Call for Proposals

ACTIF will support projects designed and implemented by Canadian and Southern partnerships.

Please see the Call for Proposals Guidelines for Step 1 (also available French and Spanish) for more information about the eligibility criteria:

• Legal status and governance of Canadian applicants;
• Capacity of Canadian and Southern organizations;
• Credibility of Canadian organization with a track record of working on LGBTQ2I issues
• Southern civil society organizations with a track record of working on LGBTQ2I issues and registered or established in ODA eligible countries.
• Solidarity based approach of the partnership

Who is not eligible for funding?

• Canadian organizations applying to the Fund without a Southern partner;
• Southern organizations applying directly to the Fund without a Canadian partner;
• University, college, or other academic institutions or private institutions;
• Individuals

Yes. Collaboration and consortiums are encouraged. We recommend that partnerships have between 1 and 3 non-Canadian partners up to four partners are allowed. Two Canadian organizations can submit joint proposals (with a maximum of 4 Southern partners), which is a potential avenue for non-LGBTQ2I led organizations partnering with LGBTQ2I-led organizations who may not have experience working internationally and managing Global Affairs Canada funding requirements. 

Lead Canadian and Southern organizations must be registered and listed in the organizational profiles. These organizations, acting as fiscal sponsors, can partner and share funding with Southern unregistered organizations.

No. Organizations will only be funded for one project at a time in order to support as many organizations as possible. If organizations submit multiple applications, as a lead organization or otherwise, they will only be awarded up to one project. They can apply to receive new funding once their project is finished.

ACTIF will fund activities that contribute to one or more of the following intermediate outcomes.  The list below is meant to be representative and inclusive of various LGBTQ2I organizations in Canada and in the Global South, as well as the diversity of strategies employed to advance the human rights of LGBTQ2I people. Organizations can adapt these outcomes to better respond to the priorities identified with their partners.  

• Stronger and more resilient Southern LGBTQ2I organizations– Improved sustainability of local LGBTQ2I’s rights organizations in the Global South.
• Stronger and greater reach of LGBTQ2I movements in the Global South.
• Increased collective and self-care for LGBTQ2I activists and organizations, which in turn will strengthen movements.
• Increased participation and leadership of trans, two-spirit, and/or intersex people, and/or bisexual, queer and lesbian women or targeted approaches addressing their needs.
• Changing social norms or community acceptance on LGBTQ2I issues – through diverse approaches, such as using arts and culture, media and journalism.
• Increased advocacy, influence and allies with government and other sectors leading to change in policy or practice. 
• Reduced discrimination and violence or increased mechanisms of prevention, protection and response to SOGIESC discrimination and violence. 
• Increased economic opportunities and resilience and access to decent work for LGBTQ2I persons. 
• Increased access to a full range of sexual and reproductive health services. 

ACTIF will offer two orientation webinars and one Q&A session to support organizations to learn about ACTIF and how to apply for the Call for Proposals.

During step 2, ACTIF will provide training, workshop space and support on results-based management tools, such as the theory of change, the formulation of results, indicators and risks.  ACTIF staff can also answer questions for clarification and encourage you to ensure that your Organizational Profile and/or Proposal is as complete and clear as possible when submitted.

In Step 1 (Organizational Profile), organizations are asked to provide contact information for two references familiar with the Southern lead partner(s). References do not need to be from registered organizations. They may be from local LGBTQ2I organizations, regional organizations or donors who can speak to the credibility of the organization.

If your profile successfully meets the eligibility requirements, you will be invited to participate in Step 2 of the process, the submission of a Project Proposal.

ACTIF staff will assess the Organizational Profiles and make initial decisions with regards to eligibility. At the second stage, an independent Project Selection Committee, composed of international LGBTQ2I activists, will review proposals and decide which projects get funded. For more information about the Project Selection Committee and our participatory grant making model, visit Governance and Decision-Making.

An amount of $10,300,000 is available for disbursement to Canadian CSOs for projects to be implemented by January 31, 2027. There will be four calls for proposals in total.

For ACTIF’s second call for proposals, applicants will be informed about final selection of projects by email in October 2022. Once the grant agreement is signed, the project can begin. We anticipate first disbursements to be made in January 2023.

Yes. ACTIF staff will provide all applicants with the reason they have not been selected for Step 1. ACTIF staff will also share feedback from the Project Selection Committee regarding unsuccessful project proposals.  Unsuccessful organizations are encouraged to use the feedback provided by ACTIF to re-apply in future calls for proposals.

Yes, ACTIF aims to be as flexible as possible. Therefore, if an activity no longer serves the purpose of the project, it is possible to make adjustments. However, in order to respect the integrity of the participatory project selection process, major changes will need prior approval.  As each situation varies, partners must discuss adaptations with ACTIF in accordance with the grant agreement.

The call for proposals in 2022 is dubbed “build solidarity” as it is meant to help strengthen and support Canadian LGBTQ2I led organizations in strengthening their relationships with LGBTQ2I CSOs in ODA eligible countries. ACTIF realizes that some organization have more modest experience working on international projects, and this call has been designed to provide greater support through the application process.  However, it should be noted that part of the criteria is an assessment of capacity to undertake this work, both in terms of financial or organizational capacity, but also in terms of applying an approach that will not do harm or reproduce unequal power relationships.

ACTIF prioritizes applications from LGBTQ2I-led and/or focused organizations. Our target is that within each call, a majority of projects funded undertaken by both Canadian and international LGBTQ2I organizations.

ACTIF recognizes that there is no single model or definition of LGBTQ2I-led or focused. In particular, ACTIF recognizes that there are many intersections between human rights work, HIV/AIDS work, feminist organizing and other subsectors.  Representation of LGBTQ2I people in the organization, involvement of the organization in LGBTQ2I-focused coalitions and networks, such as Dignity Network Canada, their track record of working on LGBTQ2I issues and with LGBTQ2I communities, and the extent to which organizations have demonstrated capacity to deliver meaningful results with their partners on advancing LGBTQ2I rights internationally, will all be considered.