Grants and Contributions

The potential to identify and analyze distributions of isotopologues would provide new opportunities in the search for biosignatures of life as part of astrobiology-related space missions.

This project aims to extend the capabilities of a planetary science laboratory instrument that combines three measurement techniques for Mars exploration: laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence. In particular, the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy mode of the instrument will be extended to measure isotopes of key elements important for dating and discrimination of biological and abiological signatures.

This work will result in new knowledge on the environmental sensitivity of these techniques in environments relevant to the Earth, Moon, Mars, asteroids and comets; providing new capabilities for planetary exploration. It will also be valuable in understanding and updating the requirements for a future flight instrument.

The terrains of Mars and the Moon consist of fine granular regolith with embedded rocks. The entrapment of the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit in soft regolith and the tears and punctures in the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover's wheels demonstrate some of the current mobility challenges of extraterrestrial granular terrains. Understanding the nature of interactions with granular terrains is thus crucial to exploring these high priority destinations.

This project aims to advance robot mobility in granular terrains, through studying the effects of reduced gravity on wheel-soil interactions. A crucial long-term contribution of such experimental work is the development and validation of models and/or on-Earth soil simulants general enough to eventually supplant the need to fly reduced-gravity campaigns for each new wheel/soil/gravity configuration. Such reduced-gravity rover soil testing apparatus could provide an experimentation infrastructure for Canadian companies to test, validate, and raise the technology readiness level of wheels for any planned Lunar or Martian rovers.

This research will contribute to Canada being at the cutting-edge of planetary rover research, to maintaining its global position of leadership in space robotics, and to inspiring the next generation of Canadians to reach for the stars.

Validation is crucial to the success of every satellite mission. Without validation, the ability to interpret satellite measurements for scientific studies is significantly hampered or, in some cases, rendered impossible. This is especially true for satellite missions that focus on questions of the carbon cycle.

The project's objectives are to improve atmospheric trace gas retrievals from a ground-based remote sensing observatory, and to perform scientific investigations of Canadian urban greenhouse gas emissions. By combining space-based and ground-based remote sensing measurements of greenhouse gases, project results will provide Canadians with scientific evidence upon which to base public policy regarding Canada's greenhouse gas emissions.

The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement Secretariat plays a coordination and facilitative role for the SUN Movement in order to improve nutrition outcomes in developing countries, particularly for women and children under five, in the 61 member countries and states. It also tracks the SUN Movement’s successes, and seeks to ensure that SUN countries receive the support they need to achieve their nutrition objectives.
This project supports the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement Secretariat. The SUN Movement is a global convening mechanism for stakeholders in global nutrition with the aim to reduce the prevalence of malnutrition. It includes 61 countries and 4 Indian States that are leading a global movement to end malnutrition in all its forms.
The main function of the SUN Movement Secretariat is to coordinate efforts within the SUN Movement, and ensure that SUN countries receive the support they need to achieve their nutrition objectives.
The work of the Secretariat is guided by the vision of the SUN Lead Group, members of which are high-level leaders committed to nutrition.
Project activities include: (1) supporting the SUN Movement Secretariat Programme of Work, as indicated in their 2016-2020 Strategic Plan, to ensure the transition to Phase III of SUN for several key areas of work including: support to SUN countries; liaison with various networks, the Lead Group and the Executive Committee; communication and advocacy; and monitoring and evaluation; (2) supporting the completion of the Strategic Review, and the drafting/implementation of the 2021-2025 Strategic Plan which works to make recommendations on the vision, strategy, capabilities and structure of the next phase of the Movement (2021-2025); and (3) convening a process to ensure the SUN pooled fund is fit for purpose and contributes to the delivery of the SUN Strategy 3.0. The pooled fund is a source of grant funding to support in-country activities at the national and subnational levels to scale up nutrition. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) administers the SUN pooled fund and grants.

This project maintains Canada’s full membership in the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights Association (VPA) and supports its work of gender-sensitive implementation of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPs). The VPs are guidelines for public and private security forces and natural resource companies to ensure their operations do not have a negative impact on human rights for all, including women and marginalized groups. The project works to approach security and human rights risks with a gender lens, identifying the particular barriers that women, human rights defenders and vulnerable groups face when interacting with private and public security forces around natural resource sites. The VPA is a multi-stakeholder non-profit association made up of natural resource companies, governments and civil society that promotes outreach and implementation of the principles. Canada endorses the Voluntary Principles and is an active member of the VPA.

The VPA uses these funds, along with other donors’ funding, to enhance personal security, safety and human dignity for all around industrial natural resource sites in developing countries. Project activities include: (1) establishing gender-sensitive and gender-inclusive policies within work streams of the Voluntary Principles Initiative (VPI); (2) completing toolkit(s) designed to respond to human rights threats specific to women, human rights defenders and vulnerable groups, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV); and (3) providing support to the VPA and in-country working groups on gender-sensitive policy and programming support.

P008909001: March 2020 - This grant represents Canada's support to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in eight countries, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, Venezuela and Yemen. IOM provides humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, migrants, and host communities. IOM provides assistance in multiple sectors, including protection, shelter, emergency non-food items, water, sanitation and hygiene services, livelihoods, and camp coordination and management.

With the support of GAC and other donors, IOM is facilitating access to essential relief items and adequate living conditions for crisis-affected populations, including IDPs, refugees, migrants, returnees and host communities.

