Welcome to the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in the Southern Cone!

• CIDA's Mandate
• CIDA in the Southern Cone
• What is the Technology Transfer Fund?
• What is the Public Sector Reform Fund?
• What is the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives?
• What is the Gender Equity Fund for Paraguay?
• Why is CIDA involved in regional initiatives?
• What is the Canadian Partnerships Branch?
• What is the International Development Research Centre (IDRC)?

CIDA's Mandate

The purpose of Canada's Official Development Assistance (ODA) is to support sustainable development in developing countries, in order to reduce poverty and to contribute to a more secure, equitable and prosperous world.

Would you like to know more about CIDA in general? Please visit our web site in Canada.

CIDA in the Southern Cone

The CIDA program in the Southern Cone countries of Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay began in 1996.

CIDA's programme in the Southern Cone includes the following funds:

• Canada-Southern Cone Technology Transfer Fund
• Public Sector Reform Fund
• Canada Fund for Local Initiatives
• Gender Equity Fund (Paraguay only)

CIDA's programme in the Southern Cone also includes:

• Regional Initiatives
• Partnership Branch
• International Development Research Centre

What is the Technology Transfer Fund?

The Canada-Southern Cone Technology Transfer Fund (TTF) supports Canadian organizations that wish to share and adapt Canadian expertise and technology with partner organizations in the Southern Cone of South America (Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay)⁽¹⁾.

The goal of the TTF is to help these partner organizations to meet developmental challenges related to equity. The TTF supports activities in the following priority areas: social development (with emphasis on health and education), environmental management, public sector reform and economic development. Its purpose is to build the capacity of Southern Cone partner organizations to modernize the state and deliver public goods and services in a participatory and equitable manner, in keeping with the priority areas of each country.

The TTF's contributions support projects developed and implemented jointly by Canadian and Southern Cone partner organizations. This support is intended to be a catalyst which leads to collaboration among Canadian and Southern Cone organizations that are already working together or that share a clear, mutual interest in working together.

Established in early 1996, TTF - Phase I was completed in 2001. Phase II began in 2001, and although no new projects are accepted, it is expected to continue until 2010 when active projects come to an end. Both Phase 1 and Phase II of the TTF were allotted a budget of CAD$15 million.

For further information, please contact Technology Transfer Fund Coordinators:

In Argentina
Carmen Virasoro
Paraguay 577 6th floor
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone: (54 11) 4314-6662 extension 107
Fax: (54 11) 4543-1800
E-mail: cvirasoro@arnet.com.ar

In Paraguay
Gladys Benegas Cristaldo
Carlos Díaz León 3316 casi Manuel Talavera
Asunción, Paraguay
Phone/Fax: (595 21) 684 142
E-mail: gbenegas@conexion.com.py

In Uruguay
Gisela Argenti
Juan D. Jackson 881/501
11200 Montevideo, Uruguay
Phone: (598 2) 418-7747
Fax: (598 2) 916-2402 / 915-9516 / 915-1791
E-mail: gargenti@chasque.net

Or read the Canada-Southern-Cone Technology Transfer Fund - Phase II, Information Guide

What is the Public Sector Reform Fund?

Established in 1995 to provide support to governmental and non-governmental organizations in their efforts in public and social sector reform and development, the Public Sector Reform Fund (PSRF) plays a valuable role in the Southern Cone in strengthening the competence of the public sector to foster good governance. In order to achieve this objective, the Public Sector Reform Fund finances small projects to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience with Canadian organizations.

Exchanges made possible through the PSRF, such as a visit by leaders of a local organization to Canada, enable local organizations to establish institutional links with their Canadian counterparts and, in turn, allows Canadian organizations to support their Southern Cone counterparts. In addition, exchanges such as these introduce local organizations in the Southern Cone to Canadian technologies, knowledge, models, and experiences, which can aid them, in a concrete way, in the modernization of specific, strategic aspects in the reform of the state process. The PSRF also allows the most advanced and successful partners in the state reform process to apply for knowledge exchanges with other Southern Cone partners (South-South Cooperation).

The number of projects received annually and the amounts granted to individual projects are variable. The current annual budget for the Southern Cone is CAD$250,000.

Because the Public Sector Reform Fund is a flexible and rapid mechanism of support, capable of responding to the needs of our Southern Cone partners at moments of need, applications for support may be presented at any time throughout the year.

Who/What is Eligible for Support from the PSRF?

• All public agencies and government ministries (central, provincial, regional, local) involved in the reform process are eligible to apply to CIDA for support from the Fund;
• Non-governmental organizations working directly with a ministry or a public agency on a specific reform can also present a project proposal; and,
• Costs normally financed by the Public Sector Reform Fund include: air and land transport, lodging, meals, and interpretation services. However, since each project is unique, budgets are negotiable with CIDA.

