Public Health Agency of Canada Harm Reduction Fund Update on 2018 Call for Proposals


Updated April 16, 2018

The Public Health Agency of Canada will launch the 2018 Harm Reduction Open Solicitation in May, 2018. Webinars were will be offered in April (see below to register) to provide information on the Fund’s objectives, the application process, and to answer questions, and hear suggestions from stakeholders.

I. About the Harm Reduction Fund

The Government of Canada has established a new Harm Reduction Fund (HRF), administered by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). The HRF will invest $30 million over five years to support projects that will help reduce HIV and hepatitis C infections among people who share drug use equipment.

Harm reduction is a pillar of the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy and is integral to Canada’s effort to reduce the impact of HIV and hepatitis C on the health of Canadians.

The HRF supports time-limited projects that support front-line community interventions to reduce sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) that can be acquired through sharing drug use equipment.

 

II. Principles

The following principles will be applied to this funding program:

  • Meaningful engagement: Populations at risk and affected communities are meaningfully engaged and cultural realities and practices are respected in the development and implementation of the program and projects.
  • Stigma and discrimination: Addressing stigma so that population at-risk have access to judgment-free services from qualified health professionals and other front-line providers.
  • Collaborative approaches: Multiple-sectoral approaches are embraced to improve effectiveness and ensure interventions acknowledge the whole individual and their wellness needs.
  • Sex and gender -based + analysis: Identity and consider the needs of diverse groups of women, men and gender-diverse people to promote inclusivity in developing, delivering and evaluating initiatives.
  • Evidence-based: Interventions and programs are consistently developed with, and guided by, the most recent surveillance data, research and other evidence.
  • Complementarity: Initiatives build on existing effective programs and investments facilitate sustainable and integrated action

 

III. Objectives

  • Enhance front-line interventions for people who share drug use equipment by building capacity of individuals, providers and communities.
  • Facilitate partnerships among multiple sectors to integrate and sustain effective models of harm reduction more broadly.
  • Expand efforts to maximize reach and impact by exploring opportunities to test innovative approaches in harm reduction

 

IV. The Harm Reduction Fund – Implementation

  • Phase 1 of the HRF is underway. Targeted organizations in communities with high rates of injection drug use and HIV and hepatitis C infections have been invited to submit proposals, due March 31, 2018. These initiatives will complement current provincial and territorial efforts.
  • Phase 2 is an open solicitation that will launch in May, 2018 with a request for Letters of Intent. Organizations with successful Letters of Intent will be invited to submit full project proposals.
  • The review process for full project proposals will include review panels comprised of PHAC officials, external experts, and stakeholders.

A Special Note to Organizations in Quebec

For all applicants in Quebec, a separate call for Letters of Intent will be released in 2018 by the Public Health Agency of Canada, following the results of the first phase of funding currently underway.

 

Information webinars were held on April 5 and April 10.

Thursday, April 5, 2018 – 11 AM PT
https://gts-ee.webex.com/gts-ee/j.php?RGID=r0b27ec63d1ba8f3936bfae1559f9b938

Tuesday, April 10, 2018 –11 AM PT
https://gts-ee.webex.com/gts-ee/j.php?RGID=r3731bb291d53727f24db9dcf87721894

 

Download the slides from the information webinars (added April 16).

 

 

For more information on the Harm Reduction Fund, please contact:

Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control, Public Health Agency of Canada

[email protected]