ICI project aims to fund 20 – 25 inclusive community initiatives
Aiming to address the continued gender gap in leadership for all orders of government in Canada the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM’s) Inclusive Community Initiative (ICI) is accepting applications for initiatives that increase the participation and retention of women in municipal leadership.
ICI projects are delivered by local governments in collaboration with community organizations. The funding is designed to strengthen community capacity to support to women run for, assume or remain in a leadership position.
Local Canadian governments are asked to apply to the first round of applications, which will select 10-12 initiatives (between $5,000 – $10,000 each) that are to begin by March 2022. The deadline is November 5.
To acquire the forms necessary to complete your application, contact women@fcm.ca. Application portal is at this link.
Deadline: November 5.
CanWILL (Canadian Women In Local Leadership), is a three-year project beginning in 2021, that’s part of the FCM’s social inclusion initiatives, designed to increase the participation and retention of women in municipal leadership and support a more diverse, inclusive and equitable environment in the municipal governance process.
In 2021, women hold just more than a quarter of municipal council seats. “This democratic deficit is even more pronounced for women from diverse or marginalized backgrounds,” says the FCM.
“The FCM wants to help close this gap because Canada is better served when women and diverse communities contribute their insights and expertise,” adds the organization. “Their voices enrich our political discourse and inform decision-making.”
The ICI prioritizes initiatives intended to serve underrepresented women, including “Indigenous, Black or other racialized women, as well as youth and members of the LGBTQ2S+ community,” says their press release.
The initiative aims to:
- Strengthen the capacity of women, particularly diverse women, to run for elected office;
- Create a more conducive context for women leaders to thrive;
- Enhance the capacity of municipal stakeholders to address gender-based violence and harassment;
- Mobilize knowledge and sharing best practices across municipalities.
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