Continuous intake of proposals: Glossary

6. Glossary

2SLGBTQI+ sector

The 2SLGBTQI+ sector works to advance 2SLBGTQI+ equality across Canada. It is made up of people, organizations, networks, coalitions, and governments.

Action- or change-oriented

Action- or change-oriented work is useful to communities. It drives positive social change and promotes equality.

Advocacy

Advocacy is the process of influencing decision-makers, stakeholders, and others to change elements of a system to the benefit of a target group. Advocacy can consist of activities that:

• carry out an awareness campaign
• do research or targeted outreach education
• build networks and coalitions
• recommend or put in place policy solutions
• communicate with governments to raise awareness on an issue and its impact on a community
• provide information or recommendations on an issue
• request information on an issue
• hold dialogues on the interpretation or application of a law or regulation
• provide oral or written proposals to parliament or proceedings that are matters of public record.

Advocacy strategy

An advocacy strategy sets out clear goals. Its activities identify the target audiences, timelines, and actions to reach its goals.

Applicant

An applicant is the organization applying for funding. It is the responsibility of the applicant to prove that it is an eligible organization. The applicant will sign the agreement with WAGE and is accountable for the project outcomes and expenses. WAGE only pays for the applicant’s administrative expenses.

At-risk or underserved populations

Violence affects people in different ways. However, some populations are more at risk of violence because of oppression. Also, some populations are further at risk:

• Indigenous women
• Black or racialized women
• non-binary, gender diverse and 2SLGBTQI+ and Two-Spirit people
• those living in Northern, rural, and remote communities
• women living with disabilities
• non-status and temporary status migrant, immigrant, and refugee women
• children and youth

The intersection of identity factors compounds a person’s risk for violence.

Awareness-raising campaign

An awareness-raising campaign is an activity that helps the public understand an issue. In the context of WAGE funding, an awareness-raising campaign is eligible as part of a broader project. We will only support it if it is necessary to advance WAGE funding opportunities' objectives.

Capacity-building

Activities that build capacity are those that increase an organization's ability to reach its goals. They improve skills, information, collaboration, and tools. They also often improve an organization's sustainability.

Community-based organization

A community-based organization is a group that works at local or regional levels. It represents and addresses community needs.

Community-driven

Community-driven activities are those that are relevant to the people most affected by an issue.

Economic prosperity

Economic prosperity means that you have access to resources that go beyond your basic needs. You have what you need to reach your full potential.

Economic security

Economic security means that you have the resources required to meet your needs and those of your family. This includes quality work and the ability to meet your needs even during changes in your life such as at retirement.

Engagement of men and boys

The engagement of men and boys encourages them to take part in social change. For example, they can:

• help to end harmful stereotypes
• promote healthy relationships
• promote human rights
• use and share their power and privilege to shift norms on gender and masculinity
• challenge the beliefs, practices, and systems that drive gender inequality

Equality-seeking organization

An equality-seeking organization works to address disadvantage and discrimination. It challenges barriers to equal access to opportunities and resources. It seeks social justice for individuals and communities.

Evaluation plan

An evaluation plan describes the approach or strategy used to guide an external project evaluation.

External project evaluation

An evaluation is the assessment of a project. It considers its design, implementation, and results as a way of learning and a commitment to results. The aim is to see if it met its objectives, and whether the project was efficient and effective. It also considers its impact and sustainability. An external project evaluation can be led by an external evaluator or researcher. The key is that the external project evaluator or researcher be an expert not involved in the project to ensure objectivity.

Further distribution of funds 

The further distribution of funds occurs when an entity transfers funds to others to deliver their own projects. We refer to participants in such a situation as an initial recipient and ultimate recipients. An initial recipient must set up a clear, transparent, and open process for the selection of ultimate recipients. The initial recipient is also responsible for the approval of proposed projects. The ultimate recipients are responsible for the delivery of their projects.

Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus)

GBA Plus is a process used to assess how diverse people may experience policies and programs. The “plus” in GBA Plus shows that GBA goes beyond sex and gender differences. We all have many identity factors that intersect to make us who we are. It also considers many other identity factors like ethnicity and age. 

Gender-based violence

Gender-based violence is violence based on a person's gender. This includes perceived gender and gender expression and identity. It takes many forms, including physical, economic, sexual, as well as emotional abuse.

