ARCHIVED – Expression of interest: Funding guidelines for supporting Francophone minority communities engaging in refugee sponsorship
Stage 1 application deadline: August 8, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. (EDT)
Stage 2 application deadline: February 11 2025, at 5:00 p.m. (EST) New
On this page
- Foreword
- Funding periods and instrument
- Project details
- Funding requirements
- Assessment criteria and guidance
- Considerations
- Submission process and instructions
- Frequently asked questions
- Communication with IRCC
- Annex A: IRCC CORE principles
Foreword
The Official Languages Action Plan 2023-2028: Protection-Promotion-Collaboration reaffirms the Government’s commitment to the protection and promotion of Canada’s two official languages, the preservation of French, and the vitality of official language minority communities.
In 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released the new Policy on Francophone Immigration. The Policy promotes the vitality and economic development of Francophone minority communities. It paves the way for tangible, ambitious and innovative actions in the short-, medium- and long- term that will enable process towards restoring and increasing the demographic weight of these communities. The Policy also reinforces the Francophone Integration Pathway, a coordinated and integrated suite of French-Language settlement and resettlement services offered in Francophone minority communities and aimed at facilitating reception, support, economic and socio-cultural integration, as well as the creation of lasting ties between newcomers and Francophone minority communities.
To support IRCC’s commitment to reinforce vitality and economic development of Francophone minority communities, the Department is launching an expression of interest (EOI) to fund small-scale projects that will support Francophone minority communities to engage in the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program (PSR) and the Blended Visa Office-Referred Program (BVOR).
The PSR and BVOR programs are part of the Department’s suite of humanitarian programming that provides protection to refugees in Canada. While the programs have grown and evolved over time, the role and engagement of sponsors remain at their core. In 2023, over 27,000 sponsored refugees resettled in communities across Canada through the PSR and BVOR programs.
Francophone minority communities have expressed interest in further participating in refugee sponsorship, which is why the Department is launching this EOI to support a Francophone-led approach to enable targeted actions to build and expand the refugee sponsor base of Francophone minority communities, as well as reinforce their knowledge and capacity to better engage in the resettlement of sponsored refugees.
Through this EOI, IRCC will fund Francophone organizations to design and deliver project(s) that will support Francophone individuals and organizations in select Francophone minority communities to gain information about and increase their interest in participating in refugee sponsorship. Lessons learned and the best practices generated through these projects can then be shared to support other Francophone minority communities.
Through this EOI process, IRCC will fund project(s) through the Terms and Conditions of the Resettlement Assistance Program.
About the Resettlement Assistance Program
Under the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP), the Government of Canada helps government-assisted refugees (GARs) and other eligible clients when they first arrive in Canada by providing direct financial support, and funding the provision of immediate and essential services. RAP also supports the provision of indirect services that support PSRs and BVORs, including activities to share information and support the training needs of the refugee sponsorship community, to build its capacity to support privately sponsored refugees in Canada.
The RAP is a funding program operating in all provinces and territories outside of Quebec.
Funding periods and instrument
Submission timeline
Stage 2 New
The deadline for submissions for Stage 2 (full proposal) is February 11, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EST in the Grants and Contributions System (GCS).
Stage 1
The deadline for submissions for Stage 1 (letter of interest) was August 8, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. EDT in the Grants and Contributions System (GCS).
If you’re successful in Stage 1, we’ll send you more information on the process in November 2024.
Process timeline
Projects for this EOI are expected to start in spring 2025 with an end date of no later than March 31, 2028.
Funding amount
The chosen projects will be funded through the RAP program’s Official Languages Action Plan 2023-2028: Protection-Promotion-Collaboration funding envelope, with funding administered by IRCC.
While there is no set funding amount per project, total funding available for this process is $1,320,000 over 3 fiscal years. Here is a breakdown of the funding available per year: Updated
- 2025–2026: $440,000
- 2026–2027: $440,000
- 2027–2028: $440,000
This is a one-time funding opportunity and project extensions will not be considered. All project activities must end by March 31, 2028.
Funding instrument
Funding for projects will be provided through a Contribution Agreement with the leading recipient organization, under the RAP. A contribution is a transfer payment that is subject to the conditions outlined in a funding agreement. Eligible costs will be reimbursed based on the presentation of acceptable claims and progress reports, in accordance with the terms of the Contribution Agreement.
