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Evaluation of the Sustainable Development Goals Funding Program, 2025

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Executive summary

In 2015, all United Nations Member States, including Canada, adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda). The goal of the 2030 Agenda was to provide a common plan for peace and prosperity for all people and the planet. As part of 2030 Agenda, 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were identified, to act as a global call to action to address today's most pressing social, economic and environmental challenges. These 17 SDGs are the following:

  1. No Poverty
  2. Zero Hunger
  3. Good Health and Well-being
  4. Quality Education
  5. Gender Equality
  6. Clean Water and Sanitation
  7. Affordable and Clean Energy
  8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
  9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  1. Reduced Inequality
  2. Sustainable Cities and Communities
  3. Responsible Consumption and Production
  4. Climate Action
  5. Life Below Water
  6. Life on Land
  7. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
  8. Partnerships for the Goals

In 2018, the Government of Canada created the SDG Unit, within Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), to be responsible for reporting on SDG progress within Canada and to administer the accompanying SDG Funding Program (hereafter referred to as the Program). The Program is designed to complement the Government of Canada's existing SDG efforts by supporting priorities and initiatives that are not covered by other federal programs. The aim of the Program is to:

The Program launched 4 different intake processes since its inauguration in 2018. As of May 2025, 162 total grants and contribution projects have been funded with the aim to support the Program's objectives of:

Budget 2018 provided $59.8 million over 13 years ($4.6 annually) to establish the Program. Between fiscal years 2018 to 2019 and 2023 to 2024, the Program has allocated approximately $22 million in funding to support 131 projects (118 grants and 13 contributions) selected through the first 3 intake processes.Footnote 1

Evaluation scope and objectives

The evaluation examines the 131 funded projects selected through the first 3 intake processes, and whose funding and activities have been completed at the time of the evaluation. The period of examination is from the start of the Program (fiscal year 2018 to 2019) to fiscal year 2023 to 2024.

The purpose of the evaluation is to:

Using a rapid evaluation format, the evaluation relies on 2 lines of evidence, a document review and a series of semi-structured key informant interviews. All 131 projects (118 grant and 13 contribution projects) funded during the reference period have been examined.Footnote 2 In the case of the 118 grants, the evaluation reviewed the 118 grant project descriptions, but only 113 grant project final reports were available at the time of the evaluation.

Key findings

The evaluation found that the Program plays a role commensurate with its small size in supporting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach in SDG implementation. The Program's broad flexibility enables organizations to carry out multi-faceted initiatives, effectively reaching new audiences and engaging stakeholders across various sectors and platforms. To varying extents, funded projects contributed to awareness raising, the promotion of partnerships, and the development of innovative approaches to advance the SDGs.

Application process

SDG grant funding recipients generally identified that the application process was straightforward. However, most raised concerns about the length of time it took from time of application to funding decision, as well as limited communication while waiting to hear about funding decisions, which made it challenging to plan and hire the needed staff in advance of project funding approval.

Experiences of SDG contribution funding recipients are generally aligned with ESDC's Year 3 Grants and Contributions Applicants Client Experience Research (2022 to 2023) report. Overall, most of the SDG contribution funding recipients (76%) were satisfied with their application experience, which is above ESDC's Year 3 report findings at 68%.Footnote 3 SDG contribution recipients generally expressed satisfaction with the support and responsiveness from ESDC officials.

Targeting of SDGs

According to the contribution Call for Proposals launched in fiscal year 2019 to 2020, funding prioritized projects that "indicated how projects were advancing the 2030 Agenda as a whole, or multiple SDGs." Most funded projects were found to be broadly focused (for example 61% of grant projects and 62% of contribution projects attempted to address all 17 SDGs) rather than targeting specific areas. Overall, the most targeted SDG was SDG 13 (Climate action) which was included as part of 79% (103 of 131) of all funded projects, while the least targeted SDG was SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure) included as part of 64% (84 of 131) of projects.

Awareness raising and knowledge sharing

Most grant projects, 84% (95 of 113), and all 13 contribution projects identified "awareness raising" as a key activity supported by Program funding, but few tracked changes in awareness levels. Project activities identified to raise awareness included: national and local events; conferences and workshops; the development of training and educational materials; and, the use of web-platforms and social media.

Fostering partnerships and networks

Most grant projects, 79% (89 of 113) and all 13 contribution projects developed new partnerships, often with community organizations, municipalities, or sectoral stakeholders. However, it was found that most partnerships concluded at the end of the funding period, limiting long-term collaboration.

Innovative approaches

Almost half of all grant projects, 46% (52 of 113) and almost all contribution projects, 92% (12 of 13) reported exploring or promoting innovative approaches for responding to sustainable development issues.

Most grant projects focused on identifying or mapping existing approaches rather than testing new solutions for sustainability. Key informants noted that the short-term nature of the grants (up to a year long during the reference period), as well as financial constraints, limited the amount of innovative approaches that could be developed and tested.

Inclusion of equity-deserving groups and vulnerable populations

Approximately 56% (70 of 126) of all grants and contribution projects targeted equity-deserving and vulnerable groups. Among these projects, there was generally good alignment between stated objectives and described outcomes.

The involvement of equity-deserving and vulnerable groups as key stakeholders in funded projects was often directly influenced by the specific SDGs each project targeted. Certain SDGs, such as SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), are inherently more aligned with the needs and realities of equity-deserving and vulnerable populations. As a result, projects focusing on these SDGs tended to prioritize the engagement of equity-deserving and vulnerable groups, ensuring their voices, experiences, and needs were considered in efforts to advance the 2030 Agenda.

Indigenous peoples as key partners

Over one-third of grant projects, 35% (40 of 113) identified Indigenous peoples as collaborators, either in planning or in knowledge-sharing roles. Further, almost 30% (33 of 113) of grant project final reports described the inclusion of Indigenous priorities and cultural values into the projects, such as the preservation and revitalization of Indigenous languages and respect, reciprocity and community support. However, it was not always clear from reviewing grants project final reports the depth of Indigenous involvement.

