Canada Fund for Local Initiatives

The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) provides modest funding for small-scale, high-impact projects in more than 120 countries eligible for official development assistance (ODA). The CFLI has an annual programming budget of $26.8 million, with projects averaging $31,000 each. Projects are planned and implemented mainly by local organizations, and are selected and approved by the relevant Canadian Embassy or High Commission.

CFLI projects focus on issues such as:

• Inclusive governance, including diversity, democracy, human rights, 2SLGBTQI+ rights and the rule of law.

• Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

• Peace & security, with a focus on conflict prevention and building peace.

• Growth that works for everyone, including women’s economic rights, decent jobs and entrepreneurship, investing in the poorest and most vulnerable, and safeguarding economic gains.

• Environment & climate action, focusing on adaptation and mitigation, as well as on water management.

• Human dignity, covering health, education and nutrition.

The CFLI also provides modest financing for projects in response to natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies.

Organizations eligible to apply for CFLI funding include:

• local non-governmental, community and not-for profit organizations

• local academic institutions

• international non-governmental organizations

• intergovernmental, multilateral and regional institutions, organizations and agencies

• municipal, regional or national government institutions or agencies of the recipient country

• Canadian non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations

Local civil society organizations will receive most of the CFLI funding.

Current open calls cover: Rwanda, Burundi, El Salvador, Sri Lanka

For more information & application, click here.