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 Programs - Geographic Programs - Americas - Indigenous Peoples Partnership Program - Guidelines
Guidelines
Introduction
Rationale and Origin of the IPPP
Goal and Objectives
Underlying Principles
Responsive program
Based on partnerships
Activities led by developing country partners
Themes
Sustainable development
Knowledge exchange
Gender equality
International policy dialogue
Youth
Country Eligibility
Partner Eligibility and Partnerships
Canadian lead partner
Latin American or Caribbean lead partner
Secondary Non-Aboriginal Canadian or Non-Indigenous LAC partner
Other partners
Number of projects per partnership
Financial Parameters
Preparing the Proposal
Concept Paper
The Proposal
Submitting the Proposal
Project Approval Process
Monitoring and Reporting Requirements
Resources Available
General information
Country-specific and inter-cultural information and training
Results-based management
Gender equality
Environmental assessment
Proposal preparation
Project management
Report writing
Annex A - Format for proposals
Annex B - Format for proposals–Budget
Annex C - Project selection criteria
Annex D - Forming partnerships
Annex E - Countries eligible for support under the IPPP
Annex F - Gender analysis guideline
Annex G - Reporting guidelines
 Introduction
The Indigenous Peoples Partnership Program (IPPP), funded through the Americas Branch of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has been established to provide a dedicated instrument for Indigenous organizations (IOs) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to form partnerships with Canadian Aboriginal organizations. Partnerships are a means of contributing to improved well being of Indigenous peoples (IPs) in the LAC region through projects that enhance the capacity of local organizations and communities to become self-sufficient. They also have an intrinsic value for the social, cultural, and indigenous knowledge exchanges that take place and for the friendships that are formed.
As a pilot project, the IPPP also seeks to increase the involvement of Canadian Aboriginal organizations in the delivery of development assistance. In addition to their role in partnerships with LAC IOs, they will be involved in the implementation of the program through the IPPP Project Review Committee and semi-annual roundtable discussions. The pilot project also provides an opportunity for learning and capturing knowledge that can be integrated into the program.
The IPPP is one of several channels within CIDA for assistance to IOs. Programming can also be carried out through bilateral country programs and through the Canadian Partnership Branch’s Youth Internship Program, Voluntary Sector Program, Industrial Cooperation Program and Institutional Cooperation Program. It is hoped the IPPP will serve as a catalyst for greater support of Indigenous peoples in the Americas through other CIDA programs.
Rationale and Origin of the IPPP
An estimated 10 percent of the total population in LAC, or more than 50 million people, are Indigenous. Their history and circumstances are characterized by social and political marginalization, extreme poverty, threats to cultural heritage, and profound and disturbing human rights abuses. Despite recent attention and support from multilateral and bilateral donors, the development process and its benefits largely continue to bypass the region’s IPs.
There has been a growing focus on the plight of IPs, spurred in part by the first International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (1995-2004). One important initiative of the decade was the establishment within the UN (United Nations) and the OAS (Organization of American States), of a working group to prepare a draft declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples. At the Quebec City Summit of the Americas in April 2001, member states confirmed their intention to further the protection and development of Indigenous populations in the region, and re-affirmed their commitment to conclude the declaration.
The second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (2005-2014) with the goal of further strengthening international cooperation to resolve problems faced by IPs, will provide additional impetus to action. This decade will focus on culture, education, health, human rights, the environment, and social and economic development, through action-oriented programs and specific projects.
Canada is seen as a leader on indigenous issues, given the government's willingness to strengthen relations with Aboriginal peoples by engaging them in collaborative dialogue on federal policies and programs that affect them (e.g., the roundtable process and recent progress and agreements with Aboriginal communities on issues such as self-government, health and natural resource management). Canada is able to contribute substantially to indigenous development in LAC, because of its experiences, both positive and negative, in seeking progressive and appropriate development models.
At the Indigenous Peoples’ Summit of the Americas, in March 2001 in Ottawa, Canada signalled its intention to engage increasingly with IPs by announcing the Indigenous Peoples Partnership Program. CIDA convened consultations on IPPP objectives and design with indigenous representatives both in Canada and LAC during 2002. The IPPP was launched in January 2003 with funding of $10 million over four years. The program underwent a review in early 2004, to ensure it had the most effective and appropriate design. This process resulted in adjustments to the objectives, criteria, and operations of the program. These guidelines reflect the renewed program, re-launched in March 2005.
