Supporting Indigenous Nations, communities, businesses, and organizations to increase Indigenous participation in agriculture, seafood, food processing and related community economic development initiatives.
The Indigenous Food Systems and Agriculture Skills and Training Program (ISAT) is a multi-year program under the Agriculture and Food Workforce Development Initiative (AWDI). AWDI is funded by the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement. The initiative is a $15M fund designed to support BC’s agriculture industry to provide a stable and increasing food supply through targeted efforts to recruit and retain a sufficient workforce to meet the labour needs of the industry. AWDI is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF).
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Program Overview
The ISAT program supports Indigenous Nations, communities, businesses, and organizations in increasing Indigenous participation in agriculture, seafood, food processing and related community economic development initiatives.
The program does so by addressing labour capacity and workforce challenges within the food, seafood and agriculture sectors. ISAT funds activities involved in training and skills development, peer-to-peer learning, and revitalization of cultural and economic food harvesting and production practices.
The 2023/24 program provides up to $80,000 of funding per project. Program funding is available to successful applicants for projects beginning on or after January 1, 2024. Projects can be up to 24 months in duration and must complete no later than January 1, 2026.
Program Goal
The goal of the Indigenous Food Systems and Agriculture Skills and Training Program is to support Indigenous People’s food systems and agriculture-related endeavors through increased capacity.
Program Objectives
- Increased capacity for Indigenous participation, leadership, and Indigenous-led training and extension services in the agriculture and food sector and community economic development initiatives.
- Improved awareness, applicability, access to and outcomes of applied skills development and training programs and/or curriculum for the food and agriculture sector.
Approach
Eligibility
Applications
Application Process
Applications will be accepted through the IAF Client Portal from September 12, 2023 to October 12, 2023. The application process will generally consist of:
IAF staff are available to answer questions regarding eligible activities, costs and/or the application process. IAF may also contact applicants for additional information or clarification to assess or strengthen their application.
Applicants can contact isat(at)iafbc.ca with any questions about the program or to receive support in developing their application.
Applicants are encouraged to include only activities they are confident will be completed on time and within budget limits.
Review and Adjudication
After the application window has closed, IAF will review all applications and make recommendations for funding decisions.
Notifications & Obligations
Funding Notifications & Contracts
If the project is approved, IAF will inform the applicant of the details of the decision and any associated terms and conditions. The applicant then enters into an agreement with IAF which outlines the obligations of each party.
Funding is application and project-specific and must be used for the approved project and related expenses. Funds are non-transferable.
Project activities requiring financial resources cannot commence until the contribution agreement has been signed by both the applicant and IAF.
Reporting Requirements
Program participants are required to submit progress and financial reporting to IAF. Progress and financial reporting will be made available to the Province. Reporting and supporting materials will be uploaded through IAF’s Client Portal.
Reporting will be based on the following performance measures (where applicable):
- # of programs/training events completed
- # of participants
- # of Indigenous trainers, experts, knowledge holders engaged in training
- # of peer-to-peer knowledge transfer events
- # and type of knowledge transfer tools/materials developed and shared
- Reach of knowledge transfer events/tools/materials
- Feedback surveys and/or qualitative information on project impacts
Funding Acknowledgement
This program is funded by the Government of BC, therefore; acknowledgment of funding is required when publicly communicating about a project and/or funding. To ensure appropriate acknowledgments, all communications and marketing materials, including public announcements or social media posts, must be pre-approved by the IAF Communications Team. Materials must be submitted via the IAF Client Portal.
Changes to Contracted Projects
If you are not able to complete your project or require a change, please inform the IAF Team as soon as possible using the IAF Client Portal.
Evaluation Criteria
Criteria | Considerations for Evaluation |
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Program Alignment |
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Applicant Eligibility |
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Project Eligibility |
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Project Alignment |
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Project Benefits |
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Sustainability of Benefits |
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Key Performance Indicators |
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Project Plan |
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Applicant Resources/Capacity |
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Ready to Apply?
Resources
This program is funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.