What Are the Selection Criteria?

The selection process is competitive. CIDA will evaluate and select the best proposals based on the following criteria:

• The organization must be public institution, a ministry or NGO that works directly with the government in the reform or modernization of the state process or a related aspect of this reform;
• The proposal must clearly demonstrate how the project contributes to the country's public sector reform process and/or modernization of the state;
• The project goal and expected results are clear; and,
• The proposal must indicate how the costs and contributions of the project will be shared between partners (Southern Cone and Canadian partners as well as CIDA).

How Do I Apply?

Please provide us with a short document (5 pages) that includes the following information⁽²⁾:

• a description of the organization;
• project context and link to the reform or modernization of the state process;
• project goal;
• anticipated results of the project;
• name of the Canadian partner and participants;
• structure of the development of the project;
• calendar for the execution of the project (dates of the visit);
• project budget that includes all contributions involved;
• identify the person in charge who will sign the contribution agreement (please include first name, surname, position, title, email, fax, phone); and,
• full address of the institution presenting the proposal.

For more information or to send a project proposal, please contact or send your project proposal to:

Canadian International Development Agency
Brazil and Southern Cone Program
Americas Branch
200 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau
Québec
Canada K1A 0G4
Fax: (819) 994-4259
E-mail: psrf-frsp@acdi-cida.gc.ca

What is the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives?

The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives –Canda Fund- is a program of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) that provides assistance to the development of the international community.

The Canada Fund is administered by the Canadian Embassy in each country. Its objective is to foster social, political and economic development of individuals, organized groups and communities in each country.

During these last years the Canada Fund has financed projects aimed at reducing poverty, protecting children's rights, guaranteeing health care and improving basic education of vulnerable groups at the local level. Besides, the development assistance that Canada has provided at the local and international level has demonstrated that good governance and public institutions strength are paramount for achieving a sustainable economic and social development and to reduce poverty levels.

Consequently, during this year projects dealing with issues previously mentioned will still be considered and actions fostering good governance will be included. Within good governance, the Fund will foster primarily local initiatives related to democratization, human rights, rule of law and capacity development in the public sector. Likewise, gender equality will continue to be supported in all program areas.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

• Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and community based organizations;
• Rural people's organizations including cooperatives, unit committees, etc;
• Other civil society organizations including religious organizations;
• Funds may be approved on an exceptional basis for projects in which the national government or an international agency is the executing agency. In such cases, funding will only be provided if the beneficiaries are outside the government and have no close relationship to the executing agency.

Who/What Is Ineligible?

Financing from the Canada Fund is not available for the following purposes:

• Food donations;
• Activities involving nuclear technologies and facilities;
• Assistance to military organizations;
• Educational scholarships;
• Research projects;
• Industrial cooperation

Canada Fund contribution cannot be used to pay for the following expenditures:

• Salaries and operating expenses of any institution/structure;
• Administrative costs not directly related to the project implementation;
• Purchase of real estate or land;
• Support for conferences’ attendance or organization;
• Study or research activities;
• Publication of books or magazines.

How Do I Apply?

Groups wishing to apply for funding from the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives must submit an application which provides a brief description of the group’s background, the objectives of the project, the intended beneficiaries, the expected results, the cost, and the way in which the community will participate in the project.

An application form for the submission of proposals may be requested from the Canada Fund Coordinator in each country. It is recommended that applicants fill out all sections of the form, with particular attention to the preparation of a budget listing investments and project expenditures. Each project will be examined on the basis of its merits and may be presented at anytime throughout the year. The CFLI receive large number of applications every year and it should be noted that an application is not a guarantee for funding from the CFLI.

For More Information

For further information on the CFLI in Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, please contact the following Canada Fund Coordinators:

In Argentina
Matías Gutierrez Moyano
Paraguay 4636 5th floor “G”
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone/Fax: (54 11) 4804-6041 (Monday-Thursday from 3 pm to 7 pm)
E-mail: matgutmoy@yahoo.com

In Chile
Javier Figueroa
Nueva Tajamar 481, Piso 12, Torre Norte
Santiago, Chile
Phone: (56-2) 325-2575 (Monday and Tuesday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm)
E-mail: fondocanada@vtr.net

In Paraguay
María Celsa Benavídez Campos
Enrique Solano López 1.090 c/ Concordia
Barrio Jara
Asunción, Paraguay
Phone: (595-21) 220-617 / 228-293
Fax: (595-21) 206-503
Email: celsycampos@ser.org.py

In Uruguay
Ana Sollazo
Casilla de Correo 958 Correo Central
11000 Montevideo, Uruguay
Phone: (598 2) 628-9243 (Monday-Thursday from 9 am to 12 pm)
Fax: (598 2) 902-2029
E-mail: anasol@internet.com.uy

What is the Gender Equity Fund for Paraguay?