Most contribution projects, over 80% (11 of 13) identified integrating Indigenous peoples and organizations in activity implementation, involving Indigenous groups as beneficiaries, and/or consulting with Indigenous groups to reflect local knowledge.

COVID-19 disruptions and adaptations

Funding recipients reported being able to adapt to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and made project modifications as required. For example, projects that had originally been planned as in-person events, were often moved to an online platform.

Performance measurement

At the time of the evaluation, the draft program logic model in the Program's Performance Information Profile (date 2018) focused on 2 outcomes, both of which were ultimate in nature, and pertained to commitments for the 2030 Agenda. The Performance Information Profile would benefit from better aligning the Program's expected outcomes with its funded activities rather than the outcomes sought from 2030 Agenda.

From a performance measurement perspective, there are inherent challenges associated with informing the performance of programs that aim to support a broad range of activities seeking to influence a framework like the SDGs. In part, the Program's influence is commensurate with its small size and stated objectives, which is meant to provide an enabling environment, rather than directly advancing the 17 SDGs.

Lessons learned

The report identifies 3 lessons learned:

  1. Strategic selection of funded projects along the 17 SDGs is key to the Program's ability to reach its objectives and bring change. Within the mandate of the SDG funding program, the selection of complementary projects targeting specific SDGs are a promising approach to support Program's reach and reduce duplication of efforts
  2. Adapting SDG messaging to make it more relatable and engaging helps develop greater community acceptance. When funding recipients adapt SDG language to better reflect lived experiences, cultures, and everyday realities of the groups and communities that projects are trying to reach, community understanding and engagement is increased
  3. Building trust and strong relationships requires time and dedicated project resources. When funding recipients engage with Indigenous communities early and often during project development, it allows for deeper community involvement, leadership opportunities, and more meaningful integration of knowledge and teachings into SDG projects

Observation

The evaluation issues the following observation that may benefit the Program and funding recipients in the future:

Foster knowledge sharing and collaboration among funding recipients to share best practices and lessons learned

The program has supported the development of partnerships within individual projects, with further potential to strengthen connections among funding recipients working on related themes. However, funding recipients identified limited opportunities to collaborate and share insights into each other's activities. There is an opportunity for ESDC's SDG Unit to take a leadership role in organizing information sharing activities among funding recipients to better document best practices and lessons learned.

Introduction

This report is the first evaluation of the SDG Funding Program. The evaluation adresses a departmental priority by providing results about the SDG Funding Program's short-term outcomesFootnote 4 and lessons learned to date.

This is a "rapid evaluation"Footnote 5 based on 2 lines of qualitative evidence providing contextual insights into the Program's early results:

The evaluation examines the period from the start of the SDG Funding Program in fiscal year 2018 to 2019 until the end of fiscal year 2023 to 2024.

The SDG Funding Program overview

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all United Nations member states (including Canada) in 2015. It aims to address critical challenges facing humanity and the planet by promoting peace, prosperity, and sustainability. The agenda is built around the following 17 SDGs (see below).Footnote 7

  1. No Poverty
  2. Zero Hunger
  3. Good Health and Well-being
  4. Quality Education
  5. Gender Equality
  6. Clean Water and Sanitation
  7. Affordable and Clean Energy
  8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
  9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  1. Reduced Inequality
  2. Sustainable Cities and Communities
  3. Responsible Consumption and Production
  4. Climate Action
  5. Life Below Water
  6. Life on Land
  7. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
  8. Partnerships for the Goals

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to Canada's implementation of the 2030 Agenda by working in partnership with very diverse organizations (for example, not-for-profit organizations, provincial or territorial governments, municipalities, academia, for-profit organizations) to accelerate progress on the SDGs.

Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy, entitled "Moving Forward Together" was released in 2021. The Strategy was developed to create and foster an enabling environment for whole-of-society's participation to advance progress on the 17 SDGs.

Program description

In 2018 the Government of Canada created the SDG Unit (within ESDC) to be responsible for reporting on SDG progress within Canada and to administer the accompanying SDG Funding Program (hereafter referred to as the Program).Footnote 8 The 17 SDGs are addressed by various programs within ESDC and other federal departments and agencies, as well as other levels of government in Canada. The Program aims to create an enabling environment to increase public awareness of the SDGs, support new partnerships to advance action, and identify and implement innovative initiatives to drive progress on the SDGs.Footnote 9

The Program is intended to complement existing Government of Canada efforts by supporting priorities and initiatives related to the 2030 Agenda that do not fall under existing federal programs.Footnote 10

SDG Funding Program objectives and expected outcomes

The objective of the Program is to fund sustainable development projects that:

According to the Program's Terms and Conditions, the short-termFootnote 12 expected outcomes are:

  1. Increased public awareness of SDGs: through the funding of engagement activities, Canadians' awareness of the 2030 Agenda will be broadened
  2. New partnerships and networks: the development of partnerships and networks between organizations will lead to a better understanding of issues, challenges and opportunities, and identify solutions to advance the SDGs in Canada and abroad
  3. Improved and more broadly available knowledge of emerging sustainable development issues related to leaving no one behind: partnerships will help identify gaps in Canada's efforts to meet the SDGs and improve understanding of the social, economic and environmental needs of under-represented populations who are at risk of being left behind
  4. Innovative approaches: the Program will support organizations implementing innovative initiatives that seek to drive progress on multiple SDGs
  5. Contribute to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples: engagement activities contribute to the Government of Canada's commitment to a renewed relationship with First Nations, Inuit and Métis by establishing Indigenous peoples as key partners in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda

Program funding

Budget 2018 provided $59.8 million over 13 years ($4.6 million annually) to establish the SDG Funding Program. The annual funding of $4.6 million comes from 6 core federal departments:

Table 1 below provides details about the number of projects in which funding begins each fiscal year. The average duration of funded projects is 1.0 year for grants and 3.5 years for contributions. Originally, the first 2 intakes (solicited intake and continuous intake) focused exclusively on grants, as these are typically smaller projects that are faster to approve, have a shorter duration, and fewer reporting requirements. Once the National Strategy was developed, contribution projects, which are typically multi-year and have additional reporting requirements, were included in a third and separate Call for Proposals to support and implement key aspects of the National Strategy. Starting in fiscal year 2021 to 2022, the annual funding envelope was almost exclusively used for contributions.

