The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives – Mexico (2025)

The Embassy of Canada in Mexico is pleased to launch its annual call for proposals for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).

Program description

The CFLI is a program designed to support small-scale, high-impact projects in developing countries, which align with 抖淫视频’s thematic priority areas for engagement. The program aims to support projects conceived and designed predominantly by local partners. In Mexico, projects are selected and approved by the Canadian embassy or high commission. The CFLI also serves to support positive bilateral relations between Canada and Mexico and their civil societies, by deepening contacts and supporting local endeavours.

The average CFLI contribution is $45,000.00 Canadian Dollars. Consult the for local currency equivalents. Please note that all contributions are made in Canadian dollars and then converted to the local currency.

How to apply

• The deadline for submission is May 23, 2025, at 23:59 (GMT+6/Mexico City Time). Applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered. Proposals should be submitted electronically to: fondocanadamexico@international.gc.ca
• Only those proposals using the designated application form and including the required budget document will be considered.
• For more information on the types of activities and costs that are eligible for CFLI funding, please refer to the list of CFLI approved activities and costs.
• Proposals must be completed in Spanish, English or French.
• Project proposals must explicitly answer all questions in the CFLI project application form, including the required gender-based analysis. The proposed project budget should summarize the proposed activities and associated costs.
• Applications will be assessed for approval on their merits by a selection committee.
• Due to the large number of applicants, only the successful candidates will be contacted.
• To obtain an application form, please download the CFLI Project Application for Funding Form (PDF 249.15 KB)
  • To download and open a PDF form, you need to have Adobe Reader 10 or higher installed.
  • Help: Opening PDFs on your computer.
  • Request the application form in Microsoft Word format by contacting the FCIL coordinator by e-mail at fondocanadamexico@international.gc.ca
• Project applications are kept on file at missions in accordance with 抖淫视频’s information management policies.
• All projects must be completed between the date of signature of the Contribution Agreement (around September 1st, 2025) and February 28th, 2026.

Organizations eligible to apply for CFLI funding

Eligible recipients include:

• Local non-governmental, community and not-for-profit organizations,
• International non-governmental organizations working on local development activities,
• Canadian non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations that are working on local development activities.

The majority of CFLI funding is to be directed toward local civil society organizations (including non-governmental organizations) and other institutions working at the local level. Other entities, such as international, intergovernmental, multilateral and regional organizations may be eligible for funding, provided they are working with local partners and on local projects that are consistent with the objectives of the CFLI. The CFLI is always looking to fund innovative projects that deliver measurable results.

Thematic priorities

Through advancing Canada and Mexico’s shared priorities, projects should aim to facilitate high-level engagement and expand strategic networks. Specific areas of interest include: collaboration on Mexico’s humanitarian approach to human mobility; enhancing security and human rights cooperation, including to combat gender-based violence; strengthening North American competitiveness and sustainable development by supporting Mexico’s nature-based solutions, climate adaptation, and mitigation efforts; and deepening engagement and collaboration with Indigenous peoples. This year, human rights and FIFA is also an area of interest for engagement.

All projects must align with at least 1 of the following thematic priorities:

• Peace and security, with a focus on irregular migration, economic security, organized crime, and the fentanyl crisis,
• Inclusive governance, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law,
• Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls,
• Environment and climate action,
• Growth that works for everyone,
• Human dignity, covering health, education, and nutrition.

Gender-based analysis

In 2017, Canada adopted its Feminist International Assistance Policy to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as the most effective way to reduce poverty and build a more inclusive, peaceful and prosperous world. In alignment with this policy, the CFLI project application process now requires a gender-based analysis (GBA). The purpose of this change is to enhance the gender equality outcomes of the CFLI program.

A GBA will require applicants to:

• consider how women, girls, men, and boys are affected differently by the problem their project is aiming to address, ensuring, at the same time, that the project does not cause harm,
• consult women and/or girls in the development of their project proposal,
• ensure that the views of those women and/or girls inform the project’s design.

Note that consultations can include, but are not limited to, speaking to women and girls from the local community, women and other individuals who work for civil society organizations that have worked in the local community and female and male decision and change makers who have knowledge of the local community.

Inadequate completion of a GBA may affect the consideration of your proposal.

Eligible costs

The following project costs are eligible for CFLI funding:

• accounting costs, administrative and overhead costs related to the project (overhead should not exceed 12% of total CFLI contribution),
• advocacy and lobbying related costs,
• civic education costs,
• conference and event expenditures,
• costs of services received by recipients,
• domestic travel expenses, using lowest fares possible but not exceeding full fare economy class,
• environmental assessment costs,
• facilities charges,
• hospitality costs, excluding alcoholic beverages,
• installation, maintenance, shipping and/or transportation costs, including fuel,
• computers and communication devices,
• lease or rental of vehicles,
• legal costs for recipients of projects,
• medical costs for recipients of projects,
• outreach, communication and information dissemination costs,
• publishing costs,
• radio and television broadcast fees,
• research-related costs,
• salary costs (should not exceed 12% of monthly salary cost per person),
• stipends,
• security costs,
• training and capacity building expenditures,
• translation and interpretation fees,
• vehicle and equipment operation, installation and/or maintenance,
• website development and related costs.

The following costs are not eligible for CFLI funding:

• Equipment rental or purchase (computers, communication devices, camera, microphones, etc.) Needs a strong justification and evidence that it will be essential for the project’s successful completion.
• alcoholic beverages,
• nuclear technologies and facilities,
• assistance to military or paramilitary organizations,
• gifts,
• luxury goods,
• direct fiscal support to a government,
• seed funding and/or microfinance,
• core funding or recurrent costs of an organization,
• expenses incurred prior to the signing of the contribution agreement, or after it expires.