These funding guidelines are a tool to help applicants develop their letter of interest and project proposal. All applicants are responsible for reading the funding guidelines in full.
This EOI is seeking letters of interest for projects to provide indirect services that support PSR and BVOR refugees resettling in Canada (for example, provision of information, resources and training to increase capacity of individuals and organizations sponsoring refugees in their communities). The EOI is not intended to support projects involving the direct provision of RAP services, which are funded through a separate process. Applications that include direct services to refugees will not be considered.
For more information on indirect services, refer to the RAP Terms and Conditions and Logic model.
Project details
Overview
IRCC will fund projects that aim to
- increase awareness of the PSR and/or BVOR programs in Francophone minority communities outside of Quebec
- build the capacity of Francophone refugee sponsors, sponsors by addressing their information and other needs
Projects will seek to expand the refugee sponsor base in Francophone minority communities, including by supporting both new and existing sponsors in these communities.
Objectives
Through this EOI, IRCC seeks to fund project(s) to achieve the overall objective of supporting refugee sponsorship in Francophone minority communities outside of Quebec by:
- Increasing the awareness of Francophone individuals and/or organizations of the PSR program and the BVOR program in Francophone minority communities
- Building and reinforcing Francophone refugee sponsors’ knowledge about how to effectively engage in the PSR and BVOR programs
- Encouraging mentorship between experienced sponsors and new Francophone sponsors
- Contributing to building a community of practice around refugee sponsorship in Francophone minority communities
Immediate outcomes
- Francophone individuals and/or organizations in Francophone minority communities are aware of the PSR and BVOR programs and understand how they can get involved
- Interested and current Francophone sponsors in Francophone minority communities are aware of existing resources and supports related to refugee sponsorship and know how to access them
- Interested and current sponsors in Francophone minority communities are able to connect with others (experienced or not) to provide or receive individualized or group support at the local, regional and/or national level
Intermediate outcome
- Increased interest in refugee sponsorship in Francophone minority communities
Long term outcomes
- Increased number of Francophone refugee sponsors in Francophone minority communities in both the PSR and the BVOR programs
- Continued support of IRCC’s Francophone Immigration Policy objectives
Funded project activities
IRCC will be seeking projects for the following activities to support Francophone minority communities engaging in refugee sponsorship:
- Design and implement an outreach strategy to increase awareness of the PSR and/or BVOR programs among individuals and/or organizations in Francophone minority communities
- The Department will consider project proposals that focus on the PSR program and/or the BVOR program.
- Design and implement a recruitment strategy to identify and support Francophone individuals and /organizations in Francophone minority communities to become refugee sponsors (for example, Sponsorship Agreement Holders or their Constituent Groups, Community Sponsors, or Groups of Five) under the PSR and/or BVOR program
- Support Francophone refugee sponsors to be aware of/access to existing resources and support services based on their capacity, interests and needs
- Facilitate and support formal and/or informal connections between experienced, new and/or potential refugee sponsors to enable reflection, and the exchange of knowledge and experience.
Mandatory project requirements
Projects targeting Francophones in Francophone minority communities outside of Quebec
Projects must target Francophone individuals and/or organizations in Francophone minority communities outside of Quebec to encourage and support them to participate in refugee sponsorship under the PSR and/or BVOR programs. Projects must be informed by a clear understanding of the needs of project participants and the delivery mode of project activities is to be adapted to the linguistic minority context.
Project activities must take place in communities outside of Quebec where settlement services relevant to refugees exist and are available. These services include, but are not limited to, those falling under the Francophone Integration Pathway as defined in the Policy on Francophone Immigration.
Letters of interest must indicate in which community(ies) the proposed project will take place.
Projects can take place in more than one community but should remain regional in scope. Under the RAP, IRCC regions are defined as:
- British Columbia/Yukon (BCY) - British Columbia, Yukon
- Prairies and Northern Territories (PNT) - Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories and Nunavut
- Ontario Region (ON) - Ontario
- Eastern Region (EST) - Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island
National projects (projects taking place in more than one IRCC region) will not be considered under this EOI.
For the purpose of the EOI, projects taking place in Quebec will not be considered.
