2022 Canada Pavilion  for the 24^th International AIDS Conference

The exhibit that will proudly represent Canada at the International AIDS Conference in Montreal, Canada, July 29^th to August 2^nd, 2022.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) invites eligible organizations to submit a funding request to:

• manage the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of the virtual and physical Canada Pavilion;
• manage the design and implementation of an application process, review process and selection process to award scholarships (including the development of assessment criteria and the communication of results); and
• award/deliver the scholarships, to eligible attendees, to attend the Conference at the upcoming 24^th International AIDS Conference.

PHAC is seeking a project proposal for up to $700,000 CAD in funding over 15 months, under the HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund. The funding would support the International AIDS Society (IAS) in hosting the Canada Pavilion exhibit at the 2022 International AIDS conference.

• Up to $300,000 will be available to create a physical and a virtual exhibition space at this conference. The exhibition promotes best practices and achievements related to HIV and related sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections in Canada, provides delegates with a space to learn from other Canadian and International delegates in the field, and supports the identification of candidates from key populations, including people living with HIV, in Canada, to receive scholarships to attend the conference.
• $400,000 must be used for scholarships to offset expenses for candidates from key populations, including people living with HIV in Canada, to attend the conference.

On this page

• About the conference
• About the exhibition
• Objectives
• Funding
• Eligibility
• How to apply
• Deadline for submissions
• Key requirements
• Assessment process
• Funding decisions

About the conference

The International AIDS Society organizes the International AIDS Conference, which is held every two (2) years. The 24^th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2022) will be held from July 29- August 2, 2022. The conference will be held in Montréal, a multicultural and bilingual city in Quebec, whose official language is French. A hybrid format will feature both virtual and in-person programming. The 2022 conference theme is "Re-engage and follow the science".

AIDS 2022 will be a unique and significant opportunity for Canada to showcase its progress in the response to HIV and other Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections (STBBI), share best practices, and highlight important initiatives that have been effective in moving Canada towards achieving global targets.

Up to 20,000 delegates typically attend the conference from over 160 countries, including 800 journalists. Attendees include people living with HIV, advocates, civil society organizations, researchers, government officials, ministers and other dignitaries, representatives from international organizations and the private sector.

About the exhibition

The Canada Pavilion is an opportunity to showcase contributions of Canadian researchers, community-based organizations, public health and healthcare providers, and governments, engages individuals from key populations, including those living with HIV, as well as promotes best practices, achievements, and community innovation related to HIV and STBBI.

The Canada Pavilion will also be a unique opportunity for Canada demonstrate its commitment to meet the newly adopted interim global AIDS targets of 95-95-95 by 2025; and the 2030 global targets of zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS deaths, and zero stigma and discrimination. This exhibition space will enhance Canada's profile with the world's leading influencers and advocates in the field. Information on exhibit space sizing and exhibitors' benefits will be available on the exhibition webpage of the conference leading up to the conference.

Objectives

The objectives of the Canada Pavilion are to:

• Increase awareness about best practices, effective intervention and achievements to address HIV and other STBBI in Canada.
• Showcase community innovation and the community-based response to HIV and other STBBI in Canada.
• Enhance Canadian engagement and leadership in the global context related to HIV and other STBBI through scholarships to attend the 24^th International AIDS Conference.

Funding

Funding for the AIDS 2022 Canada Pavilion will consist of two aspects that must be addressed in the Funding Request:

• Canada Pavilion exhibit:
  • design, development, implementation and evaluation of the Canada virtual AND physical Pavilion at the upcoming 24^th International AIDS Conference that promotes best practices and achievements related to HIV and related sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections.
• Scholarships:
  • design and implementation of an application process, review process and selection process to award scholarships (including the development of assessment criteria, and communication of results); and
  • delivery/awarding of scholarships to eligible attendees to offset expenses associated with key populations, including people in Canada living with HIV, to attend the conference.

Budget:

PHAC will provide a maximum of $700,000 over fifteen months to support this project; which includes up to $300,000 dedicated to the physical and virtual Canada Pavilion exhibit and $400,000 specifically dedicated to scholarships for key populations, including people living with HIV in Canada to attend the conference.

A maximum of $90,000 is available in fiscal year 2021-2022 and a maximum of $610,000 is available in 2022-2023. The scholarship budget is to be used to offset expenses associated with key populations, including people living with HIV, in Canada to attend AIDS 2022 (e.g. travel, accommodations, conference registration fees, etc.).

Reasonable travel and accommodation expenditures to support staff working on the project can also be included under the funding for the Canada Pavilion.

Eligibility

The following Canadian groups and institutions are eligible to apply:

• incorporated not-for-profit voluntary organizations;
• unincorporated groups, societies and coalitions; and
• post-secondary institutions.

The applicant should demonstrate that the organization has the necessary skills, experience and capacity to carry out the proposed project successfully.

To be eligible for funding, the applicant must demonstrate a minimum of two (2) years of experience and expertise in:

• Planning, coordinating, and managing high traffic and high profile physical exhibits at large domestic or international public health events;
• Planning, coordinating, and managing high traffic virtual exhibits or presentations at large domestic or international public health events/conferences (more than 800 delegates attended);
• HIV and STBBI prevention and control work, including knowledge mobilization; and
• Actively and meaningfully engaging people with lived and living experience from various key populations.

