Innovation at ISC

About the fund

The Strategic Partnership Fund allows the Strategic Policy and Partnership Sector (SPPS) to advance the transfer of services to Indigenous-led organizations, and support Indigenous policy and evaluation capacities.. The fund’s approach is intended to enable an expansion of partnerships, bring new voices to the table beyond traditional actors, and support innovation and capacity-building across the Indigenous public sector. SPF will strengthen ISC’s role in supporting the Department’s legislated priority to implement the gradual transfer of departmental responsibilities to Indigenous organizations. The fund’s outcomes are different from other ISC policy programs because, unlike the other programs, this fund’s focus is to work with Indigenous partners to change ISC’s service delivery, internal policies, and begin to devolve services to those recipients. Other programs primarily focus on policy capacity of Indigenous partners for their own ends or for supporting ISC lead policy initiatives. Project funding is intended for opportunities that support a path towards substantive equality for Indigenous peoples, the advancement of service delivery transfer, and support for Indigenous-led evaluation functions, while respecting the distinct needs of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. SPF is looking for projects that support cross-cutting initiatives that can benefit more than one program, region or activity, integrate co-development initiatives (Indigenous world view/knowledge) in policy and evaluation, and support innovation and capacity building across the Indigenous public sector.

Fund Objectives and Outcomes

Funding	Objective Result	Outcome
Partnership and Innovation	Partnerships and Innovations funding, as a part of the SPP fund, will be allocated to support horizontal and cross-linked projects in partnership with Indigenous partners.	PID funding will be used to advance the transfer of services to Indigenous-led organizations, and support Indigenous policy and evaluation capacities.

Activities and Eligible expenses

Funding in 2021-22 targets, but is not limited to, policy and evaluation projects that fit these four emerging departmental priority areas:

• Anti-racism
• Engaging marginalized Indigenous parties from a wider perspective
• GBA+ initiatives
• Co-development

Eligible activities that can be funded include:

• Completion of project-based webinars
• Completion of project reports and studies
• Completion of capacity building exercises
• Establishment of policy networks and forums
• Execution of training programs

Eligible expenses to support these activities are:

• Salaries and wages, including benefits
• Project contingency (if required)
• Professional services
• Activities that develop, inform or consult, support, review, propose, research, and/or coordinate on policy matters
• Recipient policy capacity and development
• ISC professional development
• Travel and accommodation costs
• External communications

The maximum annual amount payable is set on a case-by-case basis for each project and is limited overall by available funding.

New and innovative approaches may include, but are not limited to, tools and methods such as:

• User-centred design;
• Behavioural insights;
• Open policy-making, including co-creation approaches to develop policy, programs, and services with stakeholders, civil society, citizens, and other governments;
• Staged funding approaches to enable scaling;
• Outcomes-based and pay-for-performance funding, including social and development finance and Social Impact Bond-like instruments;
• Gamification;
• Data analytics and modelling;
• Investing in pooled funds that use these tools and methods.

Who can apply?

Recipients eligible to receive funding under this fund are:

• Indigenous organizations
• Non-Indigenous organizations

Indigenous organizations are eligible if they are:

• Recognized as a representative Aboriginal organization at the national or the provincial/territorial or regional level; or, an autonomous organization representing the interests of its constituents;
• Incorporated as an Aboriginal organization under Part II of the Canada Corporations Act or corresponding provincial or territorial legislation;
• Membership is restricted to a defined or identifiable group of First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Non-Status communities and/or organizations;
• Mandated, by its members, to represent or advocate for their interests; and
• Not in receipt of any other core funding from any other federal department, including ISC or CIRNAC, for the purpose of maintaining a basic organizational capacity to represent or advocate for the interests of its members.

Non-Indigenous organizations are eligible, if they are:

• Non-government and voluntary associations and organizations, including non-profit corporations, that work on behalf or in partnership with First Nations communities that identify them as partners.