Funding Availability
Open Call for Research

Under its Research Program, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) has launched an open call to fund selected research initiatives that support high quality project, regional, and strategic assessments.

Who can apply

Eligible recipients are:

• Research and academic institutions
• Not-for-profit organizations
• Indigenous communities and organizations
• Individuals

Eligible research themes and activities

Research projects must address one of the following research themes:

Cumulative effects, including:

• Effective consideration of cumulative effects in the assessment of designated projects
• Addressing cumulative effects assessment in regional assessments
• Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge, governance, approaches, and partnerships into cumulative effects assessment
• Cumulative effects and impacts on the exercise of Indigenous rights and culture or interests
• Identifying standards against which cumulative effects are measured

Impact mitigation, including:

• New and innovative mitigation measures for projects-level impacts
• Mitigations to address impacts to the aquatic environment (e.g. water quality)
• Indigenous collaboration and leadership to identify appropriate mitigation measures

Eligible activities include*:

• Research activities related to the identified research themes
• Research on aspects of impact assessment, including regional or strategic assessments, including tools, frameworks, methodologies, case studies and best practices related to issues such as gender-based analysis plus, environmental impacts, economic impacts, social and health impacts, impacts on Indigenous communities and their rights, cumulative and regional effects, and sustainability
• Research or studies based on: science, Indigenous or community knowledge, studies of cultural practices or values related to a specific geographic area, local community or Indigenous Peoples, or information collection or data repositories
• Supporting impact assessment --related research partnerships with not-for-profit organizations and academic institutions in Canada and abroad
• Supporting relevant networks to create and disseminate impact assessment research
• Other relevant activities, approved by IAAC, to allow for research of interest to IAAC

*Please consult the project Application Form for additional details on eligible activities.

Applicants are encouraged to read the preamble of the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) and to consult the guidance documents and other resources available on IAAC’s website to inform their proposals.

In addition to providing their final research to IAAC, successful applicants will be asked to provide a presentation to IAAC as well as other relevant federal departments, in addition to having their research posted on IAAC’s website.

Research project timeline

Research projects should begin in February 2025 and end by February 28, 2026.

Funding allocation

The maximum funding allocation is $70,000 per proposal.

The amount of funding per successful applicant depends on the complexity and cost of activities proposed, as well as the availability of funds.

Funding deadline

The funding application period is open from September 4 to October 18, 2024. All applications received on or before October 18, 2024, will be considered.

How to submit a funding application

To apply for funding, complete the application form using your preferred Word or PDF format and send to the Research Program.

Text Version

September 4, 2024: Application period opens. Reach out to IAAC’s Research Program during this time if you have questions about the application process.

October 18, 2024: Application period closes: Reach out to IAAC’s Research Program during this time if you have questions about the application process.

November-December 2024: Evaluation by Review Committee. IAAC may reach out to you during this time if we have questions about your application.

January-February 2024: Deadline to receive a decision on your application and receive grant letter, if accepted.

January-February 2025: Project kickoff meetings with IAAC.

February 2025-February 2026: Research project is conducted. All deliverables due February 28, 2026.

Evaluation and Selection

A review committee will consider the applications and make recommendations on eligible funding allocations. IAAC’s Research Program will base its funding decisions on the recommendations of the committee and on the overall available funding budget. In addition to ensuring conformity with the eligibility criteria, evaluation of proposals will take into consideration the following criteria:

• The relevancy to federal impact assessment
• Plans to incorporate best practices in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the research practice and design. Please see the best practices in equity, diversity and inclusion in research practice and design from the Canada Research Coordination Committee
• Plans to ensure that research practices are conducted ethically and responsibly. Please see the tri-agency framework on responsible conduct of research from the Government of Canada’s Panel on Responsible Conduct of Research
• The project’s potential influence and impact in informing impact assessment practice
• The proposed approach to disseminating the results of the project

More information

For questions about this funding opportunity, please contact the Research Program.