Project activities include: (1) providing emergency shelter kits, non-food items and multi-purpose cash; (2) coordinating camp management for IDPs in United Nations bases; (3) deploying mobile teams to remote locations where affected populations lack water, sanitation and hygiene services; (4) providing emergency water, sanitation and hygiene; (5) supporting humanitarian organizations by: establishing lightweight camps in deep field locations, heavy base camps and national NGO support centres, and providing cargo transport services; (6) data collection that includes mapping of vulnerable populations at points of entry and at the district and community level for enhanced targeting and delivery of assistance; and (7) protection and gender mainstreaming across humanitarian response activities for extremely vulnerable individuals, including unaccompanied migrant children and single women and adolescent girls.

P008909002: March 2020 - This grant represents Canada's support to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in eight countries, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, Venezuela and Yemen. IOM provides humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, migrants, and host communities. IOM provides assistance in multiple sectors, including protection, shelter, emergency non-food items, water, sanitation and hygiene services, livelihoods, and camp coordination and management.

With the support of GAC and other donors, IOM is facilitating access to essential relief items and adequate living conditions for crisis-affected populations, including IDPs, refugees, migrants, returnees and host communities.

Project activities include: (1) providing emergency shelter kits, non-food items and multi-purpose cash; (2) coordinating camp management for IDPs in United Nations bases; (3) deploying mobile teams to remote locations where affected populations lack water, sanitation and hygiene services; (4) providing emergency water, sanitation and hygiene; (5) supporting humanitarian organizations by: establishing lightweight camps in deep field locations, heavy base camps and national NGO support centres, and providing cargo transport services; (6) data collection that includes mapping of vulnerable populations at points of entry and at the district and community level for enhanced targeting and delivery of assistance; and (7) protection and gender mainstreaming across humanitarian response activities for extremely vulnerable individuals, including unaccompanied migrant children and single women and adolescent girls.

March 2020 – Following the outbreak of violence in Northern Rakhine State in August 2017, more than 700,000 Rohingya people crossed from Myanmar into Bangladesh over a period of several months. Currently, there are approximately 855,000 Rohingya refugees living in 34 highly congested settlements in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The speed and scale of the influx has resulted in significant humanitarian needs.

With GAC’s support, Action Against Hunger (ACF) is providing comprehensive gender-responsive nutrition, health, protection, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programming to address lifesaving needs and reduce vulnerability. Project activities include: (1) treating acutely malnourished children, and pregnant and lactating women; (2) providing mental health, psychosocial support and protection information, programs and services; (3) upgrading sanitation facilities with solar lighting, locks and gender-specific signage; (4) providing training and support to women leaders to promote the advancement and protection of women and girls; and (5) conducting information sessions with men and boys on the prevention of gender-based violence and child marriage.

P008912001: The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ (OCHA) primary mandate is to oversee the coordination of international humanitarian responses, in partnership with national and international actors, in order to achieve more coherent and effective humanitarian action. This grant represents Canada's regional support to OCHA in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and to the High-level Panel on Internal Displacement.

With the support of Canada and other donors, OCHA fulfills its mandate by: (1) strengthening humanitarian leadership; (2) establishing and overseeing coordination systems; (3) monitoring and reporting on humanitarian situations; (4) advocating on behalf of affected people; (5) supporting the assessment and prioritization of humanitarian needs and strategic planning; (6) promoting emergency preparedness; and (7) mobilizing funding for humanitarian assistance.

P008912002: The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ (OCHA) primary mandate is to oversee the coordination of international humanitarian responses, in partnership with national and international actors, in order to achieve more coherent and effective humanitarian action. This grant represents Canada's regional support to OCHA in the Middle East and North Africa.

With the support of Canada and other donors, OCHA fulfills its mandate by: (1) strengthening humanitarian leadership; (2) establishing and overseeing coordination systems; (3) monitoring and reporting on humanitarian situations; (4) advocating on behalf of affected people; (5) supporting the assessment and prioritization of humanitarian needs and strategic planning; (6) promoting emergency preparedness; and (7) mobilizing funding for humanitarian assistance.

This project works to engage young Senegalese leaders and stakeholders in research and policy dialogue to help improve adolescent girls’ access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services. The project aims to examine the link between gender-based violence (GBV) and broader gender inequalities, and address policy shortcomings related to adolescent girls’ health and rights.

Project activities include: (1) researching the links that exist between adolescent girls’ vulnerability to GBV and SRHR; (2) translating findings into products and tools, and applying these findings to address negative gender norms and practices; (3) raising awareness and engagement of community organizations that work against the root causes of GBV; and (4) supporting the development of collaborative and transformative youth leadership skills for adolescent girls to overcome social barriers.

The project expects to involve up to 400,000 adolescent girls and 100,000 adolescent boys between the ages of 10 and 16 in its research, dissemination of findings, and engagement activities. The project also works to provide training to over 100 young community leaders to mentor 2,000 adolescent girls to effectively exercise their sexual and reproductive and health rights. The project aims to establish strategic partnerships with 40 local and 10 national policy-makers, in addition to at least 200 practitioners/service providers and 15 civil society organizations.

The project aims to improve access to quality health services adapted to the needs of adolescent girls and women in Mali, in the regions of Bamako, Kayes, Koulikoro, Segou and Sikasso.

Project activities include: (1) rehabilitating and providing equipment in public school institutions to address clinical training needs in primary health care/SRHR and environmental standards; (2) providing training and coaching teachers and supervisors on development programs in primary health care/sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender equality and environment; (3) implementing safe pilot facilities for pregnant women and survivors of gender based violence; and (4) developing and implementing comprehensive sexual education campaigns for adolescents and on positive masculinity for men and boys.

The project aims to improve access to inclusive, quality and gender-responsive health system for 500,000 people, mainly women and girls. The project also aims to provide training to 2,800 health professionals.