Since its beginning in 1994, the objective of the Gender Equity Fund (GEF) for Paraguay has been to facilitate the active participation of women in the social, political, economic and environmental development of their society in equality with men in order to achieve sustainable development. To achieve this aim, the Gender Equity Fund for Paraguay has addressed gender equality through the reduction of violence against women. The GEF for Paraguay has supported initiatives geared to improving the effectiveness of government and non-governmental organizations in their work towards preventing and punishing violence against women, and their support programs for women victims of violence. For this reason, proposed projects had to be directed toward creating institutional capacity within the organisms of execution for their work in the area of violence against women. Past notable successes of GEF for Paraguay include the development and presentation to Parliament of a bill that criminalizes domestic violence in the country, the establishment of three centres with improved services for treating female victims of violence, and the extensive publicity campaigns on gender issues and violence against women conducted in the country.

Presently, the Fund does not accept new project proposals but will remain active until the last project finishes in January 2007.

For More Information

For more information on the Gender Equity Fund for Paraguay, please contact:

Ms. María Celsa Benavídez Campos
Gender Equity Fund Coordinator for Paraguay
Phone: (595-21) 220-617 / 228-293
Fax: (595-21) 206-503
Email: ser@conexion.com.py

Why is CIDA involved in regional initiatives?

The rationale for a regional program is to support the sustainable development of individual countries and of the region as a whole. Such a strategy allows CIDA to address development issues which cut across national boundaries and are common to most South American countries.

CIDA's regional program in South America enhances economies of scale: funded initiatives benefit several countries rather than one. The program also increases the capacity of region-wide institutions to address development challenges in countries where CIDA has no active country-to-country program, as is the case in Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

The South America Regional Program supports Canada's Foreign Policy objectives, which stress the growing importance of our relations with other countries of the Americas. It also promotes regional integration and the adoption of Canadian values throughout the hemisphere, including respect for human rights, democracy, the rule of law and the protection of the environment.

What is the Canadian Partnership Branch?

The Canadian Partnership Branch (CPB) promotes partnerships between organizations in Canada and developing countries to support sustainable development and reduce poverty in the developing world. The branch provides grants and contributes to support Canadian partner organizations which are responsible for the design, planning and implementation of the development programs and projects. A principal distinguishing feature of CPB programming is its responsiveness to the initiatives of Canadian organizations and businesses who are responsible for the planning and implementation of their own policies, programs and projects in collaboration with their developing country partners.

To enhance ownership and achieve leverage, Canadian partner organizations are required to contribute financial resources, goods and/or services to their development initiatives. They are also required to ensure the active participation of their developing country counterparts and to demonstrate that their activities contribute to sustainable capacity building.

For further information, please visit the web site of any of the four distinctive programming divisions of the CPB:

• The Industrial Cooperation Program provides financial support to the projects of Canadian businesses.
• The Institutional Cooperation Division supports the programs and projects of Canadian universities, colleges, cooperatives, associations and unions.
• The Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) Division funds the programs and projects of Canadian and international NGOs.
• The Youth Action Division contributes to the International Internship projects of Canadian private sector and civil society organizations which provide Canadian youth with international development experience.

What Is the International Development Research Centre (IDRC)?

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is a Canadian government organization involved in a broad range of projects throughout the world. It seeks to assist researchers in developing countries to identify and study long-term, practical solutions to the social, economic and environmental problems of their communities. IDRC mainly funds research conducted in developing countries by local researchers. In this way, IDRC strengthens the indigenous research capacity needed for policies and technologies conducive to healthier and more prosperous societies, improved food security, preservation of biodiversity and easier access to information. The Centre is headquartered in Ottawa, and has its regional office for Latin America in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Most IDRC-funded research projects in Latin America have a regional scope. IDRC has provided support to numerous scientific teams analyzing economic and health policies, studying medicinal plants, looking for ways to improve relationships between mining companies and communities, inventing new sustainable forestry and agricultural techniques, and conducting experiments involving new ways to disseminate information.

For more information, please visit the IDRC web site.

1. Equity is measured by comparing different groups within a society by their income levels, their level of access to services, their level of ownership of productive assets and of political and social participation and decision-making.
2. In the case of Chile, the Chilean Agency for International Cooperation coordinates projects submitted by government bodies.