Table 1: Number of new SDG projects in which funding begins each fiscal yearFootnote 13
SDG project type 2018 to 2019 2019 to 2020 2020 to 2021 2021 to 2022 2022 to 2023 2023 to 2024 Total number of projects
# of new grant projects 19 50 46 2 1 0 118
# of new contribution projects 0 0 5 8 0 0 13
Total number of projects 19 50 51 10 1 0 131

Table 2 presents the amount of funding allocated by fiscal year. It demonstrates an initial emphasis on grants and a move to multi-year contribution projects.

Table 2: Funding disbursements of SDG projects ($ million)
Program stream 2018 to 2019 2019 to 2020 2020 to 2021 2021 to 2022 2022 to 2023 2023 to 2024 Total funding
Grant projects 1.50 4.58 4.46 0.28 0.10 0.10 10.87
Contribution projects 0 0 0.14 3.42 3.60 3.71 11.02
Total funding 1.50 4.58 4.60 3.70 3.70 3.81 21.89

Evaluation approach

Evaluation objectives and scope

This evaluation covers the period from fiscal year 2018 to 2019 until fiscal year 2023 to 2024. The evaluation assesses the Program's relevance and examines the extent to which the Program achieved its expected short-term outcomes to date. In addition, the evaluation seeks to identify lessons learned and actionable insights from initiatives funded by the Program. The evaluation questions can be found in Appendix A.

The Program launched 4 different intake processes since its creation in 2018. The evaluation examines the 131 funded grant and contribution projects selected through the first 3 intake processes, and whose funding and activities have been completed at the time of the evaluation.Footnote 15 , Footnote 16

Evaluation methods

The evaluation utilized a rapid format and focused on a narrow set of questions and aspects of the Program. The evaluation relies on 2 lines of evidence, a document review, and a series of semi-structured key informant interviews to answer the evaluation questions.

Document review

As part of the document review, 131 project descriptions were reviewed (118 grant and 13 contribution projects), however, only 126 of 131 final project reports (113 grant projects and 13 contribution projects) were available at the time of the evaluation.Footnote 17 These final project reports, in addition to project completion reports, and other reports published by the SDG Unit provide a thorough overview of program relevance, lessons learned, and insights into the Program's intended outcomes.

Key informant interviews

Key informant interviews with ESDC program officials, partners from other federal departments and agencies, and grant and contribution funding recipient organizations provided additional insight into the Program's design and delivery, governance, outcomes, innovative practices, and partnerships. The interviews also captured interviewees' perspective on challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned. In total, 29 interviews were completed with the following categories of interviewees:

Scale of significance for document and key informant interview reporting

The scale below was used to indicate the significance of the interview findings. These percentages correspond to the relative weight of responses from key informants who held similar views.

  • "All/almost all" - findings reflect the views and opinions of 90% or more of the key informants in the group
  • "Most" - findings reflect the views and opinions of at least 75% but less than 90% of key informants in the group
  • "Majority" - findings reflect the views and opinions of at least 51% but less than 75% of key informants in the group
  • "Some" - findings reflect the views and opinions of at least 25% but less than 50% of key informants in the group
  • "A few" - findings reflect the views and opinions of at least 2, but less than 25% of key informants in the group

Evaluation limitations

The evaluation of the Program is susceptible to several limitations. These can be summarized at a high-level as follows:

Evaluation findings

Program design and delivery

The Program was launched in fiscal year 2018 to 2019, with a first solicited intake process that resulted in 19 organizations receiving grants of up to $100,000 to undertake activities that addressed one or more of the following:

In February 2019, a funding approach for fiscal year 2019 to 2020 was approved which included 2 additional intake processes:

While the continuous intake process for grants (Part 1) focused on engagement and SDG awareness, the objectives of the open Call for Proposals (Part 2) for contributions focused on innovation, knowledge sharing and addressing data/research gaps in Canada.

Between fiscal year 2018 to 2019 and 2023 to 2024, a total of 131 projects were funded (118 grant and 13 contribution projects) through these 3 intakes.

Figure 1 (below) illustrates the types of funding recipients associated with grants and contributions projects. Funding recipients included a variety of partners in the public, not-for-profit, and private sectors. The vast majority (72%) of funding recipients were not-for-profit organizations.

Figure 1: Number and percentage breakdown of funding recipient types
A pie chart showing the number and percentage breakdown of funding recipient types. Text description available below
Descriptive text for Figure 1
Funding recipient types Count of recipients Percentage of recipients
Not-for-profit organizations 94 72%
Educational/academic institutions 18 14%
Private/for-profit organizations 15 11%
Municipal, provincial, or territorial governments 3 2%
Indigenous organizations 1 1%
  • Source: SDG Funding Program administrative data.

The nature and frequency of progress and financial reporting is specified in each funding agreement. Contribution funding recipients are required to submit progress reports that outline activities completed and demonstrate progress towards achievement of results. All contribution and grant recipients are required to submit final reports containing information on results achieved.

Although only 1 Indigenous organization was funded under the 131 projects included in this evaluation, since 2020 the Program has allocated $900,000 annually to 3 distinction based National i ndigenous Organizations. These are the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and the Métis National Council. The funding allocation to the 3 National Indigenous Organizations helps to ensure Indigenous voices, views and traditional knowledge are reflected in Canada's work to advance the SDGs. National Indigenous Organizations funding is excluded from the scope of this evaluation as it is administered and transferred through dedicated Indigenous Engagement Protocol Agreements, which have separate Terms and Conditions from the grants and contributions of the SDG Funding Program.