Projects supporting the principle of By and For Francophones
Projects must be led by a Francophone organization, supporting the principle of “By and For” Francophones, which is the principle of including communities in the decision-making and/or delivery of initiatives. This can be achieved in different ways, but the core is recognizing the participation and engagement of those most impacted by the initiative.
As part of this approach, applicants will need to demonstrate how they meet the following definition of a Francophone organization in their application:
"An organization whose mandate, or part of it, includes serving the interest of the Francophone community in a given region and the organization serves more than 50% of its clients or target groups in French."
Projects leveraging knowledge of refugee sponsorship
The project must also be informed by some baseline knowledge of the PSR and/or BVOR programs. Applications will outline how the project meets this requirement, which can be demonstrated in a number of ways, including:
- Direct experience in refugee sponsorship as refugee sponsors (for example, Sponsorship Agreement Holders and their Constituent Groups, Groups of 5, or Community Sponsors) under the PSR and/or BVOR programs;
- Provision of information, training and/or support services on the PSR and/or BVOR programs;
- Provision of direct support services to refugees, including sponsored refugees;
- Provision of indirect support services to refugee sponsors and refugees; and/or
- Involvement of partners/organizations who have past or current experience with either the PSR and/or BVOR programs, including, but not limited to, resettlement and settlement organizations, community organizations, municipal and/or provincial/territorial governments, ethno-cultural associations and religious groups. Such an approach would support Francophone and other organizations with a role in refugee resettlement to form strategic partnerships to deliver project activities.
Funding requirements
Refer to the Grants and Contributions in Support of Resettlement Assistance Program Terms and Conditions for additional details on client and recipient eligibility.
Eligible recipients
Organizations that apply to this EOI must be located in Canada, outside of Quebec.
Under the RAP, eligible funding recipients include:
- not for profit organizations and associations, including non-governmental organizations, community groups and umbrella organizations
- intergovernmental and international organizations
- businesses
- Canadian educational institutions (including boards, districts and divisions)
- provincial, territorial or municipal governments
- individual Canadian citizens (such as consultants, facilitators)
Assessment criteria and guidance
Assessment process
Under this EOI, project proposals will be assessed twice through two distinct assessment processes:
Stage 1: Letter of interest assessment
Through their letter of interest, applicants will provide an overview of their proposed project. Applicants will be using the Grants and Contributions (GCS) Partner Portal to prepare their letter of interest (detailed instructions provided in Submission process and instructions). Applicants will provide basic information about their proposed project, including a high-level budget (funding request per fiscal year), using drop-down menus or free-text fields. No additional documentation will be required at this stage.
Letters of interest will be screened to assess the eligibility of the applicant and proposed project and ensure that the proposed project meets the mandatory project requirements of this EOI. The following criteria will be used to evaluate letters of interest submitted under the EOI:
- project’s alignment with the EOI’s expected immediate outcomes
- project meets the mandatory project requirements
- project’s high-level budget falls within the funding envelope for the EOI
Note that a detailed budget is not required at the letter of interest stage.
Stage 2: Full project proposals assessment
Applicants whose letter of interest submissions pass the initial screening stage will be invited to submit a full project proposal that will require applicants to provide more detailed information on proposed projects (further details provided in Submission process and instructions).
Core principles
All full project proposals will be assessed individually against our CORE principles, and against Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) criteria integrated into projects in order to advance Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) outcomes for diverse populations.
Additional information about IRCC’s CORE principles and GBA Plus and EDI criteria are included below, to assist applicants in developing and writing their application(s).
Funding decisions will be based on the assessment score and departmental considerations. Below are the CORE detailed criteria that will be used to assess all project proposals in Stage 2:
- Client-centred
- Applicants demonstrate that they have the capacity, experience, contextual knowledge and appropriate partners to carry out the project.
- The strategy proposed to engage target project participants is sufficient and appropriate.
- Project activities are designed to meet the needs and capacities of project participants.
- Outcomes-driven
- The proposal clearly demonstrates how the organization will achieve the project.
- Project activities are clear and are relevant to the outcomes of the project.
- The project timelines are clearly defined, reasonable and achievable.
- Each project outcome is measurable and the organization has a plan in place to ensure that they achieve these outcome(s).
- Project outcomes align with the expected outcomes identified under the EOI.
- Responsive to need
- The need for the project is clear.
- Project has processes in place to identify emerging needs and circumstances and adapt as appropriate.