Goal and Objectives
The overall goal of the IPPP is to contribute to sustainable development and poverty reduction for Indigenous People in LAC.
Specific objectives are to:
build the capacity of LAC IOs by ensuring local ownership and leadership of the development process by Indigenous people;
promote the exchange of Canadian Aboriginal experience, knowledge, and expertise with LAC IOs;
facilitate the development of mutually beneficial partnerships between Canadian Aboriginal organizations and LAC IOs and communities;
contribute to an increased international role for Canadian Aboriginal organizations in the development of Indigenous people through a responsive and flexible mechanism; and
improve the social and economic well being of Indigenous communities in LAC.
Underlying Principles
Responsive program
The IPPP is a competitive responsive mechanism.
a) Unsolicited proposals in a wide range of eligible sectors are received from eligible development partners.
b) Projects that best meet the established criteria will be approved.
c) Selection of the implementing organization and project approval are inseparable.
d) Projects are implemented under a contribution agreement between the lead implementing organization and CIDA.
e) Proponents are responsible for all aspects of proposal development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
Based on partnerships
The IPPP contributes to establishing and strengthening partnerships between Canadian and LAC IOs to achieve clear developmental results.
True partnership goes well beyond co-signing a project proposal. Under the IPPP, a partnership is defined as a relationship between one or more Canadian Aboriginal entities, and one or more developing country Indigenous entities with the following characteristics:
shared vision and goals, resources and information;
mutual accountability and shared decision-making;
clear definition of the roles and responsibilities of each of the partners;
mutual respect and good communication;
two-way exchanges of learning about each other’s history, culture, traditional knowledge, and experience with development; and
relevant and appropriate matching of Canadian expertise with the development requirements of IOs in LAC.
Activities led by developing country partners
Forty years of development cooperation has shown that initiatives led by developing countries have the highest potential for success. Accordingly, it is essential that LAC partners have a lead role in identifying their own needs and priorities, and planning the project. For administrative purposes, the Canadian lead partner will normally submit the proposal and be accountable for the funds, with responsibility for implementation being shared in a way that maximizes the development capacity of the LAC partners.
Themes
The first three themes identified below should be main considerations in the development of all projects and should be reflected in all proposals. The latter two are subject areas of special emphasis for funding under the IPPP.
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is the goal of the IPPP and should be central to all projects. CIDA defines sustainable development as “development that is equitable and environmentally sustainable and that strengthens the economic, social, environmental, and governance capacity of women and men, girls and boys.”
| In CIDA’s 1997 Strategy on Sustainable Development, the concept was further elaborated: “Sustainable development does not define a particular path for development, but focuses on what would enhance the quality of life. It requires the capacity to adapt to constantly changing conditions, as well as the flexibility to work with uncertainty, and with differences in local conditions and in public expectations shaped by culture, values and experience. Above all, it is participatory, ensuring that local communities and individuals have substantive input into designing and implementing development programs and projects. Only when local people have a sense of ownership and personal investment in their own development will they have a stake in ensuring its long-term sustainability.” |
The IPPP is open to projects in a wide range of sectors, including:
community development;
health and education;
economic, micro-enterprise, and labour-market development;
governance, justice, human rights, and conflict resolution;
natural resource and land management;
environmental management;
youth leadership development;
research and safeguarding of traditional knowledge; and
information and communication technology and connectivity.
Knowledge exchange
All projects should maximize the generation of new knowledge, and the adaptation and exchange of existing knowledge between Canadian and LAC IOs and their communities. Emphasis is placed on sharing specific Canadian approaches or models incorporating unique Canadian knowledge, expertise, or experience with partner organizations in LAC that are interested and capable of successfully adapting them to meet pressing local development challenges. This can include:
workshops, training, technical exchanges, advisory services, research, and other activities to build and share knowledge identified as important to the development of Indigenous people; and
maximizing the capacity of LAC organizations and communities to assimilate the knowledge in a way that can be put to practical use.
Gender equality
“Gender Equality means that women and men enjoy the same status. Gender equality means that women and men have equal conditions for realizing their full human rights and potential to contribute to local, national, political, economic, social and cultural development, and to benefit from the results.
Gender equality is therefore the equal valuing by communities and society of both the similarities and differences between women and men, and the varying roles that they play.’’