Table 3 (below) shows the expected reach by province or territory of funded grant and contribution projects. For example, 72 grant projects were expected to have a national reach.Footnote 20

Table 3: The Program grant and contribution funding amounts ($ millions) by region targetedFootnote 21
Province/ territory National Multiple regionsFootnote 22 British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba Ontario Quebec New Brunswick Nova Scotia Yukon Northwest Territories Total
Grant projects 6.8 0.3 0.4 0.7 0.1 0.2 1.2 0.9 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 11.0
Contribution projects 5.8 1.7 0 0 0 0 3.4 0 0 0 0 0 10.9
Total 12.6 2.0 0.4 0.7 0.1 0.2 4.6 0.9 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 21.9

Figure 2 (below) presents the types of activities that grant and contribution projects reported conducting (note, projects can report conducting multiple activities). For example, awareness raising was the most commonly reported activity, identified by 83 grant projects and all 13 contribution projects, followed by establishing networks and partnerships.

Figure 2: Number of projects by self-reported activity type Footnote 23,Footnote 24
Chart of the number of projects by self-reported activity type
Descriptive text for Figure 2
Type of activity Number of contribution projects Number of grant projects
Pilot project 6 16
Mapping exercise 3 25
Survey 6 26
Policy brief/report 6 32
Roundtables 9 30
Educational material creation 11 55
Engagement/consultations 10 68
Knowledge transfer 13 67
Establishing networks/partnerships 13 74
Awareness raising 13 83
  • Source: SDG Funding Program Project Completion Reports

Figure 3 (below) illustrates the most reported expected project outcomes to support the 2030 Agenda.

Figure 3: Number of projects by outcomes to support the 2030 Agenda Footnote 25
Graph of the number of projects by outcomes to support the 2030 Agenda
Descriptive text for Figure 3
Outcomes generated by the project to support the 2030 Agenda Number of contribution projects Number of grant projects
SDG mapping 4 17
Concrete policy recommendation development 6 18
Contribution to the Agenda 2030 National Strategy 4 28
New/expanded research/data 8 35
Identification/integration of Indigenous and/or local knowledge 6 44
Identification of innovative approaches to drive SDG progress 12 51
New/expanded partnerships and networks 13 72
Increased awareness of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs 13 76
  • Source: SDG Funding Program Project Completion Reports

Increased awareness of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs was the most reported intended outcomes among 76 grant and 13 contribution projects, closely followed by new or expanded partnerships and networks (72 grant and 13 contribution projects).

Program relevance

The evaluation found that the Program plays a role commensurate with its small size and activities funded in supporting Government of Canada's priorities to advance the United Nations' 2030 Agenda. The 2021 mandate letter to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development directed the Minister to continue leading the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Canada.Footnote 26 In addition to mandated commitments, the broad nature of the Program also enables it to contribute, in limited capacities, towards a wide variety of related government commitments.Footnote 27

To assess the relevance of the Program within Canada's SDG framework, the evaluation reviewed key Government of Canada documents outlining federal activities and commitments to advancing the SDGs, including:

A review of key program documents identified 8 cross-cutting objectives as key drivers of Canada's implementation of the SDGs.Footnote 30 These objectives are:

The evaluation compared these 8 overarching federal objectives for Agenda 2030 to those of the Program. It is important to reiterate that the Program is intended to create an enabling environment to support the SDGs, rather than directly advancing the 17 SDGs. The evaluation found that there is a connection between the Program and the overarching federal objectives for Agenda 2030. For a detailed comparison of the Government of Canada's 2030 Agenda objectives and the Program's objectives, please refer to Appendix B.

The objectives of the Program's Terms and Conditions are broad and provide flexibility to select projects that can best address Government of Canada priorities and areas identified for concentrated efforts. For example, key informant interviews with ESDC program officials revealed that the Program initially supported awareness raising projects since the SDGs were not considered prominent nationally during the first 2 Calls for Proposals. The focus later evolved to fostering partnerships and developing innovative approaches. Since the initial 2 Calls for Proposals, program officials identified that funding periods and amounts have increased to respond to feedback obtained from funding recipients.

Additional program priorities highlighted by program officials and program webpagesFootnote 31 include funding projects that target the greatest number of SDGs, and an emphasis on projects that advance SDGs in equity-deserving groups and vulnerable populations. However, key informant interviews with partners and funding recipients highlighted limited capacity of projects, which are often locally focused, to make widespread societal changes given limited funding for projects both in terms of amounts available and duration.

Application process

Interviews with ESDC program officials revealed that the application process for the Program aligns with the standards of other Government of Canada grants and contributions programs. This includes a reliance on the Grants and Contributions Online Services portal for most proposal submissions. To improve user experience, as part of the fourth intake launched in November 2023, 2 information sessions were open for potential applicants in December 2023.

Grant recipient key informants generally identified that the application process was straightforward. However, most (8 out of 12) raised concerns about short timelines, limited communication, and long delays (up to 20 months between submission and approval), which made it challenging to plan and hire the needed staff in advance of project funding approval.

Just over half of contribution funding recipients (5) interviewed also noted that the response time to hear back about applications was very long. In contrast, contribution funding recipients generally expressed satisfaction with the support and responsiveness provided by the Program area in response to proposed project modifications, particularly considering the COVID-19 pandemic.

ESDC releases an annual Grants and Contributions Applicants Client Experience Research report which provides insights into the satisfaction and experience of applicants with grants and contribution findings. As part of ESDC's Year 3 (2022 to 2023) report, it was found that 68% of applicants expressed satisfaction with their overall experience.Footnote 32 Similar results were found for the SDG Program. Contribution recipient key informants were asked to rate their experiences applying for Program funding based on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being very difficult and 5 being very easy. Out of the 11 key informants, 8 provided a response, resulting in an average of 3.8 out of 5 (76%).

Key informant interviews revealed that holidays are taken into consideration for Call for Proposals periods. However, several key informants mentioned that the Call for Proposals period can be a challenge if cultural events are not taken into consideration. For example, some Indigenous communities often have scheduling conflicts that may need to be considered when Call for Proposals are launched (for example, hunting seasons).

