An information session of CFLI was organized in Kathmandu by the Canadian High Commission of New Delhi on 13 September. Ms. Nicky Shree Shrestha, Program Development Coordinator, SEN attended the session where around twenty-five people from various civil society and non-government organizations of Nepal working in the sector of environment, governance, media, gender, and inclusions participated. Out of twenty-five, only SEN and Blue Diamond Society (BDS) were present as the past grantees of CFLI. SEN received a CFLI grant in 2019/20 and successfully completed the six-month project “Promoting the Adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture Practices among female smallholder farmers of Kageshwori Manohara Municipality” where smallholder women farmers were capacitated on climate change and climate-smart agriculture tools and technologies for vegetable farming.

The session was started by Ms. Stepahnie Bergeron, First Secretary, Canadian High Commission where the details of CFLI, priorities, project cycle, and budget allocated were discussed. Ms. Bergeron mentioned that the call for proposal will be open for ten days only and the priorities of CFLI (1. Inclusive governance, including diversity, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. 2. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. 3. Environment and climate action focusing on adaptation and mitigation, as well as on water management) barely change. She suggested participants prepare the proposal ahead. She emphasized that CFLI focuses on the visibility of the project outputs and urged us to make excellent advocacy plans and share extensively via digital and print media. It was implied that the proposals received from Nepal for CFLI are of excellent quality so she indicated that there is tough competition in getting the fund. Ms. Nabina Shrestha, CFLI Coordinator, Canadian High Commission added about the documentation required during proposal submissions such as a letter from the local government and Gender-based analysis and Social Welfare Council approval after receiving the fund. She suggested considering events such as disasters, pandemics, and political instability while designing the project. Mr. Laxman D. Pant, Chairperson, Media Action Nepal presented their project as a grantee of CFLI on 2021/22 and 2022/23. Ms. Nicky Shree Shrestha, SEN, and Ms. Bhumika Shrestha, BDS shared their experiences and challenges working with CFLI. 

Afterward, there were queries such as criteria for evaluation, feedback on proposals, and the possibility of the past grantee receiving the fund again. Ms. Bergeron mentioned that the evaluation is based on priorities of CFLI, gender, and social inclusion, quality of the proposal, value for money, targeted vulnerable communities, advocacy plans, experience, and the capacity of the organization to manage the project, and funds. The feedback for the applied proposals (not funded) can be obtained only after September since there are a few members involved in administering CFLI in New Delhi. The past CFLI grantee can receive the fund again if the above-mentioned criteria are met.

SEN is planning to apply for CFLI next year.