Social development

This component provides support for projects, initiatives and partnership agreements in the field of social development to deploy relevant actions adapted to Indigenous realities. The projects must offer tangible improvements in the living conditions of Indigenous people in Québec.

The objective of this component is to help

• improve physical and social living conditions in Indigenous communities,
• increase the inclusion of Indigenous people in Québec society and encourage citizen involvement and peaceful coexistence, and
• encourage cooperation between Indigenous people and Québec networks, and between Indigenous people and local and regional communities.

All applicants must provide the following information:

• A description of the proposed project or initiative that:
  • shows how its objective relates to the objectives for the component,
  • specifies the activities and resources that must be put in place to implement the project or initiative,
  • includes the timeframe for implementation, and
  • indicates the outcome expected within a specific period and the anticipated benefits for Indigenous people.
• A financing arrangement showing:
  • the financial need (the amount requested), and
  • the expected sources of funding.
• A detailed budget and a cash flow statement

To be eligible, projects and initiatives must allow the objectives of this component to be achieved, be submitted to the SAA no later than December 31, 2026, and be completed no later than March 31, 2027.

Eligible projects and initiatives must concern:

• the promotion of Indigenous cultures and languages,
• better relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people,
• the fight against racism and discrimination,
• public education and the promotion of citizen involvement,
• activities to promote healthy lifestyles,
• optimization of the abilities of caseworkers in the social field, or
• collaboration on issues specific to Indigenous social development.

A project involves specific activities to meet specific needs in the short and medium term. An initiative refers to activities carried out with multiyear support to meet specific needs over the long term.

The structural, innovative nature of initiatives and projects is an important criterion. This can be demonstrated through the significant, long-lasting impact expected as well as through the improvement to practices that may occur as a result.

The structural, innovative nature of a project or initiative may, for example, involve:

• addressing a known social issue that is current and sometimes urgent,
• aiming to coordinate actions to address a social issue,
• ensuring a long-term or recurring aspect, or
• ensuring tangible and targeted impacts.

Social mobilization

Projects or initiatives in this category must have a mobilizing effect on Indigenous communities in general. They must, in addition, be submitted by an Indigenous non-profit organization and be supported by a consensus among the Indigenous nations concerned. Projects or initiatives in this category are assessed based on the level of participation by Indigenous communities or nations and on the structural effects they may generate.

Partnership agreements

Partnership agreements are intended to fund social development projects and initiatives through pooled contributions from each partner. Agreements between the SAA and its partners are based on shared objectives and responsibilities, and each party’s mission.

A partnership agreement must be founded on common concerns and used as a tool for planning, cooperation, and bringing partners together. It must name one or more organizations to carry out the work.

Agreements entered into under these initiatives must:

• enhance the SAA’s action by attracting added value from other Government of Québec financial assistance programs, and
• ensure that the actions or initiatives under the agreement are structuring, innovative, and time-limited.

• One-time projects that last less than one month and are not recurrent
• Basic and everyday activities (operational tasks that are regularly or usually carried out by an organization)
• Literary publications
• The organization and presentation of events such as:
  • Tournaments
  • Galas
  • Games
  • Pow-wows
  • Festivals

In general, the costs of eligible activities carried out as part of social development projects or initiatives are authorized, including:

• professional services and wages (coordinators, leaders, trainers, hosts, researchers, local staff, etc.),
• training and workshop costs,
• travel and transportation (at Government of Québec rates),
• assessment costs (surveys, intervention plans, etc.),
• promotion and advertising,
• professional fees,
• the printing and distribution of documents,
• space rental,
• equipment and supplies, and
• the preparation of financial documents and other reports required by the agreement

For Social Mobilization projects or initiatives that demonstrate the need for funding to pay an organization’s operating costs, the Government of Québec can consider covering such costs for up to five years.

The administrative costs of a project or initiative cannot exceed 10% of the financial assistance granted.

Capital expenditures are not eligible.

Applications will be assessed using the following criteria:

• Relevance of the project or initiative:
  • Eligibility under the terms and conditions of the component
  • Compatibility of the objectives with the objectives of the component
• Quality of the project or initiative:
  • Clarity and precision of the objectives
  • Ability to ensure implementation
  • Quality of the services, programming and activities
  • Realistic nature of the budget forecasts, financing arrangements and implementation timeframe
• Anticipated outcome:
  • Results to be achieved using the funding requested
  • Structuring effects for Indigenous people

The financial assistance granted will be in the form of a non-repayable contribution. The combined total of financial assistance received from all levels of government cannot exceed the total of eligible costs.

The assistance granted by the Government of Québec cannot exceed 80% of eligible costs, except in certain circumstances.

For partnership agreements, the contribution from the Government of Québec (or the cumulative funding from sources other than the SAA) must be equal to at least 20% of all eligible costs. The contribution from the SAA may rise to 100% of eligible costs in the specific case of agreements based on measures under the responsibility of the SAA that are provided for in a government action plan.

Contributions in the form of services may be accounted for in calculating the financial participation of the partners. 

Eligible organizations must declare all confirmed and expected sources in their application for funding. The SAA will verify that no other sources are paying for the same costs.

Funding of $25,000 or less may be formalized in an acceptance letter setting out the reasons for the grant and the applicant’s obligations.

Funding of more than $25,000 will be formalized in an agreement which must contain

• the obligations of each signatory,
• a detailed description of the project and its objectives, and
• indicators for management purposes and the production of reports.

An organization that receives a grant of more than $25,000 must, as a minimum, provide an annual report in compliance with the provisions of the financial agreement. The report must include

• a full report of the activities completed, and
• a description of the outcomes compared to the objectives.

The organization must, at all times, keep separate accounts for expenditure attributable to the project or initiative, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Funding of $25,000 or less may be paid in full once the acceptance letter has been sent.

Funding of more than $25,000 will be paid in a minimum of two instalments, the first of which may not exceed 80% of the full amount. In all cases, the last instalment provided for in a financial agreement will only be paid once all reports have been filed with the SAA.