Status of Women Canada, quoted in CIDA’s Gender Equality Policy, 1999 |
| “We indigenous women, continue to live in conditions of discrimination, racism, exclusion, extreme poverty, machismo and the lack of power, which impede the full development of our capacities and potentialities, as well as the full enjoyment of our collective and individual human rights as peoples.” First Indigenous Women’s Summit of the Americas, Oaxaca, 2002 |
Three decades of development experience and research have demonstrated that gender equality and women’s empowerment are central to combating poverty and promoting sustainable development. Indigenous women have always played a key though undervalued role in the survival of their culture and communities, and are demanding to take their rightful place in discussions and decisions that shape their lives and those of their peoples. Gender equality and women’s empowerment must therefore be an integral part of all IPPP projects, which should identify project results in:
advancing women’s equal participation with men as decision-makers in shaping the sustainable development of their societies;
supporting women and girls in the realization of their full human rights; and/or
reducing gender inequalities in access to and control over the resources and benefits of development.
Program partners should carry out gender analysis (see Annex F-Gender Analysis Guidelines) to identify entry points for supporting the achievement of equality between women and men in their project regardless of subject area. Using gender analysis, a training project may be designed to ensure that women and men have equal access to training opportunities, and that the training responds to the needs, interests, and priorities of women as much as men. Projects may also specifically focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment, for example, in such areas as increasing indigenous women’s leadership capacities, giving indigenous women a stronger voice and influence in mixed organizations, and in international forums, supporting the exchange of indigenous women’s knowledge, increasing knowledge and recognition by women and men and decision-makers of the human rights of indigenous women, addressing gender-based violence, and improving indigenous women’s access to credit and business support services.
International policy dialogue
With the growing importance of international summits and negotiations on issues of concern to IOs, civil society organizations and IOs have increasingly engaged in policy discussions among themselves, with national governments, and international organizations. To achieve the desired policy outcome, IOs need the capacity to prepare for and effectively negotiate their positions. While the IPPP is not the only sources of funds to support international policy dialogue, it can consider special requests for projects that facilitate the exchange of ideas and development of policy options among IOs of LAC, and enable strategic participation of these IOs in international policy dialogue.
Youth
Providing young indigenous women and men with opportunities to learn, develop skills and gain experience, helps to strengthen potential future indigenous leadership. Becoming more aware of and engaged with other youth in the hemisphere creates bonds that gives future Indigenous leaders a more global perspective and leads more readily to other Canadian–LAC Indigenous development partnerships.
The IPPP will consider projects that support youth, including:
leadership development;
the exchange of ideas between Canadian and LAC youth on areas of common development concern, such as traditional knowledge and values, cultural revitalization, and economic development; and
strengthening existing institutions in LAC that serve Indigenous youth.
Country Eligibility
The IPPP is open to projects in all countries eligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA) in LAC, except Mexico, which is eligible only for regional projects involving other eligible countries in LAC. (Refer to Annex E for a list of eligible countries.)
Proposals will first be assessed on their developmental merit. The location of the project will be a secondary consideration. The guidelines below will assist the IPPP Project Review Committee to balance programming among eligible countries.
Proposals for projects in countries with large Indigenous populations (namely Guatemala, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru) will be prioritized.
Proposals for projects in other countries will be assessed according to CIDA’s strategy for programming and geographic concentration in the Americas.
Proposals for projects from vulnerable Indigenous populations will also be given special consideration.
Partner Eligibility and Partnerships
Canadian lead partner
The Canadian lead partner must:
be Aboriginal-controlled;
be truly representative of Aboriginal groups;
be legally established in Canada as a non-profit, charitable, community-based, or for-profit corporate entity and/or it must have a legal capacity to enter into valid and enforceable contractual agreements, have a place of business in Canada; and
have significant experience in Canada or abroad, in the area or sector related to the proposed project.
First-time applicants to CIDA will need to have their eligibility for funding approved. This can be done either in advance or when they submit their first proposal. It is generally required to submit the following:
proof of incorporation;
constitution and by-laws;
a letter designating the entity’s signing officer(s); and
financial statements from the past two years if the project is over $200,000.
Latin American or Caribbean lead partner
The LAC partner or partners must:
be established or registered in one or more eligible countries;
have the institutional capacity to deliver the proposed project;
be an Indigenous–controlled entity; and
be community or stakeholder driven and/or have the strong support of its community.
In countries or regions that are almost exclusively Indigenous, the issue of specific Indigenous control may not be applicable. In such cases, the guiding criteria will be the extent to which the organization represents the Indigenous population.
