Supporting the community response to sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) in Canada - Infographic

Government of Canada efforts to address STBBI in Canada are guided by the Pan-Canadian Framework for Action on STBBI and the Government of Canada Five Year Action Plan on STBBI.

HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund (CAF)

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) invests $26.4 million annually to support time-limited projects across Canada to address HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted infections (e.g. chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis) through the CAF.

Organizations can apply for a maximum of 5 years of project funding.

Harm Reduction Fund (HRF)

PHAC invests $7 million annually to support time-limited projects across Canada that will help reduce HIV and hepatitis C among people who share injection and inhalation drug-use equipment through the HRF.

Organizations can apply for 3 or 5 years of project funding for a maximum of $250,000 per year. PHAC may accept requests for larger investments depending on the scope and scale of the project.

The CAF and HRF seek to ensure that:

• community-based efforts to reach key populations, including people unaware of their HIV or hepatitis C status, and link them to testing, prevention, treatment and care
• communities design and implement evidence-based front-line projects to prevent new and reoccurring infection
• high impact interventions are brought to scale so that more people benefit from them
• community-based efforts reduce stigma toward populations disproportionately affected by STBBI, including people living with HIV or hepatitis C

Applying for Project Funding through the CAF & HRF

The Complete Process Involves 7 Stages

1. Call for Proposals
   • The CAF and HRF open solicitations will launch concurrently
   • Organizations will be invited to submit a Letters of Intent (LOIs)
   • The purpose of the LOI is to identify projects that will be invited to submit a full funding proposal
   • The LOI outlines the project concept, including how the project aligns with objectives, outcomes, and eligibility criteria of the CAF and HRF
   • Applicants can apply to both funds for different projects
2. Review Process
   • LOIs that are deemed complete and to meet eligibility criteria will be assessed by review committees, based on assessment criteria
   • External reviewers will include people with lived experience, researchers, individuals with expertise in front-line STBBI programming and service delivery and people from the key populations
   • LOIs for Indigenous-led projects will be reviewed by Indigenous-led review committees
   • Complete and eligible LOIs will be reviewed by provincial and territorial officials as appropriate
3. Invitation to Submit a Funding Request
   • Following review, applications will be notified of the results of the solicitation by email
   • Successful applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal
   • Applicants will be required to submit detailed work plans, budgets and evaluation plans (if applicable)
4. Approvals
   • Completed proposals will be reviewed for final funding approval
   • Project submitted by organizations located in Quebec may also be subject to M-30 approval
   • Agreements will then be sent to applicants for signature
5. New Projects Begin
   • Approved projects will begin starting April 1, 2022

Please note: Should any unforeseen delays at any step in the process arise, PHAC is committed to notifying applicants in a timely manner.