How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 185000% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA)?

North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) is funded by Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)

North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA)

Q: What are North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA)'s eligibility criterias?

Eligible applicants include tribal nations, Indigenous Peoples and communities, non-profit organizations, and academia in Canada, Mexico, or the United States. Applications from businesses, private individuals, or municipal, provincial/state, territorial, and federal governments are not supported, except for tribal nations and Indigenous communities.

Last Update: March 27, 2025

Canada

Promotes Indigenous partnerships for environmental and climate adaptation

North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $185,000

Timeline

Continuous Intakes

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Professional, scientific and technical services
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration

Grant Providers

Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)

Status

Open

Overview of the North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) program

The North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) grant offers funding up to C$185,000 to empower Indigenous Peoples, enhance climate adaptation, and support Indigenous Knowledge integration. Eligible activities include community-led environmental initiatives, development of climate resilience strategies, and fostering partnerships with Indigenous communities across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Financing terms and conditions

Projects under the NAPECA grant program are funded for a duration between 12 to 24 months.
The maximum funding amount for proposals is up to C$185,000, with potential consideration for additional funds for exceptional projects.
No minimum grant amount has been established, recognizing that impactful projects may require a low cost.
Expenditure on travel should not exceed 15% of the total grant amount.
Overhead and administration costs, such as rent, telephone, fax, and photocopies, must not exceed 15% of the total grant amount.
Grant funds are disbursed based on progress reports and financial statements demonstrating the usage of the funding as intended.
Funding cannot be used for activities for which local, state/provincial, or federal governments are responsible, such as construction of roads or sewage treatment plants.
Purchases of motor vehicles, property, or land, as well as renovations, are not eligible for funding.
Grants cannot be used for pursuing legal action, lobbying, or advocacy activities.
The program does not support projects that are already receiving financial support from Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Eligibility criteria of the North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) program

Eligible applicants are tribal nations, Indigenous Peoples and communities, entities which are incorporated as non-profit organizations, and academia in Canada, Mexico, or the United States.
Examples of eligible applicants include Indigenous governments, councils and organizations; nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), environmental groups, and community-based associations; and universities, academic, and public research institutions.
Applicants must be located in Canada, Mexico, or the United States.
The project must be implemented in collaboration and partnership with one or more Indigenous partners.
NAPECA does not support businesses, private individuals, or municipal, provincial/state, territorial, and federal governments, except for tribal nations and Indigenous Peoples and communities.
Proposals from qualified organizations partnering with the private sector or local government entities are eligible.
NAPECA grants cannot be used for projects that are currently receiving financial support from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
The applicant should not include an employee or officer who is, or an immediate family member of such an individual who is, an official of any Party to the Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, an official of the CEC Secretariat, a present or past member of the CEC Joint Public Advisory Committee, or a member of the Traditional Ecological Knowledge Expert Group.
Proposals must be submitted electronically through the online application portal by the established deadline.

Who is eligible?

Tribal nations
Indigenous Peoples and communities
Non-profit organizations
Academia
Indigenous governments, councils, and organizations
Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
Environmental groups
Community-based associations
Universities
Academic and public research institutions

Who is not eligible

Businesses.
Private individuals.
Municipal governments.
Provincial/state governments.
Territorial governments.
Federal governments (except for tribal nations and Indigenous Peoples and communities).
Projects currently receiving financial support from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Individuals or entities whose employees or officers are past or present officials of Parties to the Agreement on Environmental Cooperation within the past year.

Eligible expenses

Salaries and benefits.
Equipment and supplies.
Travel expenses, not to exceed 15 percent of the total grant amount.
Consultant services, if applicable.
Overhead, not to exceed 15 percent of the total grant amount.
Other costs directly related to the project.

Eligible geographic areas

Applicants must be located in Canada.
Applicants must be located in Mexico.
Applicants must be located in the United States.

Eligibility criteria of the North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) program

Focus on implementing community activities that will enhance climate adaptation through the respectful inclusion and protection of Indigenous Knowledge, and demonstrate recognition and respect of the traditional systems in place.
Participation in the empowerment of the community(ies) and Peoples involved, proposing activities that will lead to community-driven change (e.g., capacity building for new decision-making and/or management skills, programs to increase environmental awareness).
Includes an integral implementation plan that identifies clearly concrete and measurable objectives and results, specific actions/project activities, beneficiaries and actors, and an estimated budget.
Achievement of tangible and measurable positive environmental results, whether such outcomes benefit species, ecosystems, sustainable development, or community preparedness/resilience to climate change. Most results must be suitable for reporting within the timeframe of NAPECA support (i.e., 12 to 24 months).
Potential for the project to be replicated in other regions or inspire other communities to implement initiatives addressing similar issues but tailored to their needs, priorities, and realities.
Creation of formal or informal partnerships or collaborations that respond to community-identified challenges and priorities, respect and foster Indigenous knowledge and systems, and recognize and respect Indigenous rights. This may involve local or other Indigenous Peoples and communities, academia (and/or youth), non-governmental organizations, different levels of government, and the private sector within the North American region.
Leverage of other resources (human, material, or financial) to achieve greater impact, replicability, and sustainability of the project and its results.
Submission on time and through the established process.

How to apply to the North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) program

Create an account

Go to the online application portal at this link.
Create an account to access the submission form.

Preparing the application

Gather contact information for the project leader and the organization.
Draft a project title (max. 15 words) and define the objectives and desired outcomes of your project.
Establish a detailed budget using the provided template, including categories such as salaries, equipment, and travel expenses.
Determine the duration of the project as well as its exact geographical location.
Identify the beneficiaries of the project and detail how they will benefit.
Develop a detailed work plan with objectives, expected outcomes, and performance indicators.
Inform about the partnerships or collaborations involved in the project.
Indicate other potential funding sources and how the project can be replicated or scaled up.
Describe how the project or its impacts can be sustainable beyond the funding period.
Include the mission of the main organization involved.
Assemble the necessary documents such as the nonprofit status certificate and a letter of support if the organization does not directly belong to the local community.

Submitting the application

Fill out the online application form with all the gathered information.
Submit the required supporting documents via the online portal.

Submission confirmation

Wait for an automatic confirmation of your application submission.
Keep the confirmation received for future reference.

Additional information

Projects funded under the NAPECA program must start between June 2024 and June 2026.
Applicants should use the provided worksheet template to detail the budget for project proposals.
Grant funds are disbursed based on progress reports and financial statements verifying the use of funds to generate intended results.
A maximum of one application per organization per country is considered within each grant cycle.
Successful grant recipients must enter into a funding agreement with the CEC before contributions are disbursed.
The CEC emphasizes the importance of "free, prior and informed consent" from Indigenous populations involved in the project.
Projects should foster Indigenous leadership and self-determination, recognizing Indigenous rights and knowledge systems relating to environmental decision-making.
The recognition of Indigenous Knowledge systems includes integrating gender-based roles, modes of knowledge transmission, and environmental decision-making.
Proposals are accepted only through the online application portal.