Secondary Non-Aboriginal Canadian or Non-Indigenous LAC partner
The secondary non-Aboriginal Canadian or non-Indigenous LAC partners must:
have a clearly defined and limited role in providing support to the primary Aboriginal or Indigenous partner; and
be able to make a substantive contribution to the project through, for instance, complementary knowledge or experience gained through past collaboration, technical or administrative expertise, experience in international development, or contacts in LAC.
The secondary non-Aboriginal Canadian partner may accept responsibility and accountability for the IPPP funds, in the case of a non-incorporated Canadian Aboriginal primary partner, but must not take the project lead.
Other partners
For certain types of projects, multi-stakeholder approaches may be very effective. Partners from other sectors, industry, government, or non-governmental organizations (NGOs), with clearly defined roles can both enhance the project’s activities and extend its results. It can provide a means of increasing awareness and influence the policies and activities of the other partners.
Number of projects per partnership
CIDA will normally support only one project per partnership at a time. Exceptions can be made, depending on the demonstrated institutional capacity of the partner to manage more than one initiative concurrently.
Partners may submit a subsequent phase or phases of a project. For example, if the LAC partner has only limited knowledge of the proposal subject matter, the first phase could be a mini-project to gain knowledge and understanding of the Canadian context and models, thus positioning the LAC partner to propose a larger and more substantial follow-on main project.
Financial Parameters
The maximum IPPP contribution will normally be $100,000 per project. Larger projects may be considered on an exceptional basis for particularly strategic or high impact projects.
All partners must contribute to the cost of the project either with their own funds or with in-kind contributions.
Preparing the Proposal
Before you start
Keep in mind that the LAC partner should take the lead, or at least make a substantive contribution to the proposal preparation, particularly on aspects relating to project implementation in the target community or communities. For this to happen there either needs to be a preliminary visit by one or both of the partners or extensive phone or e-mail correspondence to establish a clear mutual understanding of the project objectives, activities, roles, and responsibilities of partners, and expected results.
Review these guidelines thoroughly to ensure the project meets the mandate, priorities, and objectives of the IPPP.
The following documents from CIDA may be useful to consult when preparing a proposal:
RBM Handbook on Developing Results Chain
CIDA’s Policy on Gender Equality
Integrating Indigenous Knowledge in Project Planning and Implementation
Quebec City Summit of the Americas Plan of Action
Also note that the IPPP Project Review Committee will base its assessment on the information provided by the applicants and will not necessarily request or seek additional information not contained in the proposal. The PRC will not assume facts for statements presented in the proposal that are not properly substantiated.
Concept Paper
Canadian and LAC partner organizations have the option of submitting a concept paper to the IPPP Secretariat for consideration before they invest considerable resources in project planning.
The paper should provide sufficient information for the PRC to assess whether the potential project is consistent with the IPPP criteria and whether the partner organizations should be encouraged to continue developing their proposal. Such encouragement does not imply that the project will automatically be approved.
The concept paper should be no more than five pages, and should include:
the developmental problem to be addressed;
the local context in which the project will be implemented;
the goal and purpose of the project;
the development results anticipated;
how the project will contribute to gender equality and women’s empowerment;
anticipated impacts of the project on the environment;
description of the lead LAC and Canadian partner organizations and their roles, and identification of other secondary LAC and Canadian partners, and their respective roles; and
anticipated duration and cost of the project, including the estimated financial contributions expected from CIDA, partner organizations, and other sources.
While partner organizations are expected to develop their own proposals, the IPPP will contribute to certain direct costs of proposal development, such as translation, travel, or advisory services for gender or environmental assessments. Accordingly, a detailed budget for up to $15,000 for such costs can be included in the concept paper.
The Proposal
A proposal to the IPPP should be modelled on the following outline and generally should not exceed 15 pages plus appendixes. See Annex A for a detailed description of proposal requirements and Annex B for budget format.
1. Executive summary
2. Development context
3. Objectives and results
4. Partners and personnel
5. Project description
6. Management strategy and structure
7. Gender equality
8. Environment
9. Project risks
10. Sustainability
11. Dissemination of results
12. Budget
Submitting the Proposal
The lead partner agency should submit proposals to CIDA in either English or French. Annexes or supporting documentation from partners in LAC may be presented in Spanish or Portuguese.
Project proposals must be co-signed or co-submitted by both the Canadian and LAC partners. Faxed or scanned signatures of partners are acceptable.
Proposals can be submitted in electronic or hard copy format. Electronic submissions are encouraged and should be sent to PPPA_IPPP@acdi-cida.gc.ca. Acceptable electronic formats are Microsoft Word, .pdf, .rtf, Corel WordPerfect, and Lotus Wordpro. Proposals may also be sent by fax to (819)-953-1516. Proponents will receive a confirmation of receipt.