- Projects include appropriate partners in the design, development and implementation of the project to be responsive to needs.
- Effective use of resources
- Proposed budget is balanced. All costs and revenues related to the project have been itemized and explained.
- Project costs are in line with average costs for similar activities.
- The applicant demonstrates capacity to exercise the proper and responsible use of funds related to both administration and project delivery.
- Project demonstrates value for money.
IRCC reserves the right to request any additional information relevant to assessing a project proposal.
In addition to the CORE principles project score, all proposals will receive a separate Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) score for how the design of the project incorporates GBA Plus. Applicants will be guided through questions in GCS to indicate if and how their project incorporates GBA Plus in its design and/or delivery. More details will be provided to successful applicants for Stage 2.
Both the CORE and EDI scores will be used to arrive at funding decisions. Additionally, IRCC will collect EDI organizational capacity data as part of Stage 2. Applicants will provide data through a series of self-declaration questions directly in GCS. This data will not be scored. IRCC will use collected data to create an information baseline of the resettlement sector’s diverse representation and EDI capacity, to contribute toward fostering continuous improvement of IRCC programs and services and help advance equity priorities across the sector.
Considerations
IRCC is under no obligation to fund any application submitted through this EOI or to fund the entire scope or duration of a proposed project. If a project is selected for possible funding, IRCC will notify the applicant in writing that the application has been approved in principle. Applicants must not assume that their application has been approved in principle, until notified by IRCC.
Proposed project budgets should be based on a realistic evaluation of expenses required to deliver proposed activities. All applicants should refer to IRCC’s Budget submission guidance for detailed information on eligible and ineligible items. The amount of funding and scope of activities that will be supported by IRCC will be contingent on the satisfactory negotiation of a Contribution Agreement.
Any costs incurred prior to the signing of the Contribution Agreement by IRCC or prior to IRCC’s approved project start date, or any costs related to the preparation of an application, will not be reimbursed.
Submission process and instructions
What is an expression of interest (EOI) process?
This EOI process is being used to address emerging program priorities and/or needs as outlined in the funding guidelines, using a specific source of funds. The EOI process is intended to minimize the time and effort required by applicants to submit an application by requesting preliminary project information via a letter of interest.
Only applicants whose submissions pass an initial screening stage (Stage 1: Letter of interest) will be invited to submit a full project proposal in Stage 2. The Stage 2 full project proposal will describe in detail the proposed activities, timelines, detailed costs, project feasibility, partnerships, evaluation methods and how the project respond to communities’ needs to engage in community sponsorship.
Instructions on submitting a letter of interest for Stage 1
To assist you as you write your letter of interest application, you should first review the following reference materials:
General
- Budget submission guidance - required budget information and list of eligible and ineligible items
- Government of Canada’s approach to Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus)
Technical
- Tutorials – General instructions on how to complete and submit a letter of interest are available via the Grants and Contributions Systems (GCS) Partner Portal Login. Within the Partner Portal there is a link to a tutorial on every screen. Instructions on how to create an account are further below.
Program-specific (RAP)
- Terms and Conditions - The requirements and standards that underpin all our Resettlement Assistance Program grants and contribution agreements.
- Logic Model – The logic model maps out the program’s services and outcomes.
Once you have read through the material and understood these funding guidelines, you are ready to submit your LOI. The application process involves using the Grants and Contributions (GCS) Partner Portal.
To submit a letter of interest
- Create a GCS Account and obtain your GCS Organization ID
A Grants and Contributions System (GCS) Organization ID (for example, 1-12A345) is required for the LOI to be considered completed.
If you do not yet have a GCS Organization ID, click on the “Create a new account” option in the GCS Partner Portal.
- Attend a Stage 1 applicant webinar
IRCC will be hosting information webinars in both official languages with potential applicants to answer questions related to this EOI process and the associated funding guidelines.
Register for the webinar you want to attend:
- July 9, 1:30 to 2:45 pm EDT (French)
- July 11, 1:30 to 2:45 pm EDT (English)
- July 23, 1:30 to 2:45 pm EDT (French)
- July 25, 1:30 to 2:45 pm EDT (English)
- Complete your letter of interest (LOI)
To submit your LOI:
- Sign in to Grants and Contributions Systems (GCS).
- Select “Supporting Francophone Minority Communities Engaging in Refugee Sponsorship EOI” link and complete your LOI.