Targeting of SDGs

All funded projects identified 1 or more SDGs as a primary focus of their work. According to the contribution Call for Proposals launched in 2019 to 2020, funding prioritized projects that "indicated how projects were advancing the 2030 Agenda as a whole, or multiple SDGs." Most funded projects were found to be broadly focused (for example, 61% of grant projects and 62% of contribution projects attempted to address all 17 SDGs) rather than targeting specific areas.

ESDC officials clarified that projects from the first intake focused predominately on awareness raising about the SDGs, but with the second and third Calls for Proposals the focus shifted to partnership building and developing innovative approaches.

Figure 4 (below) outlines the distribution of SDGs targeted by all 131 funded projects. Overall, the most targeted SDG was SDG 13 (Climate action), with 103 projects. The least targeted SDG was SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure) with 84 projects.

Figure 4: Number of projects targeting each of the 17 SDGs Footnote 33
Chart of the number of projects targeting each of the 17 SDGs
Descriptive text for Figure 4
List of SDGs Contribution Grant
SDG 1 (No poverty) 10 82
SDG 2 (Zero hunger) 12 79
SDG 3 (Good health & well-being) 11 84
SDG 4 (Quality education) 10 83
SDG 5 (Gender equality) 10 82
SDG 6 (Clean water & sanitation) 10 76
SDG 7 (Affordable & clean energy) 11 79
SDG 8 (Decent work & economic growth) 11 84
SDG 9 (Industry, innovation & infrastructure) 10 74
SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities) 10 87
SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) 11 82
SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production) 12 75
SDG 13 (Climate action) 12 91
SDG 14 (Life below water) 11 75
SDG 15 (Life on land) 10 76
SDG 16 (Peace, justice, & strong institutions) 10 84
SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals) 11 86
  • Source: SDG Funding Program administrative data.

In general, the difference between the number of SDGs targeted overall is minimal. However, as displayed in Figure 5 (below), when the projects targeting "all SDGs" are removed, the difference in targeted SDGs becomes more apparent. It is important to note that while projects were able to identify targetting multiple SDGs, they may have placed greater emphasis on specific SDGs (particularly if the SDG aligned better with the mandate of the funded organization). For the first 3 intakes, the Project Completion Report template did not ask funding recipients to identify the "top" or "prioritized" SDGs addressed by a project that targets multipe SDGs. Program officials clarified that as part of the fourth intake process (outside of the scope of the evaluation), ESDC has since developed a program specific tempate that captures this information.

Figure 5: Number of projects targeting each of the 17 SDGs excluding projects that targeted all SDGs
Chart of the number of projects targeting each of the 17 SDGs excluding projects that targeted all SDGs
Descriptive text for Figure 5
List of SDGs Contribution Grant
SDG 1 (No poverty) - 12
SDG 2 (Zero hunger) 2 9
SDG 3 (Good health & well-being) 1 14
SDG 4 (Quality education) - 14
SDG 5 (Gender equality) - 13
SDG 6 (Clean water & sanitation) - 5
SDG 7 (Affordable & clean energy) 1 9
SDG 8 (Decent work & economic growth) 1 15
SDG 9 (Industry, innovation & infrastructure) - 5
SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities) - 16
SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) 1 12
SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production) 2 6
SDG 13 (Climate action) 2 21
SDG 14 (Life below water) 1 4
SDG 15 (Life on land) - 6
SDG 16 (Peace, justice, & strong institutions) - 14
SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals) 1 16
  • Source: SDG Funding Program administrative data.

It was not clear whether projects that targeted a greater number of SDGs had better outcomes than projects that focused on specific SDGs. Focusing on specific SDGs could allow projects to be more targeted in their approach, particularly for projects that leverage existing networks, and organizational knowledge and expertise. The SDG Unit may wish to further examine the benefits of broad themed projects versus targeted projects in meeting the objectives of the Program.

Awareness raising and knowledge sharing

A key objective of the Program is to support projects that raise public awareness on the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda. It was found that 108 grant and contribution projects delivered awareness-raising activities, such as conferences, webinars, and digital campaigns, but few tracked changes in awareness levels. The emphasis and focus of awareness raising activities varied, with some projects tailoring SDG messaging to local issues, while others focused primarily on introducing the framework.

Most grant projects (95 of 113) and all 13 contribution projects identified "awareness raising" as a key activity supported by Program funding. For example, among grant projects, 1,462 engagement activities were documented.

Key findings from the document review and key informant interviews include:

Key activities carried out for awareness raising and knowledge sharing are highlighted below.

National and local events, conferences, and workshops

The evaluation found that 42 grant and contribution projects took part in offering events, conferences, and workshops to help raise awareness about the SDGs. A review of project final reports found:

Knowledge transfer through development of training and educational materials

The majority of grant and contribution projects identified taking part in knowledge transfer through the development of training and educational materials. Overall, it was found that 83 grant projects employed a variety of methods to develop and disseminate knowledge, including workshops, training sessions, and webinars. These efforts were identified as helping to raise awareness of sustainable development issues and build capacity among communities to work towards advancing SDGs.

Among contribution recipient interviewees, 7 indicated that their projects produced a variety of educational resources, including blogs, webinars, publications, and newsletters, aimed at increasing understanding of the SDGs. These materials were identified as helping to share success stories and best practices and contributing to a broader conversation about the goals. Final reports showed that almost all (11) contribution projects identified the development of educational materials and training guides as a key project activity and avenue for knowledge sharing around the SDGs. Specific examples include:

Leveraging web-platforms and social media

While only 20% of grant funding recipients identified leveraging web-platforms and social media for their projects, all contribution recipients identified their use in their projects. For example:

Fostering partnerships and networks

Among key objectives of the SDG Funding Program are to support projects that foster partnerships and networks to address sustainable development and the existing and emerging social, economic and environmental issues.

