Application form for the Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk

Application form for the Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk

On this page

• Timelines and how to apply
• 1. Applicant information
• 2. Proposal background
• 3. National priorities
• 4. Regional priorities for aquatic projects
• 5. Project overview
• 6. Annual work plan
• 7. Project support
• 8. Project budget and expenditures

Timelines and how to apply

Expressions of interest (EOI)

Though not mandatory, the AFSAR program^{Footnote 1} strongly recommends that applicants submit a completed Expression of interest (EOI) form to the appropriate regional email address prior to submitting the full application. Doing so will allow for early contact with DFO's Regional Coordinators and facilitate feedback on application and/or proposal development prior to evaluation. EOIs will be accepted until November 10, 2023.

Application form

The following sections of this document constitute your application to the AFSAR program's aquatic project funding cycle. Please refer to the Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk – Aquatic Projects Program Guidelines as you complete your application for more detailed information on program eligibilities, objectives, priorities, and results.

Applications must be submitted to the appropriate regional email address by 23:59 Pacific Standard Time (PST) December 15, 2023.

Applicants should receive a notification of a successful submission of an application within 5 business days of the application deadline. Contact your Regional Coordinator if you have submitted an application but have not received this notification.

1. Applicant information

1.1. Full legal name of applicant : ^{Footnote 2}

1.2. Business and/or band number:

1.3. Organization type:

1.4. Organization description and mandate (max. 100 words) : ^{Footnote 3}

1.5. Principal applicant/representative : ^{Footnote 4}

1.6. Project manager:

1.7. Address : ^{Footnote 5}

1.8. Web site address (if applicable):

1.9. Stewardship program/project delivery experience ^{Footnote 6} (max. 250 words):

1.10. Team members ^{Footnote 7}

2. Proposal background

2.1. Project title : ^{Footnote 8}

2.2. Primary province/territory:

2.3. Links to AFSAR program objectives (max. 250 words): ^{Footnote 9}

2.4. Program expected results:

2.5. Target and benefitting species:

2.5.1. Target species

List the species at risk that is/are directly targeted by this stewardship project. Target aquatic species must be listed on Schedule 1 of SARA, or have been assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as Endangered, Threatened, or of Special Concern (see the Public Registry for more information).

2.5.2. Benefitting species

List the species that would most likely benefit from this stewardship project but that are not specifically targeted by the activities. Benefitting species may be SARA-listed or not. (Maximum 20).

2.6. Project locations and coordinates ^{Footnote 10}

2.6.1. Importance of site for the target species (150 words max.):

2.7. Permitting

It is your responsibility to acquire the necessary permits for the proposed project. You must verify with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, or the Parks Canada Agency whether you require a SARA or other permits prior to undertaking your project. Additionally, you have the responsibility to ensure that all necessary provincial and/or territorial permits are acquired. Please contact your AFSAR Regional Coordinator for further information.

If yes, list the types of permits required for your project, whether you have applied for it, and the expected date that the permit will be issued (if known).

3. National priorities

3.1. Activities described in federal SARA recovery documents:

3.1.2. If yes, please outline ^{Footnote 13} how the project will implement priority activities described in federal SARA Recovery Documents:

3.2. Multiple-species and multiple-partner projects within important habitat areas:^{Footnote 14}

Include the following information: the name of stakeholders/partners involved, and a detailed description of the role of each stakeholder/partner in fulfilling project objectives.

3.2.5. If yes, please describe how the project and its activities will address critical and/or important habitat for the target species:

3.3. Activities that address threats described in federal SARA recovery documents or COSEWIC species assessments

If yes, describe each threat and how the project activities will address it:

• Specific threat(s) related to the habitats and/or SAR, as presented federal SARA Recovery Documents.
• Example: habitat quality and quantity: Barriers to fish passage
• What do the federal SARA Recovery Documents recommend to address this threat? (not applicable for unlisted species at risk)
• Example: continue to review freshwater habitat quality, quantity, and use by iBoF Salmon populations
• Describe how proposed project activities will address(stop/monitor/mitigate) identified threats.
• Example:(Activity 5) conduct habitat assessments and develop a database of information on current or existing threats and proposed mitigation efforts
• Describe how the direct and intermediate outcomes of the project activities will be measured.
• Example: extent of habitat covered by assessment

• Direct outcomes could include:
• total habitat area improved or managed
• number of SAR threats stopped, removed, or mitigated
• SAR monitoring results
• number of individuals directly or indirectly engaged through outreach

3.4. Capacity development^{Footnote 18}, including the documentation and management of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) as it relates to Species at Risk.

3.4.2. If yes, please describe how these activities and investments support or contribute to enhanced community or organizational capacity:

If yes, please describe:

a) How your project activities support the documentation of IK as it pertains to SAR:

b) How the IK or ATK documented through this project will be managed within the community

4. Regional priorities for aquatic projects

Information on the aquatic priorities for your specific region can be found in Appendix 1 of the program guidelines, online, or by request through your regional coordinator.

If yes, please list them and describe the project activities that will correspond to each.

5. Project overview

5.1. Executive summary (max. 250 words):

The Executive Summary is a brief synopsis of the proposed project including the activities to be accomplished using AFSAR contributions and matching funds or in-kind contributions. It must contain sufficient information to stand alone during the review and approval phases, and be suitable for public consumption through relevant communications products (including federal).Be sure to spell out acronyms, and do not assume that the reader is familiar with or has read the full proposal.

