The purpose of the ACIC Members’ Public Engagement Fund is to support good practice and innovative methods of engaging Atlantic Canadians in global development issues.

Although the results of a public opinion poll (ICN/Vision Critical) revealed that one third of all Canadians polled ranked global poverty as a top concern, 43% felt unaffected personally by global poverty. This disconnect indicates a need for the international cooperation sector to develop a stronger, more effective narrative to engage Canadians on the interconnected nature of the issues related to global poverty. ACIC members play an important role in transforming the ways in which the public understands and engages with these issues within Atlantic Canada.

NEW for 2020 onwards! We updated the purpose of the ACIC Members Public Engagement Fund last year and are looking to support novel practices, risk-taking, and creativity towards innovative methods of engaging Atlantic Canadians in global development issues. We are actively encouraging members to consider creative, non-traditional approaches that allow for deeper engagement—leading to personal involvement and informed action. See past recipients on our website below and here.

We offer this guiding question: Do you have a new, risk-taking project in mind that you have wanted to try out on a public audience? We want to support your energy, your ideas, and your creativity in more deeply engaging Atlantic Canadians towards personal action, and are looking for applications that focus on gender equality, FIAP action areas and/ or other SDGs and innovation, testing and trying new ways to reach an audience.

Up to $1,500 per project will be available for public engagement activities in Atlantic Canada. All project activities need to be completed by early March 2024.