- Fill all required fields.
- Click the “Submit” button to send your LOI to the Department.
Upon submission you will no longer be able to resubmit or modify your LOI for this process. IRCC will send you an automatic notification that your letter of interest has been received.
Once your LOI is submitted, you have completed Stage 1 of the EOI process.
The GCS system will be accepting Stage 1 submissions as of 10:00 am EDT June 27, 2024 until 5:00 pm EDT on August 8, 2024.
Instructions on submitting a full proposal for Stage 2
If you're successful in Stage 1, we’ll let you know about next steps for this EOI process in November 2024.
Full proposals must be submitted via the Grants and Contributions System (GCS) Partner Portal. Hard copy or emailed applications are not accepted. Only applicants who have successfully passed Stage 1 will have access to the application form in GCS for Stage 2.
Applicant type
You must attach certain mandatory documents to your application. Different mandatory documents are required based on your applicant type.
Applicant type: Public institutions (such as a school board) and any non-federal governments
- Letter of support from each financial partner that is contributing funds toward the proposed project (if applicable). No other letters of support are required.
Applicant type: Other organizations (including non-profits)
- Most recent Annual Report
- Full financial statements including comparative information for the last two fiscal years (audited preferred). If your organization is relatively new and lacks full financial statements for two full fiscal years, provide the information for the period of time the organization has been in existence.
- Names of persons on Board of Directors
- Names of any former public servants associated with this application, if applicable
- At least one of the following: Constitution, By-laws, Letter of Incorporation or similar instrument of governance
- Letter of support from each financial partner that is contributing funds toward the proposed project (if applicable). No other letters of support are required.
Applicant type: Individuals
- Curriculum vitae
- Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status
- Letter of support from each financial partner that is contributing funds toward the project. No other letters of support are required.
How to submit a full proposal in Stage 2
- Review the application form in GCS
In your Stage 2 invitation you will be directed to return to the GCS Partner Portal. Log into your GCS account, and follow instructions for creating a full application under the Supporting Francophone Minority Communities Engaging in Refugee Sponsorship EOI process. Review the application form in advance of the upcoming webinar.
- Attend a Stage 2 applicant webinar
IRCC will be hosting webinars in both official languages with successful Stage 1 applicants to answer questions about the funding process. The time and date of the webinars will be communicated in the Stage 2 invitation.
- Submit full funding application
To submit your full application:
- Complete and submit your application in the GCS Partner Portal.
- Each section of the online application must be complete before you can submit.
- Click the “Submit” button to send your application to the Department.
- Upon submission you will no longer be able to resubmit or modify your full application for this process.
- IRCC will send you an automatic notification that your application has been received.
Frequently asked questions
General
How frequent are expressions of interests? Will there be another one next year?
Funding processes such as EOIs are launched as-needed to meet emerging needs. We don’t anticipate that this EOI will be relaunched next year. For further information about future funding opportunities or announcements of our funding processes, visit our funding page.
Do we have to apply for a 3-year project or can we apply for a project with a shorter duration?
We’re seeking applications for projects that will take place during the funding period (2025–2026 to 2027–2028). But you may submit project proposals for any duration, up to 3 years.
What is a Francophone organization?
Under the expression of interest, a Francophone organization is defined as an organization whose mandate, or part of it, includes serving the interests of the Francophone community in a given region. The organization serves more than 50% of its clients or target groups in French.
What is the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program (PSR)?
The PSR is part of Canada’s refugee resettlement program. Under the PSR, Canadian citizens and permanent residents can engage in the resettlement of refugees from abroad. Privately sponsored refugees are identified by sponsors, often on the basis of family or cultural connections of other recently arrived refugees. Private refugee sponsors provide settlement, income, social and emotional support to sponsored refugees for a year (12 months).
What is the Blended Visa Office-Referred Program (BVOR)?
The BVOR is part of Canada’s refugee resettlement program. This program gives Canadians and permanent residents a chance to play a key role in helping refugees in need of resettlement. Under the BVOR program, refugees are identified for resettlement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or another referral organization and matched to private sponsors in Canada. Private sponsors and the federal government each provide income support for six months. Also, sponsors provide emotional and social supports to sponsored refugees for a year (12 months).
How many projects will be funded? Is there a specific number of letters of interest that will move to Stage 2?
