Canada CFLI India 2026
By High Commission of Canada in India
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Quick Answer
Canada Fund for Local Initiatives call for local organisations in India: typically CAD 20,000–50,000 (about ₹13.6–34 lakh), up to CAD 100,000. The 2026 call closed on 30 April 2026.
- Funding amount
- Up to ₹68L
- Funding type
- Grant
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 30 April 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by High Commission of Canada in India. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) India call for 2026 is closed. It closed on 30 April 2026 at 23:59 India time, and the official page does not announce a next call. The same call also covered Nepal and Bhutan and is run through the High Commission of Canada on behalf of the Government of Canada. If you run an Indian NGO, use this page to prepare for the next call, and check the official page before you start.
What the program offers
The page calls the money a contribution. The average CFLI contribution is CAD 20,000 to 50,000 (about ₹13.6 lakh to ₹34 lakh), and CAD 100,000 (about ₹68 lakh) is the maximum for any single project. All contributions are made in Canadian dollars and then converted into the local currency, so the rupee value can move.
Eligible costs in the call include project-linked administration and overheads, salaries, training and capacity building, conferences and events, research, outreach and communication, equipment, website development, travel at economy fares, and rent or lease of facilities and vehicles. Overheads should not exceed 15 percent, although a mission may accept more. The call will not pay for buying a vehicle, nuclear technologies, help to military or paramilitary groups, gifts, luxury goods, direct fiscal support to a government, core or recurrent costs of an organisation, revolving funds such as microfinance loans, or any expense before the Contribution Agreement is signed or after it expires.
Who can apply
Eligible recipients are local non-governmental, community and not-for-profit organisations, local academic institutions working on local projects, international NGOs working on local development, intergovernmental and multilateral bodies, government agencies of the recipient country working on local projects, and Canadian non-profits working on local development. Most of the money is meant for local civil society organisations, and projects should be conceived and designed mainly by local partners.
Every project had to line up with at least one of three priorities: inclusive governance, growth that works for everyone, or environment and climate action. For an Indian applicant, NGOs, trusts, societies and similar not-for-profits are the core audience. A for-profit startup is not among the listed recipient types, so it is a poor fit unless it works through an eligible organisation.
How to apply
The 2026 process ran by email. You first asked the CFLI India mailbox for the designated application form, filled it in, attached the required budget document, and emailed the finished application to the same mailbox before the deadline. Only proposals using the designated form and including the budget document were considered. Applications had to be in English or French, and projects had to be completed between the date the Contribution Agreement is signed and 26 February 2027 for a single-year project. Late applications were not considered. A practical tip: plan your budget against the eligible and ineligible cost lists, because core running costs and revolving funds are not covered.
How applications are judged and what happens next
A selection committee assesses applications on their merits, and the relevant Canadian high commission selects and approves the projects. Because of the high volume of applications, only successful applicants are contacted, and applications are kept on file under Global Affairs Canada's information management policies. The official page gives no results date.
About the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives
The CFLI funds small, high-impact projects in over 120 countries eligible for official development assistance, with an annual budget of $26.8 million and projects averaging $31,000 each. It funds approximately 650 projects a year and aims to support local civil society organisations that may not qualify for funding from larger donors. It also supports good relations between Canada and the recipient countries.
Things to check before you apply
- The India call is closed and the official page gives no date for the next one.
- Indian organisations receiving money from abroad should check FCRA, FEMA and tax treatment with an adviser before applying.
- Payment is made in Canadian dollars and converted to rupees.
- Read the reporting terms of the Contribution Agreement when you receive it.
- Projects must be finished by the date in the call, which was 26 February 2027 for single-year projects.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Amount
- Up to ₹68L
- Fund type
- Grant
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
Selected projects receive a Canadian-dollar contribution, typically CAD 20,000 to 50,000 (about ₹13.6 lakh to ₹34 lakh) and at most CAD 100,000 (about ₹68 lakh), converted into local currency. It covers project costs such as staff, training, events, research, equipment and a limited overhead.
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
A selection committee assesses applications on their merits, and the Canadian high commission selects and approves the projects. Only proposals using the designated form with the required budget document are considered, and only successful applicants are contacted. The official page gives no results date.
Application Process
- 1
Request the form
Email the CFLI India mailbox for the designated application form.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the CFLI India call open now?
No. The 2026 call closed on 30 April 2026 at 23:59 India time, and the official page shows it as closed. The page gives no date for a next call, so check it again before you prepare a proposal.
Can Indian NGOs apply for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives?
Yes. Local non-governmental, community and not-for-profit organisations are the first group in the eligible list, and projects are meant to be designed mainly by local partners. Indian recipients of foreign money should check FCRA, FEMA and tax treatment with an adviser.
How much funding does CFLI give?
The average contribution is CAD 20,000 to 50,000, about ₹13.6 lakh to ₹34 lakh at ₹68 per Canadian dollar. The maximum for one project is CAD 100,000, about ₹68 lakh.
How is the money paid?
All contributions are made in Canadian dollars and then converted into the local currency. The call lists eligible costs such as salaries, training, events and equipment, and says expenses before the Contribution Agreement is signed are not eligible.
Can a for-profit startup apply?
The call does not list for-profit companies among eligible recipients. A startup would need to work with an eligible local organisation.
What themes does the India call fund?
Projects had to align with at least one of three priorities: inclusive governance, growth that works for everyone, or environment and climate action.
What did applicants need to submit?
The designated application form, requested by email from the CFLI India mailbox, plus the required budget document. Proposals had to be in English or French and were submitted by email.
What is not funded?
Buying a vehicle, nuclear technologies, help to military or paramilitary groups, gifts, luxury goods, direct fiscal support to a government, core or recurrent organisational costs, and revolving funds such as microfinance loans.
Is it free to apply and do I need to travel?
The call mentions no application fee, and nothing in it requires travel to Canada. The project is carried out locally.
When are results announced?
The official page gives no results date. It says only successful applicants will be contacted because of the high volume of applications.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