Most grant projects developed new partnerships, often with community organizations, municipalities, or sectoral stakeholders. These collaborations were largely tied to specific deliverables. However, it was found that most partnerships concluded at the end of the funding period, limiting long-term collaboration. Additional insights include:

The creation and expansion of partnerships and networks as a key project activity was identified in all 13 contribution final reports, as well as by all 11 contribution funding recipients interviewed. In addition, 4 of the 11 interviewees noted that their projects also acted as intermediaries in connecting other organizations to carry out work under the Canadian SDG framework using a larger network. This was done through various initiatives, such as:

Key informants identified the above activities as helping facilitate collaboration, resource sharing, and knowledge exchange between a diverse range of stakeholders.

Innovative approaches

Identifying and implementing innovative approaches for advancing Canada's progress on the 2030 Agenda is a key objective of the Program. Innovative approaches are defined by the Program as "an approach that will introduce a new product, idea, process, or technology, or complement, rethink, and/or adapt existing activities that support Canada's implementation of the 2030 Agenda."Footnote 34

Out of 113 grant projects, some (52) reported exploring or promoting innovative approaches for responding to sustainable development issues. Most of these projects focused on identifying or mapping existing approaches rather than testing new solutions for sustainability. A smaller number of projects piloted novel methods for engaging equity-deserving and vulnerable populations or advancing data tracking. Key informants noted that the short-term nature of the grants, combined with time, and resource constraints limits the number of innovative approaches that can be developed and tested.

Additional insights about grant projects include:

According to project final reports, most innovation-related grant projects (42 of 52) shared their work through the following public forums: workshops, training sessions, public presentations, reports, and guides and toolkits. A stated goal of many of these projects' dissemination activities was to help build capacity among specific audiences such as educators or community leaders.

In terms of contribution projects, it was found that almost all projects (12 of 13) reported the identification of innovative approaches to drive progress on the SDGs as a key outcome generated by their activities. While some project activities aligned with the Program's objective to find novel ways of responding to existing and emerging sustainable development issues and addressing gaps through innovation, others focused on increasing dialogue and awareness around success stories using innovative approaches for SDG advancement. This involved creating digital resources for mapping SDGs, organizing dialogue series for knowledge sharing, disseminating best practices among stakeholders, and developing technology.

Objectives and outcomes related to equity-deserving and vulnerable groups

Almost 56% of all grant and contribution projects (57 grants and 13 contribution projects out of 126 final project reports) reported targeting equity-deserving and vulnerable groups. Among these projects, there was generally good alignment between stated objectives and described outcomes from final reports.The types of objectives and outcomes reported by these 126 projects are described below:

Distribution of equity-deserving and vulnerable groups

The involvement of equity-deserving and vulnerable groups as key stakeholders in funded projects was often directly influenced by the specific SDGs each project targeted. Certain SDGs, such as SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), are inherently more aligned with the needs and realities of equity-deserving and vulnerable populations. These groups often face systemic barriers and are disproportionately affected by challenges such as limited access to essential services, economic insecurity, and social exclusion. As a result, projects focusing on these SDGs tended to prioritize the engagement of equity-deserving and vulnerable groups, ensuring their voices, experiences, and needs were considered in efforts to advance the 2030 Agenda.

Interviews with grant funding recipients revealed that the short-term nature of funding often impeded the viability of continued progress, specifically with respect to equity-deserving groups. Approximately half (57) of all grant projects identified included at least 1 equity-deserving or vulnerable group for participation in, or as a beneficiary of, their project. Among these projects children and youth (22 projects), racialized and low-income groups (13 projects) and Indigenous Peoples (19 projects) were most likely to be included.Footnote 35 Dissemination methods included workshops, toolkits, webinars, and bilingual resources, though detailed data on reach and uptake was inconsistently reported. Projects reported outcomes such as increased awareness, community engagement, capacity building, and cultural empowerment. Several population groups, including newcomers and 2SLGBTQI+ communities, were less frequently engaged, suggesting gaps in inclusivity.

All 13 contribution projects reported engaging 1 or more equity-deserving or vulnerable groups in their activities, with 7 projects reaching 3 or more targeted populations. Projects most frequently focused on Indigenous Peoples (9 projects), rural or remote communities (8 projects), children and youth (6 projects) and women and girls (6 projects).

Table 4 provides a full list of the equity-deserving and vulnerable groups targeted by grant and contribution projects.

Table 4: Equity-deserving and vulnerable groups targeted by grant and contribution projects
Targeted equity-deserving and/or vulnerable group Number of projects targeting this group
Of the 57 grant projects Of the 13 contribution projects
Children/youth 22 6
Racialized and low-income groups (including racialized groups /communities, low-income persons) 13 3
Indigenous peoples 19 9
Women/girls 8 6
Official language minorities 8 5
Persons with disabilities 4 3
Newly-landed immigrants/refugees 2 3
2SLGBTQI+/non-binary 1 3
Rural and remote communities /individuals from northern communities - 8
Seniors - 2

Indigenous peoples as key partners

A key outcome of the Program is to contribute to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Specifically, engagement activities are identified as contributing to the Government of Canada's commitment to a renewed relationship with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis by establishing Indigenous people as key partners in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.

Two-thirds (73 of 113) of grant projects identified Indigenous participation in projects. Of these projects just over one-third (40 projects) identified Indigenous peoples as collaborators, either in planning or in knowledge-sharing roles. However, it was not always clear from final reports the depth of Indigenous involvement.

The evaluation found that 39 grant projects also focused on Indigenous-related issues encompassing a diverse array of activities aimed at promoting sustainable development and supporting Indigenous communities. For example, 26 projects included educational programs that incorporated Indigenous perspectives and knowledge systems, 7 projects involved health initiatives including diabetes prevention, and 5 projects focused on renewable energy solutions. Almost 30% of project final reports described the inclusion of Indigenous priorities and cultural values, such as the preservation and revitalization of Indigenous languages and respect, reciprocity and community support. The priorities and values were described as occurring through actions such as storytelling, sharing of traditional ecological knowledge or community-led workshops.

