Details on transfer payment programs: 2022-23 Departmental Results Report, Women and Gender Equality Canada

Ongoing

Grants and Contributions

Appropriation Annually through Estimates

2021-22

The Department's interventions facilitate the advancement of gender equality

Community Action and Innovation

The Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Program takes action under the Federal GBV Strategy "It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence". The GBV Program is population-specific, with the objective of supporting organizations working in the GBV sector to develop and implement promising practices in order to address gaps in supports for Indigenous and underserved groups of survivors in Canada.

Funding is provided to eligible organizations in support of projects at the local, regional and national levels, and is available for time-specific projects that address gaps in supports for specific groups of survivors, including Indigenous women and their communities, and other underserved populations, such as: racialized women; 2SLGBTQI+ persons; non-status/refugee/immigrant women; women living in northern, rural and remote communities; and women living with a disability.

In 2019, as part of the Government of Canada's National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking (National Strategy), $10 million over 5 years, and $2 million ongoing was announced for the Department for Women and Gender Equality to support the development, testing and implementation of innovative and empowering promising practices to support at-risk populations to reduce their risk to being trafficked, as well as trauma-informed supports for victims and survivors of human trafficking. This initiative is using the established Terms and Conditions of the Gender-Based Violence Program while aligning under the Performance Measurement, Reporting, and Governance structure of the National Strategy.

The program does not have repayable contributions.

Implementation of projects is still under way. Results at the short and medium term are presented for the year 2022-23. The following is a description of the work being done at this stage.

WAGE continued to support 182 projects, providing them a total of $31.6 million in 2022-23. Funding for this Program is helping service providers, organizations, governments, and others working to prevent GBV to collaborate more, and to support survivors and their families. Based on the content of 65 progress reports included in the 2022-23 analysis, more than 550 partnerships have been created, nurtured, or strengthened, facilitating the development of training on cultural safety and trauma informed service delivery, transformation care for 2SLGBTQI+ survivors of GBV, and piloting new supports the help survivors of GBV navigate the legal system.

The following points highlight projects supported in 2022-23, that worked to develop and implement promising practices, and that will ultimately contribute to strengthening the GBV sector:

• WAGE funded the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women to develop and evaluate a “Community of Care” approach. The approach will be designed to improve supports to African Nova Scotian and Indigenous women survivors of GBV.
• WAGE funded Tahiuqtiit Woman’s Society (TWS), in Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories to conduct a needs assessment, engage individuals with lived experience, develop and implement Inuit-centred policies and practices for women’s shelters, and disseminate learnings to other women’s shelters.

Human Trafficking Initiative

Through the Human Trafficking Strategy, and under its Human Trafficking Initiative, WAGE continues to deliver funding to organizations to develop and implement promising practices to enhance empowerment supports for at-risk populations and survivors of human trafficking. By 2022-23, almost $14 million had been invested in 42 projects. These projects are designed to develop, deliver, and test innovative prevention programs for at-risk populations, including women and girls, Indigenous women and girls, 2SLGBTQI+ people, children and youth, as well as short-term continuum of care interventions to support victims and survivors while they transition out of human trafficking, reintegrate into their communities, and begin their healing and recovery process. Examples of key work supported include development and implementation of promising practices that focus on trauma-informed prevention training, peer support interventions models and education programs. Many underserved populations benefit from supported projects, including Indigenous people and youth.

Results Framework Indicators

Expected Result 1: Service providers access promising practices

Performance Indicator 1.1: % of organizations that applied for funding through the GBV Funding Program but were not funded 0%

Performance Indicator 1.2: Annual expenditures to organizations funded through the GBV Funding Program $31,597,186

Performance Indicator 1.3: # of organizations that received funding through the GBV Funding Program 140

Performance Indicator 1.4: # of targeted programs, resources or supports delivered by funded organizations through the GBV Funding Program 272

Performance Indicator 1.5: # of service providers reached by funded activities 556

Performance Indicator 1.6: # of service providers unable to access promising practices NA

Expected Result 2: Service providers use/apply promising practices in their policy and programming work. NA

Performance Indicator 2.1: % of service providers reporting that they apply (use) or intend to apply (use) the promising practices products in their work or lives NA

N/A

The Mid-term Evaluation of Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence was a requirement in the 2017 TB Submission. The evaluation was launched in the 2020-21 fiscal year and covered the years 2017-18 to 2020-21. The evaluation was led by WAGE and supported by all Strategy partners: DND, IRCC, PHAC, PS, and RCMP.

The evaluation timeline was impacted in two ways:

• The COVID-19 pandemic forced timelines to be extended due to the availability of key stakeholders to participate in interviews and focus groups.
• Staffing constraints in the Audit and Evaluation Unit caused the evaluation to be delayed at several points.

