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Indigenous Habitat Participation Program - Capacity-building, Engagement, and Collaboration component
Funding for Indigenous fish habitat capacity and collaboration
Last Update: June 9, 2026
Funding available
Up to 15% of project cost
Timeline
- Open continuously
Location
Canada
Overview
The Indigenous Habitat Participation Program supports Indigenous participation in fish and fish habitat conservation and protection through grants and contributions. It funds engagement, collaboration, and capacity-building activities, with capacity-building projects prioritized in inland areas.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Improve governance or administrative structure
- Develop strategic partnerships
Eligible Funding
- Up to 15% of project cost
Timeline
- Open continuously
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Financial cooperative
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- Non-financial cooperative
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Research
- Environment
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Employment and Training
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
- Rural / Remote communities
- Community leaders
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Regional
- Provincial
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Engagement on policies, programs, and regulations related to fish and fish habitat protection.
- Collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada on planning, protection, monitoring, conservation, and data collection.
- Capacity-building for Indigenous organizations, including training, governance, and management structures.
- Activities focused on conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat with long-term benefits.
Documents Needed
- Completed proposal form
- Instructions to complete the form
- Project details for agreement negotiations, if selected
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Indigenous communities, bands, or settlements
- Indigenous councils, associations, organizations, and societies
- Indigenous fisheries bodies and Indigenous economic organizations
- Partnerships or aggregations of Indigenous groups
- DFO-mandated service providers working with Indigenous organizations
Who is not eligible
- Projects focused on fisheries management, such as stock assessment or hatcheries.
- Projects involving on-the-ground habitat restoration work.
- Applicants seeking support for work already funded by other public or private sources.
Eligible expenses
- Salaries, wages, and other labour costs for project staff, including employer-mandatory benefits.
- Training fees and materials, insurance, outreach materials, office space, and supplies.
- Travel, professional services, equipment rental or purchase, repairs, communications services, and ceremonial costs where applicable.
- Administrative overhead, up to 15% of the total contribution amount.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Activities related to fisheries management, such as stock assessment or hatcheries.
- On-the-ground habitat restoration activities.
- Activities, services, studies, or written materials already funded by other public or private sources.
Eligible geographic areas
- Across Canada
- Inland areas of Canada, for capacity-building funding
Selection criteria
- Relevance to IHPP objectives and fish and fish habitat conservation and protection.
- Applicant experience, resources, and management capacity.
- Alignment with national and regional strategies and priorities.
- Scope of engagement and the number of Indigenous partners involved.
- Preference for priority areas, broad partnerships, and long-term benefits.
How to apply
- Step 1: Complete the proposal form
- Fill out all sections of the proposal form.
- Use the guidance document to help prepare the application.
- Step 2: Submit by email
- Email the completed proposal form to the DFO regional office where the project will take place.
- If needed, contact the regional coordinator to make alternate arrangements.
- Step 3: Await confirmation and decision
- Receipt is confirmed within 5 business days.
- Applicants are informed of acceptance or rejection within 13 business days of the funding decision.
- Step 4: Finalize agreement and payment
- If approved, additional project details may be requested for the grant or contribution agreement.
- Successful applicants receive contribution transfer payments within 30 business days of the agreement or a fully completed report.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are screened first to confirm they meet the minimum requirements.
- Eligible proposals are then assessed against program priorities and applicant and project capacity.
- The funding body decides whether grant or contribution funding is the best fit.
- If successful, applicants are contacted and a contribution or grant agreement is developed.
Additional information
- Applications are accepted for single-year or multi-year projects of up to three years.
- Applicants must complete all sections of the proposal form to be considered.
- If selected, additional technical details may be requested for agreement development.
Contacts
Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- Indigenous Habitat Participation Program - Consultation componentSupports Indigenous consultation participation on fisheries decisions
Frequently Asked Questions about the Indigenous Habitat Participation Program - Capacity-building, Engagement, and Collaboration component Program
What is the Indigenous Habitat Participation Program - Capacity-building, Engagement, and Collaboration component?
The Indigenous Habitat Participation Program supports Indigenous participation in fish and fish habitat conservation and protection through grants and contributions. It funds engagement, collaboration, and capacity-building activities, with capacity-building projects prioritized in inland areas.
How much funding can be received?
Indigenous Habitat Participation Program - Capacity-building, Engagement, and Collaboration component Funds up to 15% of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Indigenous Habitat Participation Program - Capacity-building, Engagement, and Collaboration component program?
To be eligible for the Indigenous Habitat Participation Program - Capacity-building, Engagement, and Collaboration component program, you must:
Indigenous communities and organizations
Indigenous group partnerships
DFO-mandated service providers
What expenses are eligible under Indigenous Habitat Participation Program - Capacity-building, Engagement, and Collaboration component?
Engagement on policies, programs, and regulations related to fish and fish habitat protection.
Collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada on planning, protection, monitoring, conservation, and data collection.
Capacity-building for Indigenous organizations, including training, governance, and management structures.
Activities focused on conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat with long-term benefits.
Who can I contact for more information about the Indigenous Habitat Participation Program - Capacity-building, Engagement, and Collaboration component?
You can contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) by email at dfo.queihpp-ppahque.mpo@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
Where is the Indigenous Habitat Participation Program - Capacity-building, Engagement, and Collaboration component available?
The Indigenous Habitat Participation Program - Capacity-building, Engagement, and Collaboration component program is available across Canada.
Is the Indigenous Habitat Participation Program - Capacity-building, Engagement, and Collaboration component a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Indigenous Habitat Participation Program - Capacity-building, Engagement, and Collaboration component is a Partnering and Collaboration