs can submit abridged proposals that are considered for potential funding by MHD.

Please note that MHD will communicate with eligible NGOs throughout the entire funding process.

Should you have any questions do not hesitate to contact MHD at ahi-iha@international.gc.ca.

Please note that MHD does not fund the following NGO activities:

• Peacebuilding and long-term development projects;
• In-kind food assistance distributions (with the exception of therapeutic/supplementary food in the context of nutrition interventions) ^{Footnote 1}
• Activities giving way to reflows of funds into the NGO’s financial holdings, i.e. certain forms of microcredit or other revenue-generating activities ^{Footnote 2}
• Search and rescue operations;
• Deployment of individuals operating outside established mechanisms of the international humanitarian system;
• Transportation of goods, whether new or used, from Canada to the affected country/region; and

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) activities ^{Footnote 3}