The purpose of the Members’ Public Engagement fund is to support good practice and innovative methodologies of engaging the wider public in global development issues. Open to organizational members’ of ACIC, this fund can be used to strengthen the connection between Atlantic Canadians and the international cooperation, global solidarity, and impact sector. By providing financial support of up to $1500 per project, the fund aims to empower organizations to implement creative and impactful public engagement activities.

International Development Week (IDW) serves as a key platform for these endeavours. This annual event, typically held in February, brings together individuals, organizations, and communities to celebrate the achievements of Canadian contributions to international development. It's an opportunity to raise awareness, foster understanding, and inspire action on global issues.

Benefits and Features of the Members' Public Engagement Fund: 

• Funding to implement your ideas: Organizations that are members of the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC) can apply for funding to support their public engagement projects. Whether it's a workshop, seminar, panel discussion, art exhibition, or any other creative activity, the fund is designed to bring your innovative ideas to life.

• Build Connections: Use the fund to create events that foster connections between local communities and global development issues. Encourage dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas to strengthen the collective understanding of the challenges and opportunities in international development.

• Highlight Impactful Work: Showcase the meaningful work your organization is doing in communities around the world. Demonstrate the positive impact of development initiatives and engage the public in discussions about the importance of global cooperation and solidarity.

• Experiment and Innovate with an Intersectional Lens: Use the fund to experiment and implement innovative methods of public engagement, from a gender-equality and intersectional lens.

• Educate and Inspire: Develop activities that educate the public on key development issues and inspire them to take action. This could involve interactive exhibits, storytelling sessions, or workshops that provide insights into the interconnectedness of our world and the role each person can play in creating positive change.

• Highlight your organization in International Development Week: Join impact and non-profit organizations across Canada from coast to coast to coast and align your public engagement project with International Development Week to maximize its impact. Leverage the visibility and momentum generated during this week to reach a broader audience and amplify your organization's message.

Successful Projects Would Highlight: 

• How the public engagement activity is designed with an intersectional and gender-equality lens, this could be in the process of designing, thematic focus, participant focus, etc.

• Potential of project to reach new or under-reached audience

• Creativity and innovation in methodology, processes, or partnerships for public engagement

• Potential of project to engage audiences in terms of either depth (low numbers but high impact) or breadth (high numbers but lesser impact)

• Scope of the activity: mode (hybrid / online / in-person), partnerships, clearly defined activities, timeline, outreach strategy, thematic focus.

The Members' Public Engagement Fund is a valuable resource for organizations committed to fostering a deeper understanding of global development issues within Atlantic Canadian communities. By participating in International Development Week, you not only contribute to a nationwide conversation but also play a crucial role in building a more informed and engaged public.

Eligibility

• Be an organizational member of ACIC, in good standing. Being in 'good standing' means your application form with us is complete and you have paid the membership fees for the year 2025-26. Reach out to us if you'd like us to verify, or pay the fees.

• Event or activity must take place in Atlantic Canada. Event or activity can be online, hybrid or in-person.

• Event is clearly related to one or more SDG, embodies the IDW mandate to inform, inspire and involve Canadians in international development efforts and is developed with and includes gender equality and intersectionality lens

• All organizations are invited to apply, even if you have applied and received the fund recently. While organizations who have not received the fund will be given priority, we are also looking to partner with folks to host IDW events.

Expectations and Commitments

• Selected applicants must hold their event during IDW (February 1 to 7, 2026).

• Selected applicants are expected to organize and implement the project as outlined in the proposal.

• All communication materials (image, description) to help us promote your event must be sent to us by Friday, January 23, 2025 at the latest.

• Selected applicants must submit a final narrative and financial report within 30 days of the project’s completion.

• All applicants must send a detailed proposed budget upon application, and financial information (invoices of expenses supporting actual costs) requested by ACIC within 30 days of the project completion. Accepted costs can include: venue, catering, materials for the event (example: film screening rights, prizes), printing, advertising, reasonable honoraria (applicants can't pay themselves or their organizations an honoraria, but if you're inviting someone to share their wisdom or experience, an honoraria can be provided).

How ACIC Can Help:

• More information for your application: Need more information for the funding, or want to talk to us to hash out an idea? Please email us at raushni@acic-caci.org, we’ll be in touch the week after October 2nd, 2025.

• Network and Partnerships: We can help you form partnerships through our International Development Week Committee or connect you to someone from our network of members (individuals, organizational and institutional) and youth changemakers.

• Promotion: We can help promote your activity to our audience, and to Global Affairs Canada through ACIC and GAC’S IDW promotional campaigns.

• Professional Zoom: If you’re hosting an online or hybrid event, we can help you with your Professional Zoom account needs.

  
  

  Timeline

  • Fund launched on Friday, September 19, 2025

  • For those who reached out to us, we’ll be in touch with you after October 2, 2025

  • Apply by December 10, 2025

  • All communication and promotional materials must be sent by Friday, January 23, 2025

  • Events must take place 01-07 February 2026

  • Final reports and financial information must be submitted by Monday, 10 March 2025