Of these 39 projects, 20 projects also identified Indigenous people (including Elders and youth) in leadership roles, including though:

When asked about insights on fostering meaningful partnerships with Indigenous peoples and communities, one-third of grant interviewees (4 out of 12) shared examples of partnerships that they perceived as successful. These included collaborations where Indigenous partners played active roles in shaping project design, facilitating community engagement, or leading knowledge-sharing efforts. In some cases, organizations worked closely with Elders or youth to integrate Indigenous knowledge, values, and priorities into SDG-related initiatives. These experiences highlight the potential for the SDG Funding Program to support strong, community-driven partnerships on projects.

The majority of contribution funding recipients interviewed (6 of 11) identified that their projects established Indigenous peoples as key partners. Most contribution projects (11 of 13) also identified integrating Indigenous peoples and organizations in activity implementation, targeting Indigenous groups as beneficiaries, and/or consulting with Indigenous groups to reflect local knowledge. Furthermore, some contribution projects (6 of 13) also reported the identification/integration of Indigenous and/or local knowledge to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda as a key outcome generated by their activities. Examples provided by contribution projects ranged from funding pilot projects that empowered local Indigenous communities to apply their knowledge in advancing the SDGs to developing resources and frameworks that aligned the SDGs with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action and Indigenous ways of knowing.

In reflecting on their experiences, key informants also offered valuable insights into what supports or facilitates mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous peoples, these included:

COVID-19 disruptions and adaptations

According to program funding recipients interviewed, they were generally able to adapt to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and made project modifications as required. Modifications mentioned by contribution key informants included:

Performance measurement

At the time of the evaluation, the draft program logic model in the Program's Performance Information Profile (date 2018) focused on 2 outcomes, both of which were ultimate in nature, and pertained to commitments for the 2030 Agenda, not the Program itself. They are:

As the draft logic model does not clearly reflect the expected outcomes of the Program, the evaluation drew from key performance indicators found in the Program's Terms and Conditions. Through consultations with the Evaluation Working Group, composed of representatives from the SDG Unit and ESDC's Program Operations Branch, this approach was agreed upon to identify expected short-term outcomes of the Program.

From a performance measurement perspective, there are inherent challenges associated with informing the performance of programs that aim to support a broad range of activities seeking to influence a framework like the SDGs. As well for these types of projects, reporting and monitoring tend to focus on outputs and activities, which are not well suited for impact evaluations.

In part, the Program's influence is commensurate with its size and stated objectives, which is meant to provide an enabling environment, rather than directly advancing the 17 SDGs. Upon reviewing project final reports, it was found that each individual project funded by the Program has its own expected outcomes. However, inconsistent tracking of outcomes, especially in terms of raising awareness, made it difficult to draw conclusions about the Program's ability to increase awareness about the SDGs.

There is an opportunity for the Program to build on projects that developed new data collection and measurement approaches. The evaluation found that 47 of 113 grant projects created tools, indicator frameworks, and participatory data-gathering methods tailored to specific populations or regions, which could inform broader SDG monitoring efforts. Additionally, some contribution projects involved creating digital resources for mapping of SDGs to other indicators. However, without continued funding, these innovations risk being lost. Integrating and harmonizing these innovations into existing SDG monitoring systems could significantly strengthen data collection and analysis efforts.

Updating the Program's Performance Information Profile and draft logic model to clearly define the expected outcomes of the Program, would assist in clarifying data collection requirements in the future. For example, a common set of outcome indicators by types of activities (such as for awareness raising activities) could allow for the agregation of results and building on experiences.

In general, for programs that seek to influence an ecosystem, there is a greater onus on the strategic selection of projects. In the case of the SDG Program, 626 proposals were received, and 131 projects were funded. The selection of the funding instrument (grant versus contribution) is important, as it influences the maximum allowed duration and funding for projects. While outside the scope of the current evaluation, examining the benefits of having the project selection committee choose the funding instrument for projects, instead of asking organizations to pre-select upon submitting a proposal, may assist in better alignment of project activities and timelines with funding instruments.

Lessons learned

The following lessons learned were collected through discussions with key informants and the review of project final reports.

Lesson learned 1: Strategic selection of funded projects along the 17 SDGs is key to the Program's ability to reach its objective and bring change. Within the mandate of the SDG funding program, the selection of complementary projects targeting specific SDGs are a promising approach to support Program's reach and reduce duplication of efforts.

The SDG Funding Program has supported a broad range of projects, many of which have made valuable contributions to raising awareness and fostering partnerships. Moving forward, there is an opportunity to take a more strategic approach to grant and contribution project selection by addressing specific SDGs rather than a broad range of SDGs. This ensures that funded initiatives a) are intentionally designed to achieve an objective that can meaningfully support progress on the 2030 Agenda, and b) build on one another and are in alignment with Canada's SDG priorities. By selecting projects that target specific SDGs, the Program could amplify its overall impact and reduce duplication of efforts.

Lesson learned 2: Adapting SDG messaging to make it more relatable and engaging helps develop greater community acceptance. When funding recipients adapt SDG language to better reflect lived experiences, cultures, and everyday realities of the groups and communities that projects are trying to reach, community understanding and engagement is increased.

The program has played a role in raising awareness about the SDGs, with further opportunity to deepen its emphasis on the principle of "no one left behind." Funding recipient key informants spoke about adapting their use of SDG language, including using plain language, to better resonate across diverse communities. For example, moving away from separating the SDGs into 17 themes, may resonate better with the interconnected view of sustainability held by Indigenous groups, better supporting more meaningful engagement.

Lesson learned 3: building trust and strong relationships requires time and dedicated project resources. When funding recipients engage with Indigenous communities early and often during project development, it allows for deeper community involvement, leadership opportunities, and more meaningful integration of knowledge and teachings into SDG projects.

Project final reports and interviews with funding recipients point to the need to engage with Indigenous communities early and often throughout project design and development, to ensure accurate reflections of the communities that the projects seek to engage and serve. For Indigenous communities, this involves the inclusion of Indigenous voices and teachings in discussions and research, as well as in project design and leadership. An opportunity exists to further support Indigenous leadership in advancing the SDGs by promoting alignment with Indigenous perspectives on sustainability and reconciliation. Providing support for Indigenous-led initiatives, or for projects that establish more structured partnerships with Indigenous organizations, could help strengthen their role as key partners in implementing the 2030 Agenda. In addition, many contribution funding recipients emphasized the importance of including a diverse range of stakeholders into projects to ensure a multi-faceted approach towards SDG work. Acknowledging this broader perspective helps ensure that interventions are inclusive and relevant to communities.