We’ll select the projects of the highest quality with the most potential to support Francophone minority communities engaging in refugee sponsorship.
Project proposals will be assessed through two distinct stages. Refer to these funding guidelines to get more information on the assessment criteria that will be used in stages 1 and 2.
There is no pre-determined number of letters of interest that will move to Stage 2.
Project and applicant eligibility
How can we ensure that proposed activities are eligible under the expression of interest?
Refer to these funding guidelines to get information on the funded activities under the expression of interest process.
You can also refer to the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) Terms and Conditions to get more information on eligible services and expenditures under the contribution agreements of the RAP.
How do we know if we’re eligible to apply?
To apply to the expression of interest funding process, you must be eligible for funding under the RAP and be a Francophone organization.
Refer to the funding guidelines to get information on eligibility.
Partnerships
Do you expect applicants to establish partnerships with other organizations to design and deliver a proposed project?
In general, we value formal and informal partnerships between organizations, including cross-sectoral partnerships, in order to bring together existing expertise and resources and achieve the most optimal project outcomes.
However, establishing partnerships with another organization to design or deliver any of the proposed activities is not a requirement under the expression of interest.
Can we put in a joint application with another organization?
No, applications must be submitted by only one organization in the Grants and Contributions System (GCS). However, proposed projects can be designed and delivered by more than one organization through formal and informal partnerships.
Are all partnerships associated with project design and delivery required to be in place before we submit our application?
It isn’t necessary to have all partnerships in place before you apply if you indicate who you will be partnering with and how. Letters of support can be included if and when applicable as part of the Stage 2 application process.
Do you support non-profit/for-profit partnerships?
Yes, as long as the for-profit partner is not financially benefiting from the services being offered. See budget submission guidance for details.
Budget/financial
If someone decides to provide financial support to the project after it has started, what should we do?
If you obtain a new financial supporter after your project has started, you must notify your IRCC officer.
Are in-kind contributions considered contributions from financial partners?
Yes. Letters of support from in-kind partners are recommended at Stage 2.
Do you have a budget template or samples?
No, we don’t provide samples of a completed budget. Budgets are expected to be balanced and reasonable. See budget submission guidance for details.
How much capital and administrative costs can be included in our proposal?
See budget submission guidance.
Can we seek co-funding with the provincial government or other funders?
Yes, it’s possible to seek co-funding. We encourage applicants to diversify their sources of funding.
If you haven’t finalized an agreement with a potential funder, you can include information about the project proposal(s) (such as amount, length of time) and indicate that you’re awaiting a funding decision.
Can we provide unaudited financial statements for the organization, as opposed to audited?
Yes, you can provide unaudited financial statements, but we prefer audited statements.
Documents
Is there a limit to the number of supporting (not mandatory) documents we can submit?
We don’t require supporting documents for Stage 1 of the expression of interest (letter of interest).
For Stage 2, you can submit as many supporting documents as you want. Note that the upload file size limit is 10 MB per document.
Upload all documents well in advance of submitting your project proposal.
We’ve already submitted the mandatory documents during previous intake processes. Are we required to submit them again?
Yes, you must attach the mandatory documents to every proposal that you submit to ensure that we’re able to review the most recent information and as part of each application package. Documents such as your annual report, financial statements and names of those on your board of directors could have changed since you last submitted a proposal.
Grants and Contributions System
The Outcomes in the GCS Partner Portal don’t match the Outcomes in the funding guidelines. What should we do?
The immediate and intermediate outcomes listed in the two drop-down menus in the Project Overview section (step 3, section 1) in GCS are some of the RAP immediate and intermediate outcomes.
Ensure you review the funding guidelines. As part of the Stage 1 application process, select in GCS the outcomes that closely match the list of Immediate, Intermediate, and Long Term outcomes found in the funding guidelines. You can select as many outcomes as you need.
Stage 2
The Outcomes in Section 3 in the GCS Partner Portal don’t match the Outcomes in the funding guidelines. What should we do?
In Section 2 of your application, choose “Indirect Services – Capacity Building” for each proposed project activity. There’s only one outcome available in Section 3: “Settlement sector improves capacity to provide coordinated and effective settlement support to newcomers, including equity deserving groups.”
In the first text box in Section 3, we ask you to describe how the activity selected in Section 2 will support the achievement of the selected outcome. You should use the immediate and intermediate outcomes listed in the funding guidelines for your response.