Hard copies of the proposal should be addressed to:
IPPP Manager
c/o Inter-American Program (BMI)
Americas Branch, CIDA
200 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Québec K1A 0G4
CANADA
Any Questions? Please address all questions to:
PPPA_IPPP@acdi-cida.gc.ca, or
To the address indicated above, or
To Fax number: 819-953-1516
Project Approval Process
Screening
Applications for funding will be received by the IPPP Secretariat throughout the year. The Secretariat may provide initial feedback to the proposal applicant, regarding the eligibility and the completeness of the proposal. Applicants may also submit a concept paper for preliminary review before developing a full proposal.
Reviewing
Full proposals deemed eligible for funding following an initial screening by the Secretariat will be forwarded to the IPPP Project Review Committee. Contingent on the number of proposals received, the Project Review Committee will meet about every third month to review and evaluate proposals. Depending on the level of demand, the Committee reserves the right to compare each eligible proposal with other submissions, according to specific criteria (see Annex C—Project selection criteria). If the Project Review Committee recommends a proposal for approval, it will be shared with CIDA geographic programs and embassies/high commissions overseas for an assessment of the local partner, and the feasibility and relevance of the proposal to the local context. The final decision to fund a proposal rests with senior CIDA management.
Based on the Project Review Committee recommendations and comments from the relevant geographic program and embassy/high commission, CIDA will contact each proponent to:
Advise that the proposal has been accepted. The lead partner of successful proposals will be required to negotiate and enter into a contribution agreement with CIDA before any IPPP contribution is made to the project (more contracting information).
Request additional information from the applicant to satisfy the requirements of a conditional approval by the Project Review Committee. Assuming the additional information meets the conditions, the project will be considered approved.
or
Decline a financial contribution to the initiative. The Project Review Committee’s reasons for declining the funding will be identified. If the partners feel they can adequately address the PRC’s concerns, they may resubmit a revised proposal.
Monitoring and Reporting Requirements
Monitoring is an ongoing assessment of the project’s progress. The monitoring process compares what the project has achieved with what was intended for that period. It can help identify areas that need to be adjusted or revised, provide a good picture of spending and cash flow needs, and help keep the project on track. Monitoring can assist in gathering information to meet reporting requirements. The LAC partners will have primary responsibility for monitoring day-to-day activities, but each organization should have a clear understanding of its responsibilities. CIDA may also engage a monitor to assist and advise on the project.
CIDA requires reporting on project finances and performance to assess the degree to which project objectives are being met, and identify lessons learned for future initiatives. For projects under four months’ duration, one financial and one narrative report will be submitted at the end of the project. For projects over four months, quarterly financial and semi-annual narrative reporting will be required. Separate guidelines for narrative and financial reports are found in Annex G—Reporting guidelines.
As part of normal management procedures, CIDA may select a number of projects for a more in-depth evaluation or audit to be conducted either by CIDA’s Performance Review and Knowledge Management Branch or by external evaluators or auditors.
Resources Available
A number of resources are available to assist organizations with the development of their proposals and management of their projects.
General information
The IPPP website has both general information and links to other resources
The IPPP staff and consultants can assist you (by phone or visit to CIDA headquarters).
Country-specific and inter-cultural information and training
Contact the Centre for Intercultural Learning for a briefing and/or training (free of charge for CIDA partners). Its website also contains country information at: www.intercultures.gc.ca.
Contact the Canadian Embassy in the country, or CIDA’s bilateral program at headquarters.
Results-based management
Results-based management guides are posted on the CIDA website.
Contact IPPP staff to request a more detailed presentation and training
Gender equality
Refer to Annex F of these guidelines.
Consult the CIDA gender equality website
A specialist can be assigned to assist you by phone or e-mail. (Contact the IPPP Secretariat for details.)
Environmental assessment
Consult the CIDA website for information on CEAA and CIDA’s policies.
Proposal preparation
Review Annex A—Format for proposals.
Consult with IPPP staff if you have any questions at PPPA_IPPP@acdi-cida.gc.ca.
Include an amount in your concept paper for a portion of direct costs of proposal development, such as translation, travel, or advisory services for gender or environmental assessments.
Project management
Partner with a more experienced development organization.
Report writing
Refer to Annex G on report writing.
Include an amount in your proposal for advisory services to assist you in writing reports.
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