Grant funding recipients highlighted the need for meaningful collaboration with Indigenous-led organizations and communities on projects, which often requires more time than is available through short-term grant funding cycles (on average 1 year in duration). Key informants mentioned the time and care required to listen to the needs and goals of individuals and communities, to help to ensure mutually beneficial collaboration on projects. As well, being flexible, moving away from a "one size fits all" approach to project design and implementation, and being willing to adapt SDG language to reflect cultural perspectives, are viewed as supporting more meaningful and respectful engagement.

ESDC officials identified that during stakeholder consultations, it was recognized that the challenges of engaging Indigenous communities and vulnerable populations requires more time and resources. Consequently, the Program shifted the funding parameters of the fourth Call for Proposals - Grant Stream to extend grant projects for up to 2 years and increase funding.

Conclusion and observation

Overall, the evaluation found that the Program, through the projects funded, appears to be meeting its intended short-term outcomes.

The broad flexibility of the Program allowed organizations to implement multi-faceted initiatives, often reaching new audiences and engaging stakeholders across diverse sectors and platforms. It also allowed organizations to leverage their existing networks and areas of influence, leading to advancements in 3 key areas: increased public awareness of the SDGs, strengthened partnerships and networks, and innovative approaches to sustainable development challenges.

A strength of the funded projects was their ability to engage equity-deserving groups and vulnerable populations. Some projects focused on local communities, empowering diverse groups to drive change in their own regions by equipping them with the tools to lead locally tailored SDG initiatives or by providing funding to smaller organizations to address SDGs in more targeted contexts. Additionally, other projects established accessible platforms for cross-sector collaboration. A key takeaway was the importance of bridging the gap between global and national SDG efforts and local, context-specific solutions to ensure that SDG initiatives remained inclusive and intersectional.

Another outcome of the funded projects was the integration of Indigenous perspectives and knowledge. Projects took 2 primary approaches to Indigenous engagement: meaningfully incorporating Indigenous perspectives into SDG-related work and building capacity within Indigenous communities by providing financial and resource-based support. These efforts helped align SDG initiatives with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, fostering collaborative, community-driven approaches to sustainable development.

Overall, the SDG Funding Program played a role in mobilizing diverse actors, strengthening networks, and fostering innovation in Canada's progress toward the 2030 Agenda. While the program was not explicitly designed to make direct progress on individual SDGs, it successfully enabled funded organizations to contribute to SDG advancement through awareness-raising, capacity-building, and partnership development.

Observation

The evaluation issues the following observation that may benefit the Program and funding recipients in the future.

Foster knowledge sharing and collaboration among funding recipients to share best practices and lessons learned

The program has supported the development of partnerships within individual projects, with further potential to strengthen connections among funding recipients working on related themes. However, funding recipients identified limited opportunities to collaborate and share insights into each other's activities. There is an opportunity for ESDC's SDG Unit to take a leadership role in organizing information sharing activities among funding recipients to better document best practices and lessons learned.

Appendix A. Evaluation questions

The evaluation addresses the following questions:

  1. What is the relevance of the SDG Funding Program within Canada's SDG ecosystem and what is the Program's role in supporting the SDGs implementation via a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach?
  2. To what extent activities funded by the program supported its intended objectives, in the short term?
  3. How have the grants and contributions projects supported and enhanced progress on the 2030 Agenda, including with equity-deserving groups and vulnerable populations, to ensure no one is left behind?
  4. How have the grants and contributions projects contributed to the integration of Indigenous peoples as key partners in the implementation of 2030 Agenda into Government of Canada activities?
  5. How are the current data collection efforts informing the Program's progress towards meeting its objectives?

Appendix B. Comparison of Government of Canada objectives and SDG Funding Program objectives to advance the SDGs

Government of Canada objectives Program objectives source
Leaving no one behind by advancing gender equality and diversity.
  • Strengthening partnerships and engagement with Canadians, including provinces and territories, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, academia, the private sector, Indigenous Peoples, women, youth, and vulnerable and/or marginalized populations (Performance Information Profile)
  • Peoples from under-represented groups reached, including Indigenous peoples; women and girls; immigrant and refugee populations; persons with disabilities the 2SLGBTQI+ community (Performance Information Profile)
  • Support Official Languages Minority Communities (2019 Call for Proposal contributions funding assessment grid)
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples through partnerships and self-determination/Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in the context of the 2030 Agenda
  • Foster Indigenous traditional knowledge on sustainable development (Terms and Conditions)
  • Establish Indigenous peoples as key partners (Terms and Conditions)
  • The integration of Indigenous and local knowledge into approaches to achieve the 2030 Agenda (2019 Call for Proposal contributions funding assessment grid)
Aligning domestic and international efforts to achieve the SDGs.
  • Recognize and promote engagement initiatives at the international, national, subnational, and/or local level that mobilize assets and develop capacities and resources for action (Terms and Conditions)
Fostering leadership, governance, and policy coherence
  • Recognize and support the ability of organizations to identify and address sustainable development priorities (Terms and Conditions)
  • Convening stakeholders to provide input and views on options for the National Strategy (Funding parameters)
Raising awareness, engagement, and partnerships
  • Foster partnerships and networks to address sustainable development and the existing and emerging social, economic and environmental issues (Terms and Conditions)
  • Increased public awareness (Terms and Conditions)
Ensuring accountability, transparency, measurement, and reporting
  • Establish accountability frameworks to support impact measurement and demonstrate SDG progress (2019 Call for Proposal contributions funding assessment grid)
  • The development of new ways to measure the impact of the SDGs indicators (2019 Call for Proposal contributions funding assessment grid)
Investing in the SDGs
  • Performance Information Profile

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2025-10-31