In the second text box in Section 3, we ask you to describe how you’ll track the achievement of the selected outcome. Propose a performance assessment approach that aligns with the immediate and intermediate outcomes listed in the funding guidelines.
Due to the character limit in GCS, I can’t update my proposed project information in the required GCS field(s). May I upload a separate document in GCS with all the information I would like to add for each field?
No, all the information about your proposed project must be entered in the dedicated fields in GCS. Only information submitted through the GCS template will be read and assessed by IRCC. Upload only required mandatory documentation to support your application.
I'm not sure where my proposed project activity will take place? What should I do?
When completing your Stage 2 application, we expect you to clearly indicate in which community or communities a proposed project activity will take place. Specify the exact location of the activity only if it will be delivered in person.
Communication with IRCC
Should you have questions or require further clarification about this funding process, contact IRCC at ircc.intake-reception.ircc@cic.gc.ca. The inbox cannot provide guidance on proposal content.
For questions relating to GCS, contact GCS-SSC@cic.gc.ca.
Annex A: IRCC CORE principles
All of IRCC programming funded under the Resettlement Assistance Program follow the CORE principles. CORE refers to client-centered, outcomes-driven, responsive to need and effective use of resources. Applicants for funding are expected to incorporate these principles in the design, implementation and evaluation of their proposed project(s), and to articulate how they have done so in their application.
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Text version: CORE principles
Client-centered
Programming that is tailored to meet specific client`s profiles. This includes ensuring Francophone services for those who want to live and work in French, and a focus on clients who are vulnerable, marginalized or face barriers.
Outcomes-driven
Programming that is driven by evidence, ensuring the best outcomes, both short and long term, for the client.
Responsive to need
Programming that meets the needs of not only the client, but of society itself, to best integrate newcomers and achieve the shared vision for Settlement and Integration.
Effective use of resources
Programming that is effective and efficient, utilizing partnerships, leveraging shared resources, and developing untapped community assets such as volunteers and local businesses.
Client-centered
Client-centered programming meets client needs by asking and listening to newcomers, to understand: their circumstances; their needs; their assets; what services are the most useful to them; and, how, when and in what language these services should be provided. Where feasible, services should be accessible at the time and location most effective for the client, including services delivered remotely. Programming should address barriers that might affect access to services, which can vary by client group. Service provision should also take into account the government-wide commitment to supporting the vitality of Francophone minority communities and official languages. This should include providing services in the official language of the clients’ choice wherever possible, ensuring full awareness of, and referrals to, Francophone organizations.
Outcomes driven
Outcomes-driven programming is based on evidence and data. It is designed to provide the best outcomes for clients from the beginning to the end of their resettlement or settlement journey. It means being able to track both project outputs and measure client outcomes to recognize success.
Outputs vs. outcomes
Outputs are the result of activities you are proposing to undertake (for example, number of community connections services rendered, number of clients served).
Outcomes are what changed as a result of the delivered outputs (for the client, the community, employers, etc.) (for example, percentage of community connections clients who indicate that they increased their social networks as a result of participation in IRCC-funded services).
For additional information refer to the Outcomes Guidance.
Responsive to need
Resettlement programming seeks to meet the needs of as many eligible clients in a community as possible. It also helps host communities strengthen their capacity to welcome and retain newcomers. This includes addressing systemic barriers that hinder the integration of newcomers (including their opportunity to become Canadian citizens), and increasing involvement of specific sectors of the community to support multi-sector involvement in newcomer integration strategies for your geographic area.
It also encourages programming that creates meaningful dialogues and connections between newcomers and Canadian citizens, including Indigenous peoples, recognizing that cross-community interactions are an important part of the settlement and integration process for newcomers and their receiving communities. This includes addressing common barriers to citizenship or experiences of exclusion affecting different minority groups, and to identify what members of each community might do to support each other’s inclusion.
There should be a clear need for the project, supported by evidence and data. Project goals should be feasible, with clear links to one or more Settlement services, the Resettlement Assistance Program, or the other important streams under this funding process. Programming should be adaptable to changing needs and circumstances of newcomers and their host community.
Effective use of resources
There are finite resources, and an ever-growing need for Settlement and Resettlement Assistance Program services. This means that programming must be as effective and efficient as possible.
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