Gender-based violence sector

The GBV sector works to end gender-based violence. It is made up of people, organizations, networks, coalitions, and governments.

Human trafficking

Human trafficking occurs when one person controls another to exploit them sexually or for forced labour. It is also referred to as trafficking in persons.

• Sexual exploitation occurs when one person forces another to perform sexual acts. They can use violence, threats, and document or money confiscation.
• Forced labour occurs when one person forces another to work. They can use violence, threats, and take away money or personal documents.

Impact

Impact refers to the outcomes or effects produced by an intervention or project.

Incorporated

Incorporated refers to a legal status. For example, an informal community group can incorporate to obtain legal status. It can incorporate at the provincial, territorial, or federal levels. To incorporate, an organization must follow the process set out under the relevant legislation. Only incorporated organizations may receive WAGE funding.

Industry

An industry refers to a group of similar types of organizations or companies. Examples of industry include construction, mining, and the arts. The words “industry” and “sector” are often used interchangeably.

Initial recipient

An initial recipient is an entity that receives funding from a department and further distributes it to others. The initial recipient has a relationship with the department and with the ultimate recipients. The initial recipient has independence in how it further distributes funding. It must set up a clear, transparent, and open process to choose ultimate recipients and projects.

Legal advocacy

Legal advocacy is work that occurs through the legal system to enact social change or to help an individual or group.

Litigation

Litigation is the process of going to court to settle a dispute.

Mandatory employment related costs (MERCs)

MERCs are costs that employers are required by law to pay. They include:

• Employment Insurance premiums
• Canada or Quebec Pension Plan contributions
• Vacation pay
• Workers’ Compensation premiums
• Health taxes, where applicable

They do not include other premiums for benefits offered by an employer, such as for insurance and investments.

Matched funding or cost-sharing

Matched funding or cost-sharing is a situation where parties share project costs, according to a set formula. Matched or shared costs can be cash or in-kind contributions. Parties must provide the contributions to the WAGE funding recipient. The contributions must align and support the WAGE project objectives.

Not-for-profit organization

A not-for-profit organization is a group that operates only for a social purpose. This includes social services and recreation. The people involved in the organization cannot use it for personal financial gain.

Participatory

Participatory refers to an approach where relevant community members take part in all stages of the project.

Profit

Activities intended to generate a profit or for financial benefit is any activity done to make money. This includes charging attendance fees or selling products.

Project partner

A project partner is knowledgeable about the issue and has an interest in it. Although a partner’s role can vary, a project partner is not accountable for the project outcomes. They do not deliver the project. A partner’s contribution can be in-kind or financial.

Promising practice

A promising practice is a program, service, strategy, or policy that shows potential. It may be in the earlier stages of implementation and show potential of having a significant impact. It is adaptable and shows some evidence of having a significant impact. It would show more evidence of effectiveness than an emerging practice but would not yet be a best practice.

• An emerging practice is quite innovative, so much so that it has not yet built up much in way of evidence.
• A best practice is one where there is proof that is it successful across several cases. It relies on rigorous evidence such as through a randomized control trial or a systematic review. It is an intervention, program, service, strategy, or policy that has shown high impact. It is adaptable to other geographic areas and populations.

Promising practice project

A promising practice project tests and evaluates a promising practice to strengthen the GBV sector. It addresses gaps for underserved populations that are survivors of GBV. It must include:

• an external project evaluation of the promising practice to measure and assess its impact
• a way to share information on the promising practice with others so that they may replicate it or expand upon it

It can also be one that scales a tested promising practice that has shown positive results. It must include:

• evidence that it has helped at-risk populations in a previous test
• a way to share information on it with others so that they may replicate it or expand upon it

Recipient

A recipient is the organization that signed an agreement with WAGE. It is accountable for the project outcomes, expenses, and supplier selection.

Results

Results are the intended effects of an intervention. They can be short, medium, or long-term in nature. They can be an increase or a decrease in something targeted by the program or initiative:

• Short-term results link to the outputs of an initiative.
• Medium-term results are a change in behaviour in a population based on short-term results.
• Long-term results present a change in state, stemming from the change in behaviour.

Sector

A sector is a large segment of society or of the economy. Examples of sectors are housing, education, and childcare. The words “industry” and “sector” are often used interchangeably.

