Canada Fund for Pacific Local Initiatives - NGOs and other organizations from Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu can apply.

THE High Commission of Canada is now accepting Canada Fund proposals for the year 2017-2018. Applications will close on June 1, 2017. The final date for projects to be completed is February 28, 2018.

The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) provides support to small scale, short-term projects in the Pacific by working with local, national and international NGOs and other organisations. The CFLI focuses on funding projects with long-term, sustainable goals that support and strengthen communities at the local level.

Recipient organisations are expected to make a contribution in cash or in kind. The program is widely recognised as making a significant contribution to genuine development and capacity-building in the region.

The program is managed directly by the High Commission of Canada in Wellington, New Zealand for projects in the following Pacific Island countries:

• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Samoa
• Tonga
• Tuvalu

Within Canada's thematic priorities for international assistance, the High Commission of Canada in Wellington will focus on supporting projects in the following key areas in 2017-2018:

· Empowering women and girls and promoting gender equality

· Promoting human development, specifically in the areas of health, nutrition, and education

· Championing human rights, inclusive and accountable governance, democracy, peaceful pluralism, and respect for diversity

· Supporting inclusive and green economic growth

· Promoting action on the environment, including water and climate change

· Promoting peace and security

The CFLI only provides contributions to projects, not over-head costs such as those related to the administration of an organisation, ongoing or recurring projects, large-scale construction, or purely general budgetary needs.

The majority of projects we support fall in the Canadian dollars $5,000 to $30,000 range (with a maximum support of $50,000 Canadian dollars). We encourage project proposals focused on the above mentioned areas and will also consider project proposals with broader regional reach. All project applications will need to specify how much money is being requested in Canadian dollars. The more detailed the budget, the easier it is for the Canada Fund Selection committee to assess.

Successful applicants will need to have a bank account with one of the major banks in the South Pacific.

All projects will be notified after the final selection is made, whether they are successful or not.

You can contact the CFLI at the following addresses:

CFLI Coordinator
High Commission of Canada
PO Box 8047
Wellington 6143, New Zealand
Telephone: (64 4) 495-4117

E-mail: WLGTN.Canada-Fund@international.gc.ca