The mid-term evaluation was completed in Q1 of 2023-24 and will be reported upon in that year’s Departmental Results Report. As a result, the Deputy Minister was not able to approve the evaluation in fiscal year 2022- but subsequently approved it in on April 5, 2023.

The Department for Women and Gender Equality continued to support organizations working in the GBV sector in developing tools and supports to better connect and engage recipients. Regional offices also worked to connect and support organizations’ capacity building in various ways, such as facilitating partnerships and knowledge sharing.

Ongoing

Grants and Contributions

Appropriation annually through Estimates

2021-22

The Department's interventions facilitate the advancement of gender equality

Community Action and Innovation

The purpose of the Women's Program is to advance equality for women in Canada by working to address or remove systemic barriers to their progress and advancement. The program provides grant and contribution funding to Canadian organizations to support actions that will lead to equality across Canada. Funded projects occur at the national, regional, and local levels and help to create the conditions for women's success in Canada.

The Program: facilitates collaboration and networking; develops partnerships to address horizontal issues impacting women and girls; shares knowledge; and assists organizations working to advance women's equality to gain access to expertise, resources, and tools.

The Program does not have repayable contributions.

In 2022–23, the Women’s Program worked to advance the economic, social and democratic life for women in Canada by investing a total of more than $32 million in 33 new projects at the local, regional and national levels.

Funded Projects Overview

Over the reporting period, 55 final reports were submitted and analyzed. These included:

• Priority 1 - Encouraging women’s leadership and democratic participation: 12 projects
• Priority 2 - Increasing women’s economic security and prosperity: 6 projects
• Priority 3 - Ending violence against women: 29 projects.
• Other: 8 projects aiming at building the capacity of women’s and equality-seeking organizations to advance gender equality.

Women’s Program Analysis of Projects Completed in 2022-23

The 55 completed projects that were included in the 2022-23 analysis resulted in more than 548 resources and tools to be created and shared (note that resources and tools include toolkits, models, guides, strategies, and communication tools). These completed projects also established or nurtured more than 864 partnerships and collaborations with stakeholders.

Priority 1: Encouraging women’s leadership and democratic participation

Based on final reports submitted in 2022-23, the six projects related to encouraging leadership and democratic participation created and disseminated more than 103 different tools or resources to increase awareness of what services and supports were available and how to access them. As a result of these projects, an estimated 8,295 individuals gained access to services and supports that resulted in better opportunities in education, employment, health, and social services. Furthermore, WAGE provided financial support to 87 projects in this priority area and reached an estimated 69,000 individuals.

Priority 2: Increasing women’s economic security and prosperity

Based on final reports submitted in 2022-23, the 12 projects related to increasing women’s economic security and prosperity developed and disseminated 144 tools and resources, including things like toolkits, guides, and models, designed to support or increase the economic security and prosperity of women. As a result, an estimated 8,253 people gained skills and knowledge to create more equitable conditions for women in various spheres. Furthermore, WAGE provided financial support to 134 projects in this priority area and reached an estimated 107,000 individuals.

Priority 3: Ending violence against women

Based on final reports submitted in 2022-23, the 29 projects related to increasing women’s economic security and prosperity developed and disseminated 249 tools and resources, including things like toolkits, guides, and models, to increase awareness about services and supports, as well as how to prevent GBV and how to support survivors. As a result, an estimated 47,846 individuals gained access to services and supports related to gender-based violence, including access to counselling, court services, and trauma-informed victims’ services. Furthermore, WAGE provided financial support to 114 projects in this priority area and reached an estimated 91,000 individuals.

Based on final reports submitted in 2022-23, 96% indicated that the Department’s investment resulted in increased knowledge on a particular topic for the organization. Specific examples of this knowledge increase are included below:

• Starting in 2018, WAGE provided funding to the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters to support a three-year project that was intended to attract and engage women in Canadian manufacturing.

The following points highlight some of the funded projects in 2022-23 that developed and implemented concrete solutions to the systemic barriers faced by women:

• WAGE funded Infinity Women Secretariat Inc. (IWS), a Manitoba-based Indigenous organization, to support a project that addressed barriers to economic security faced by Métis mothers and caregivers. By the end of the project, the IWS had developed and piloted an employment education and work placement program and the IWS will establish Métis-specific childcare programming. The IWS collaborated with over 50 employers during the project. As a direct result of the success of the program, 8 employers supported HR policy changes to support the needs of Métis women, mothers, caregivers, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals and 20 Métis mothers were working full-time because of the program.
• WAGE funded the Assaulted Women’s Helpline/ Seniors Helpline, to help the organization address capacity shortfalls and meet increased demand. By the end of the project, the organization had increased their capacity and had changed practices so that they could add additional lines for Deaf, deafen and hard of hearing communities and non-English speakers. In addition, they increased the number of referrals to other services, further improving the flow of resources within the community.