Stakeholders

Stakeholders are people or groups affected by an issue, or who can influence change, or who may be resistant to change. Stakeholders can be a community, a government, an organization, or academics. Organizations can engage with stakeholders who have the levers to bring about gender equality.

Strategic plan

A strategic plan describes an organization’s current state and its desired future state. It outlines an organization’s goals and an action plan to go from the current state to the desired future state. The purpose is to build team alignment and decision-making capacity. This will help the organization to be ready for the future and take advantage of opportunities to grow and improve. A strategic plan typically ranges from two to five years. It usually includes:

• an executive summary
• a description of the organization
• a mission, vision, and value statement
• an analysis of the internal and external environment
• a SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
• a description of the organization’s concrete goals and projects to achieve them
• an action plan that lists:
  • specific initiatives and who will carry them out
  • a timeline with specific dates
  • key performance indicators to track progress

Supplier

A supplier is an organization, or a consultant contracted for an activity or to provide services or expertise. A supplier can also provide goods, such as project materials and equipment. The recipient is accountable for using a fair process to select suppliers. They must select the supplier that will provide the best value for money. WAGE may grant exceptions based on a strong rationale.

Also, the recipient will need to get bids from a reasonable number of suppliers for goods and services of a value of $25,000 or more before taxes. It is not permitted to divide contracts or purchases to avoid this requirement. If you do not comply with these requirements, we may not reimburse the associated costs.

A supplier must be at arm’s length from the recipient organization. This includes at arm’s length from:

• its officers, directors, and employees and their immediate family members
• a business or organization in which the above have a financial interest
• a business or organization affiliated with the recipient

In some circumstances, WAGE may approve an exception in writing. There may be additional controls in such cases.

Survivor

Survivor is a term that describes someone who has experienced violence. It reflects that many people who experience abuse cope and move on with strength and resourcefulness.

Survivor engagement

Survivor engagement is a process by which survivors can embed their voice in all stages of a project. It offers the opportunity to develop supportive relationships and to learn how to advance social change.

Sustainability plan

A sustainability plan describes how an organization will sustain and build upon the project’s work. It could include activities that:

• integrate changes permanently to ensure they are not lost
• put in place sustainable fundraising practices to maintain the work
• put in place practices to ensure that project knowledge is not lost if an employee leaves the organization

System

Systems are a way of thinking about and making sense of the world. A single system can include many smaller systems within it and can also interact or overlap with other systems. For example, Canada’s economy is a system. It includes smaller systems such as sectors, levels of government, and communities. Systems are never isolated from others. They interact with other systems. The Canadian economy for instance interacts with the education and health care systems. Organizations can choose which system(s) to interact with to advance systemic change.

Systemic change

Systemic change refers to changing one or more elements within a system. The objective of the change is to allow women and girls to fully take part in the economic, social, democratic, and political life of Canada.

Consult the systemic change tip sheet for more information.

Systemic change project

Systemic change projects aim to remove barriers to gender equality in systems. For example, a group could work with institutions to change policies and practices biased against women. WAGE could support such a project.

Systemic change projects do not aim to change women to fit or adapt to discriminatory systems. For example, a group could train women to adapt to an institution’s biased policies and practices. WAGE would not support such a project.

Consult the systemic change section for more information.

To scale

To scale is to build on a successful systemic change project or a promising practice project. It amplifies change to improve equality. The department funds two types of scaling projects:

• Scale out: Expand a past successful project to a new location, population, or sector.
• Scale up: Use the results of a successful project to influence change at higher levels. For example, you could use evidence of success to advocate for changes to laws and policies.

Trauma-informed approach

A trauma-informed approach is one that considers the lasting effects of trauma on survivors. It adapts information, resources, and services to foster survivors’ safety, respect, and empowerment.

Ultimate recipient

An ultimate recipient is an entity that has received a payment from an initial recipient. The ultimate recipient only has a relationship with the initial recipient. It does not have a relationship with the department. It is responsible for the delivery of its project.

Victim

A victim is a person who suffered physical or emotional harm, property damage, or economic loss because of a crime. Some victims prefer to identify as a survivor.

Women’s organization

A women’s organization is one whose primary mandate and objectives are to promote equality for women in Canada. It includes those that advocate, increase awareness, engage, and act to advance women's equality.