To be eligible for funding, the applicant must demonstrate capacity to:

• Plan and implement a physical and virtual exhibit in a short period of time (4-5 months);
• Sustain the knowledge and products;
• Provide services and documentation (both online and in-person) in both official languages (French and English); and
• Initiate and deliver scholarships in a timely manner.

Please note: it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that project activities are delivered in accordance with any local regulations or guidance.

How to apply

To be considered for funding, you must meet all eligibility requirements and submit a complete application package which includes:

• A completed and signed Funding Request Form; and
• Completed templates and required supporting documentation.

For more information on the Canada Pavilion, or to obtain copies of the application documents (including the Funding Request and Guide for Applicants), please contact the Centre for Grants and Contributions, PHAC, at cgc.solicitations-csc@phac-aspc.gc.ca.

Please consult the Funding Request Form and Guide for Applicants for a complete list of eligibility requirements.

Submit your complete application package via email to: cgc.solicitations-csc@phac-aspc.gc.ca. PHAC will acknowledge receipt of your funding request within 10 business days.

Deadline for submissions

The deadline to submit a complete Funding Request application package (including required supporting documents) is Wednesday, January 12, 2022 before 12 pm EST.

For more information on the Canada Pavilion, or to obtain copies of the application documents, please contact the Centre for Grants and Contributions, PHAC, at cgc.solicitations-csc@phac-aspc.gc.ca.

Key requirements

The applicant will be expected to consider the key requirements below.

Exhibition

Both the Virtual and Physical Canada Pavilion exhibits should:

• Meet the International AIDS Conference criteria for exhibitions;
• Be fully bilingual (English and French) and culturally and contextually relevant and appropriate, including activities, services and resources;
• Offer a presentation highlighting Canadian best practices and achievements accessible at any time;
• Provide a virtual space and program for live oral Canadian presentations;
• Integrate the diversity of the people living in Canada, including Indigenous culturally-appropriate initiatives;
• Offer virtual and physical networking space where Canadian and International delegates can share and exchange ideas; and
• Facilitate knowledge dissemination and exchange.

Sustainability

The organization will require a sustainability plan for the Canada Pavilion exhibit. Products such as virtual Canadian presentations/events, print and online resources, and other knowledge mobilization products from the exhibits should be repurposed for other knowledge mobilization initiatives such as learning events, other exhibitions or dissemination to stakeholders (ex: webpage to house and update all products following the conference). In other words, the products from the Virtual Canada Pavilion should have an afterlife with the potential to be reused after AIDS 2022.

Use of official languages

PHAC is committed to taking positive measures to promote the use of English and French. Therefore, the recipient must ensure that services and documentation intended for this event are available in equal quality in both of Canada's official languages as per the requirements of the Official Languages Act.

National advisory committee

• The successful applicant will lead the planning to build a creative physical and virtual exhibit structure, design and layout, in order to appeal to and encourage delegates to visit and dialogue in the exhibition space, and encourage knowledge exchange and knowledge mobilization of Canadian best practices.
• The successful applicant will be expected to establish a national advisory body, representative of key populations (see the list of key populations in the Description of Funding Program section) that will help guide the development, design and implementation of the Physical and Virtual Canada Pavilion, in both official languages.
• The National Advisory Committee will support the planning and preparation of the Canada Pavilion and provide feedback on the messaging and activities.
• It is understood that the National Advisory Committee will assist in defining the structure of the Pavilion, therefore, specific details are not expected to be included in the proposal.
• The National Advisory Committee must also establish a scholarship selection sub-committee to lead and support the development and implementation of an application process, including a dissemination strategy and the establishment of evaluation criteria. The sub-committee will also be responsible for selecting candidates for scholarships on pre-established evaluation criteria.
• The engagement of partners, stakeholders and people with lived or living experience is crucial for the development and implementation of this funded project.

Final report

After the Physical and Virtual Canada Pavilion exhibits, the organization will be required to submit a bilingual final report on the project. The final report will be a summary of all the initiatives that led to the development and implementation of the Canada Pavilion exhibits.

The project report will include:

• A list of partners and stakeholders that supported the project;
• The list of roles and responsibilities of the team (staff and volunteers);
• The process of how scholarships were allocated;
• Key components of the exhibit;
• Performance measurement and evaluation results and analysis;
• Recommendations for the next Canada Pavilion (2024) based on the performance measurement and evaluation results, the team's observation throughout the development and implementation of the project, visitors' comments on the Pavilion, and best practices/lessons learned;
• Pictures and videos of the exhibits and activities;
• Copies of products and resources; and
• All other information that may be of interest to PHAC.

Please note: This bilingual report must be made public via the organization's webpage or Canada Pavilion webpage for a period of no less than 12 months following the conference. In addition, PHAC reserves the right to share the report publically.

Assessment process

All funding requests are screened to ensure they meet eligibility criteria, address the identified priorities and are complete as per the funding request requirements outlined in the Funding Request Form. Eligible funding requests will be assessed for quality, merit and relevance. During the review process, applicants may be contacted to provide additional information. Applicants will be notified of the results once a final decision is made. The assessment criteria are included in each section of the Funding Request Form.

All applicants will be notified by email of the results following the end of the review process. One organization will be funded for this initiative in this competitive process.

Funding decisions

PHAC is under no obligation to enter into a Funding Agreement as a result of this Invitation to Submit a Funding Request.

Project activities should not be undertaken or expenses incurred prior to the signing of a Funding Agreement by all parties. Please note that decisions related to funding for applicants made by the Public Health Agency of Canada are final. Unsuccessful applicants are invited to reapply through future solicitations.