AgriDiversity Program: Step 2. Eligibility

Step 2. Eligibility

Check if you meet the criteria to apply.

Eligibility checklist

You must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible.

• You are one of the following organization types

  Not-for-profit: Organizations that operate solely for social welfare, civic improvement, pleasure or recreation, or any other purpose except profit. They may include:

  • associations^{Endnote 1}
  • Official Language Minority Communities
  • organizations working in collaboration across sectors and the project to support marginalized groups entering the sector

   

  Not-for-profit Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) organization: A First Nation, Métis or Inuit organization.

  Academia: Organizations involved in providing education or developing educational materials or tools. They may include:

  • private university and college
  • public degree-granting college
  • public degree-granting university
  • public community colleges and vocational school
  • school board/other educational institution
• You demonstrate the ability to deliver a national and/or agriculture and agri-food sector-wide project that includes, but is not limited to:
  • participation of relevant industry stakeholders in the project development and/or implementation
  • the ability to implement the project nationally
  • support and buy-in from relevant industry stakeholders in the proposed project through support letters
• You are a legal entity capable of entering into legal binding agreements

Ineligible applicants

For-profit organizations and individuals aren't eligible to receive funding under this program.

Program priorities and eligible activities

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) reserves the right to prioritize submitted activities.

The program will prioritize projects that help groups that are underrepresented and marginalized in the agriculture and agri-food sector (youth, women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, racialized persons, visible minorities, 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and official language minority communities).

Program priorities and examples of eligible activities are:

Building entrepreneurial capacity and business skills

Examples:

• facilitation of sharing and expansion of skills and knowledge among industry members researchers, and experts
• development of tools to facilitate the implementation of business and strategic plans to increase the potential for opportunities and profitability
• producer-oriented tools, workshops, seminars, conferences, and information sharing to increase business skills and to strengthen the ability of businesses to manage transformation, respond to change and adopt best practices in farming operations

Developing skills to take on a greater industry leadership roles

Examples:

• develop leadership and entrepreneurship skills throughout the sector for Indigenous, underrepresented and marginalized groups
• development, sharing, access and dissemination of financial management and business training, and best practices through activities, such as events, conferences, workshops, trainings, tools, web sites, and/or newsletters
• promotion of farm management practices, business management, assessment and planning capacity

Enhancing involvement in the agriculture sector, including awareness of career opportunities

Examples:

• activities for Indigenous, underrepresented and marginalized groups to improve career opportunities, awareness of issues, and to enhance access and involvement in the agriculture sector
• activities for needs and gaps analysis identifying areas where tools and support are required for underrepresented groups
• delivery of farm business management information, resources, tools, and/or publications aimed at youth, women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, racialized persons, visible minorities, 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and official language minority communities

Strengthening their capacity to be leaders in the sector

Examples:

• activities to support involvement in the agriculture sector and develop leadership skills through industry-specific training and mentorship
• capacity and leadership building through outreach, networking and training

Ineligible activities

Examples of ineligible activities include:

• core business of the organization, including, but not limited to:
  • Annual General Meetings, board meetings
  • fundamental operational costs not directly related to the project
  • normal costs of establishing a commercial operation
• the purchase of land, purchase or construction of buildings, purchase of vehicles
• activities that are commodity-specific in scope and are not a benefit to Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector wide

Eligible costs

Note: Costs you incur prior to AAFC approval or the project start date may not be reimbursed by AAFC, and you may be solely responsible for those costs.

Eligible costs are project expenses, claimed or contributed, that fall within the set program cost categories and respect all program limitations. To be considered eligible, all costs must be:

• included in the project application form budget
• related to the activities included in the work plan
• fall within the work plan activities timeframe
• fall within the effective dates of the contribution agreement

For more information and details on cost categories, eligible costs, limitations or instructions, refer to the eligible costs.

Ineligible costs

While an expense may fall within a program cost category, there are limitations to the types of expenses which may be claimed. For more information and details on cost categories, eligible/ineligible costs and other limitations, refer to Project costs.

For further clarity, ineligible costs include, but are not limited to:

• entertainment, excessive hospitality, gifts (such as gifts for speakers or facilitators)
• minor assets and capital items not directly related to training and not specifically required for the execution of a project
• refundable portion of the GST, value-added taxes, or other items for which a refund or rebate is receivable
• cost for activities intended to directly influence/lobby governments
• other costs not specifically required for the project

Expected results

Your application must show how the activities support the specific outcomes and outputs listed below:

The expected outcome of the program is that more Indigenous Peoples and other underrepresented and marginalized groups (women, youth, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, visible minorities, 2SLGBTQI+ communities and official language minority communities) have the resources to build their entrepreneurial capacity and business skills, allowing them to better participate in the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector. This will help to increase the capacity of the sector's current and future workforce.

You will be responsible to measure the results of the activities. Performance indicators, which are used to measure the relevance and effectiveness of projects and the program, include:

• number of participants reached through the capacity building activities supported by the program (for example, number of attendees to management seminars, or students participating in classroom activities)
• number of capacity building tools, activities, events etc., supported by the program
• percent increase in the number of people reached/engaged by projects aimed at increasing capacity and building skills
• increased participation rate for projects aimed at building skills and increasing capacity