Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC)

Role of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada in the funding ecosystem

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada is a federal body that not only leads major project assessments, but also administers funding programs that help others take part in those assessments and related policy work. Its funding role is explicitly tied to public participation, Indigenous participation, research, and policy dialogue.

Types of funding offered

• Participant funding to reduce financial barriers for members of the public and Indigenous peoples involved in assessments.
• Indigenous Capacity Support funding for Indigenous communities and organizations to strengthen their ability to participate in current and future assessments.
• Research funding to advance assessment science and support multidisciplinary work.
• Policy Dialogue support for the public and Indigenous peoples to contribute expertise and knowledge to policy, methodology, and tools development.

Scope and audience

The agency’s funding activity is national in scope and centered on Canada’s federal impact assessment system. The intended beneficiaries include members of the public, Indigenous communities and organizations, scientists, and other participants who contribute to assessment quality, transparency, and informed decision-making.

Transparency and governance

The Agency’s public pages reference funding programs, participant funding, and grants and contributions reporting, which supports accountability for how funding is administered. The website also situates funding within the legal framework of the Impact Assessment Act and related regulations.

Organization context

Alongside its funding functions, IAAC leads federal assessments of major projects and coordinates with provinces, territories, Indigenous partners, and other federal bodies. This makes it both a regulatory agency and a direct provider of program funding.