Canada Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development
Grants to Canadians and to civil society organizations in developing countries in themes that include agriculture, climate change, and natural resources
Principal Office: Canada
Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development (DFATD) is the country’s lead organization for international development assistance.
DFATD works in priority themes that include increased food security, and support for environmental sustainability – among others.
Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources
1 — Funding for International Development Projects. DFATD makes grants to organizations in Canada and around the world that work to reduce poverty in developing countries.
Proposals need to correspond to Canada’s priority themes for development assistance, one of which is food security. This refers to projects and initiatives in sustainable agriculture, agricultural research, and improved food assistance and nutrition.
Environmental sustainability is a cross-cutting theme in all of Canada’s international development assistance. Issues include reduced carbon emissions, water resources management, efforts to reduce land degradation, and others.
APPLICATION: DFATD operates through calls for proposals. Each call provides program/project objectives, eligibility criteria, submission deadline, and other pertinent details.
Link to Calls for Proposals
2 — Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. Some of Canada’s embassies and high commissions make grants for local projects implemented by NGOs, universities, and other civil society organizations. The grants are made through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.
APPLICATION: The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives publishes regular calls for proposals for eligible countries. The High Commission of Canada in Kenya is responsible for the CFLI Program in: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda.
Link to the CFLI
Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries
Most of Canada’s development assistance is directed to the following focus and partner countries, identified below in the geographical framework of the Terra Viva Grants Directory.
Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands: Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam
East Asia: Mongolia
South Asia: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Eurasia and Central Asia: Afghanistan
Eastern Europe and Russia: Ukraine
Middle East and North Africa: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Syria
Sub-Saharan Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Dem Rep Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania
Latin America and Caribbean: Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru (and Caribbean Program)
Notes: The Caribbean Program includes the following countries and territories: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
DFATD’s website is available in English and French.
Profiles of regional and country programs are provided in Where We Provide Assistance.
The Canadian Francophonie Scholarship Program is administered by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. Candidates are locally selected in each eligible country, with administration through Canada’s embassies and high commissions.
February 2021