Partnering for Climate

Over the summer months in 2020, the Government of Canada consulted representatives from domestic and international civil society organizations, academia and the private sector to help shape the future of Canada’s international climate finance for developing countries. The government also met with Indigenous peoples to gain their unique perspectives.

As part of Canada’s $5.3-billion climate finance commitment in 2021, $315 million was earmarked to fund Partnering for Climate, an initiative based on what was learned through these consultations and aligned with the Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP), in particular the Environment and Climate Action area. By leveraging expertise, innovation and resources from various people and organizations in Canada and globally, Partnering for Climate aims to:

• build community resilience and enable locally led solutions
  • This means supporting locally led solutions for climate change and building community resilience as part of a broader agenda in a localized context
• implement gender-responsive climate finance
  • his means supporting gender-responsive climate action in all areas, including feminist organizations, particularly at the local and grassroots levels, and strengthening women’s capacity to participate in and lead climate initiatives
• work in partnership with Indigenous peoples
  • This means integrating Indigenous peoples’ perspectives, needs and approaches as well as supporting Indigenous-led climate action projects

Partnering for climate has 2 funding envelopes—one to encourage broad non-governmental engagement on climate change ($300M) and a second with a specific focus on supporting Indigenous people in Canada to advance climate action alongside Indigenous partners in developing countries ($15M).

The $300-million envelope will:

• support grants and contribution funding specifically dedicated to civil society, Indigenous and other organizations in Canada for projects that will be implemented in close partnership with local organizations in sub-Saharan Africa
• support gender-responsive, nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation—emphasizing, where appropriate, biodiversity co-benefits
• include a dedicated minimum of $20 million for advancing women’s rights and climate adaptation, through stand-alone projects or as components of other projects, in response to the increased vulnerability of women and girls to climate impacts as well as their essential leadership roles to address them

The $15-million envelope will:

• enable Indigenous peoples and organizations in Canada to support Indigenous peoples in developing countries to implement climate action initiatives
• be available to any ODA-eligible country, not just to sub-Saharan Africa, and can be applied to support Indigenous-to-Indigenous engagement for climate action in these countries

While Partnering for Climate is a funding initiative, proposals will be accepted using an open portal approach—which allows for more flexibility, inclusivity and engagement. The initiative will include opportunities for open information sharing and ongoing dialogue with interested civil society, Indigenous and other organizations to build a common understanding of gender-sensitive, nature-based solutions for climate adaptation.