The Executive Summary should clearly demonstrate how the proposal addresses each of the following items:

• Overall purpose: What is/are the project goal(s) and objective(s)? (1 to 2 sentences). Where a project builds on or continues past results/efforts, please identify.
• Project area(s): Identify the province(s)/region(s)/main geographic area(s) where the work will take place.
• Species: Name the target SAR and their status (as per SARA Schedule 1 listing or, COSEWIC assessment).
• Threats: What is/are the main threat(s) that the project will address?
• Main activities: Without repeating workplan details, provide a general explanation of how the activities will achieve the project objective(s).
• Project timing: When do the activities need to be carried out to achieve the project objective(s)?
• Anticipated project benefits/outcome: How will the project contribute to the recovery of the target species?
• Program expected results: Identify which of the AFSAR Expected Results will be addressed by the project how it/they will be achieved.
• Performance evaluation: Describe how the project will positively impact the recovery of species and their habitats, and how this impact will be measured (e.g. indicators, comparison to baseline data, etc.).

5.2. Links with other projects:

Describe how your proposed project will be linked with other stewardship and conservation programs, projects, and activities in the target area? How will these linkages be maintained or enhanced? Provide evidence to support your project's integration with current initiatives (e.g., letters of support).

6. Annual work plan

Notes:

• Please pay particular attention to details you submit under the Annual Work Plan. This information will be scrutinized by reviewers and, if your project is approved, will form the basis of your Contribution Agreement and associated reporting templates.
• For all surveys, inventories, and monitoring activities, section 6.5 must be completed.
• For all project and program evaluation activities, section 6.6 must be completed.
• For all outreach-based activities, section 6.7 must be completed.
• Only describe activity types relevant to your project.

1. For each proposed project activity choose 1 activity category from the dropdown list of eligible activity categories. ^{Footnote 19}
2. For each activity, provide an estimated cost attributed to AFSAR. These amounts should match what is listed in the Project Budget and Expenditures of Section 8.
3. Provide an estimated start and end date for each activity.
4. Describe each task related to the project activity as linked with Sections 3.3 and 4.1. Be sure to list all of the target species that the activity relates to as well.
5. Describe the expected results/anticipated outcome of the activity.
6. Provide a list of the deliverables you will provide to demonstrate the end results of each activity (i.e. summary report, photos, design plans).

6.1. Annual work plan for 2024-2025

6.2. Annual work plan for 2025-2026 (if applicable)

6.3. Annual Work Plan for 2026-2027 (if applicable)

6.4. Surveys, inventories, and monitoring

If you will be using surveys, inventories, or monitoring as part of your project activities, explain how these results will be used to improve the conservation of the species and/or its habitat over the next 2 years? (25 lines max)

6.5. Project and program evaluation

Please address:

1. The specific methods (qualitative or quantitative) you will use to evaluate the outcome of your project's activities (e.g., immediate (6–24 months) and long term outcomes (2–5 years))?
   Enter your reply here.
2. The specific methods (qualitative or quantitative) you will use to measure improvements that your project has made in the recovery of your target SAR?
   Enter your reply here.

6.6. Outreach activities

Please complete this section for all outreach activities listed in sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.3.

6.6.1. Reaching the target audience for outreach activities

1. How will you evaluate the effectiveness of your outreach activities related to SAR recovery action? Were your message(s) received and understood by your target audience? What form of quantitative or qualitative measurement will you adopt to better evaluate outreach effectiveness? For example: workshop exit surveys or interviews with community members.
   Click here to enter text.
2. What lessons were learned from previous outreach and education activities and how does this proposal improve on those activities? Explain what has changed. (If applicable)
   Click here to enter text.

7. Project support

Instructions for columns:

1. List organizations or individuals that will be making contributions to this project including all federal (except AFSAR funding), provincial, municipal, private sector, foundation, non-government, and Indigenous groups; (for all federal contributions , please specify the program and or source of funding [cash and/or in-kind]. Federal contributions must be listed; however, federal contributions cannot be used as match for AFSAR funds.)
2. Describe what and how much support will be provided (e.g. loan of vehicle, services of a graphic designer, cash, etc.) and how the value of each supporting contribution is calculated (e.g., if an equivalent graphic designer would charge $35/hr enter: 10hrs at $35/hr).
3. and d) Indicate the contribution is cash and/or in-kind. Proof of contribution will be requested at a later stage.

5. Enter the total of c) plus d) for each line.
6. Indicate whether or not the support (e.g. applications to various foundations) has been confirmed at the time of proposal submission.
7. If known, indicate the date when this support will be received.

7.1. Sources of support for 2024-2025

7.2. Sources of support for 2025-2026 (if applicable)

7.3. Sources of support for 2026-2027 (if applicable)

8. Project budget and expenditures

Using the table below, provide a detailed budget for the project and specifically the amount requested from AFSAR. Provide a detailed description of each expenditure, including how the value was calculated (e.g., assistant coordinator, 3 months at $2,000/month), and how much of the expenditure will come from AFSAR funding and how much will come from Matching Funds (cash and/or in-kind). Add or delete rows as required. See the Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk – Aquatic Projects Program Guidelines for more information regarding eligible expense categories.

8.1. Project budget for 2024-2025

8.2. Project budget for 2025-2026 (if applicable)

8.3. Project budget for 2026-2027 (if applicable)

Appendix 1: AFSAR Regional Coordinators – aquatic projects

For general information, project administration and technical support, please contact:

Appendix 2: AFSAR regional priorities – aquatic projects

Region