COVID-19 Emergency Response Funding

Recently, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic magnified systemic and long-standing inequalities with women and girls disproportionately affected by job losses, an increase in unpaid care responsibilities, and a spike in intimate partner violence and other forms of violence. The impacts of this unprecedented health crisis necessitated increased departmental support to affected Canadians and demonstrated the fragility of gender equality advancements in Canada. In response to the increased need for support by women experiencing GBV, in 2022-2023 WAGE distributed more than $139.9 million in COVID-19 emergency funding, through the Canadian Women’s Foundation, Women’s Shelters Canada, and the Government of Quebec, as part of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan. Since April 2020, this funding has helped support the work of over 1,150 frontline organizations, who collectively reached more than 2 million women and children experiencing violence.

Expected Result 1: Intended audiences have access to programs, resources and supports to address barriers to women’s equality

Performance Indicator 1: # of targeted programs, resources and supports delivered 548

Performance Indicator 2: # of people reached by funded initiatives 1,697,856

Performance Indicator 3: # of people unable to access programs or services NA

Expected Result 2: Networks and collaborations to increase the reach, impact, and sustainability of women’s equality efforts are established

Performance Indicator 4: # of partnerships established, by stakeholder type 864

Performance Indicator 5: Nature of partnerships and collaborations established

Direct action: 79%

Shared Experience: 75%

Access to networks: 71%

Decision-making: 68%

Funding support: 54%

Other: 46%

Expected Result 3: Intended audiences use/apply knowledge in their policy and program work to address barriers to women’s equality 83%

Performance Indicator 6: % of projects that reported their intended audiences are/will be using/applying knowledge in their work or lives. Not available

N/A

Planned evaluation in 2023-24.

The Women’s Program continued to develop tools and supports to better connect and engage recipients. Regional offices also worked to connect and support organizations’ capacity building in various ways, such as facilitating partnerships and knowledge sharing.

2026-27

Grants and Contributions

Appropriation annually through Estimates

2022-23

The Department's interventions facilitate the advancement of gender equality

Community Action and Innovation

The objective of the Equality for the SSOGIE program is to advance social, political and economic equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

In 2022-23, WAGE spent $15 million to build stronger capacity and networks of 2SLGBTQI+ community organizations to advance 2SLGBTQI+ equality across Canada. Over the reporting period, 37 progress and final reports were submitted and analyzed. Based on analyzed data, these 37 projects produced over 160 resources and established or nurtured over 200 partnerships to strengthen the not-for-profit 2SLGBTQI+ sector, improve organizational diversity and inclusion, and create opportunities for members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities to gather, connect, network, share knowledge, and exist safely in a collaborative space.

In 2022-23, WAGE began implementing a $55 million initiative to bolster the capacity of Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQI+ organizations to provide gender-based violence (GBV) prevention programming aimed at addressing the root causes of violence. Funding agreements have been signed with Indigenous organizations in all provinces and territories, and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit organizations will receive funding.

Examples of funded projects include:

• In 2020, WAGE provided funding to the Quadrangle LGBTQ Community Centre Inc., a Newfoundland-based 2SLGBTQI+ organization that provides programming to its community across Newfoundland and Labrador. This 29-month project strengthened the capacity of the organization to advance 2SLGBTQI+ equality. The project also enabled Quadrangle to build their network by connecting and collaborating with local, provincial and national organizations to address gaps in services for the 2SLGBTQI+ community, identified through their needs assessment. The project wrapped up with a data summit gathering 25 organizations to further discuss how they can better identify the needs and barriers of the 2SLGBTQI+ community in Newfoundland and Labrador and put forward some recommendations to improve data collection, such as the creation of a 2SLGBTQI+ data hub.

Results Framework Indicators

Expected Result 1: Networks and collaborations to increase the reach, impact, and sustainability of efforts to advance equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression are established

Performance Indicator 1: # of partnerships established, by stakeholder type - 207

Performance Indicator 2: Nature of partnerships and collaborations established

Decision making – 73%

Shared expertise – 100%

Access to networks – 80%

Direct Action – 67%

Funding support – 40%

Other – 47%

Expected Result 2: Intended audiences have access to programs, resources, and supports to advance equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression are established

Performance Indicator 3: # of targeted programs, resources and supports delivered - 165

Performance Indicator 4: # of people reached by funded initiatives – 1,210

Performance Indicator 5: # of people unable to access programs or services - NA

Expected Result 3: Intended audiences use/apply knowledge in their policy and program work, or lives, to advance equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression

Performance Indicator 6: % of projects that reported their intended audiences are/will be using/applying knowledge in their work or lives - NA

N/A

N/A

The Equality for SSOGIE program developed tools and supports to connect and engage recipients. Regional offices also worked to connect and support organizations’ capacity building in in facilitating partnerships and knowledge sharing.