Research and Learning Program: National Program Guidelines 2023 to 2024
Table of contents
- Introduction
- 1. Program introduction
- 2. Objective
- 3. Expected results
- 4. Eligible recipients
- 5. Eligible components and activities
- 6. Expenditures
- 7. Proposal process
- 8. Managing conflict of interest
- 9. Funding
- 10. Reporting requirements and monitoring oversight activities
- 11. Personal information
- 12. Accountability
- 13. Contact information
Introduction
The Government of Canada is committed to achieving reconciliation with Indigenous peoples through a renewed, nation-to-nation and government-to-government relationship based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation, and partnership as the foundation for transformative change.
The implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples requires transformative change in the government's relationship with Indigenous peoples.
These efforts must be guided by Canada's obligation to respect and uphold First Nations' inherent, Aboriginal and Treaty rights, including those rights to education referenced in specific treaties and self-government agreements.
The nation-to-nation relationship between the Government of Canada and First Nations is rooted in historic treaties, the Numbered Treaties, self-government agreements, section 35, guided by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and informed by the Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.
1. Program introduction
The Research and Learning Program is designed to support regionally-driven, First Nations-defined processes that enable First Nations-led organizations to manage and oversee First Nations education research project selection and funding allocations.
The program supports research projects that contribute to the growing body of evidence on educational initiatives across Canada that are positively impacting First Nations students and their educational outcomes.
In addition, recipients share learnings and present the findings of their research at a First Nations education event of their choosing.
This program replaces the Research, Measurement, Evaluation and Knowledge Transfer Program that was offered under the discontinued New Paths for Education Program. It complements Indigenous Services Canada's (ISC) funding efforts towards First Nations elementary and secondary education.
The investment in this program reaffirms the Government of Canada's commitment to working collaboratively with First Nations to ensure that all First Nations students receive a culturally-responsive, high-quality education that improves student outcomes, while respecting the principle of First Nations control of First Nations education.
These guidelines were developed in partnership with the Assembly of First Nations and the National Indian Education Council.
These guidelines set out the program delivery requirements for funding recipients that enter into a funding agreement with Indigenous Services Canada for the delivery of the Research and Learning Program.
These guidelines are effective as of April 1, 2023 and replace the Research and Learning Program: National Program Guidelines 2022 to 2023.
These guidelines are to be read in conjunction with the funding agreement signed by the funding recipient.
2. Objective
The program's objective is to increase awareness and knowledge of best practices in Indigenous education among:
- educators
- policy-makers
- First Nations leaders across Canada
At the end of their projects, program recipients are expected to share learnings and outcomes from their research projects at First Nations education events.
3. Expected results
The program is a small part of broader efforts to improve First Nations elementary and secondary education. Learnings derived from its activities are expected to help improve the overall quality of education for First Nations students and contribute to the following specific expected outcomes:
- First Nations have increased education system capacity
- First Nations carry out activities to increase capacity and have flexibility to meet their education system needs and priorities
- education services and resources better reflect student needs, culture and language
- First Nations students participate and progress in their elementary and secondary education
- First Nations students on reserve achieve levels of secondary education comparable to non-Indigenous students in Canada
Outcomes may also be identified by regional education agreements.
4. Eligible recipients
Recipients eligible to receive funding include:
- First Nations or bands
- tribal councils, political or treaty or settlement organizations
- other First Nations education organizations designated by First Nations, including:
- school boards
- First Nations education authorities
- First Nations regional representative organizations
- recipients in Yukon and the Northwest Territories
Depending on the nature of the regional agreement, funding may be allocated to a First Nations organization to administer the program regionally and distribute funding to specific projects based on available funding and First Nations decisions.
5. Eligible components and activities
The program supports the following activities:
- collaboration that expands evidence-based practices in Indigenous education to benefit First Nations students and improve education outcomes between:
- researchers
- educators
- Elders or Knowledge Keepers
- students
- other community members
- sharing education-related learnings among First Nations education partners, respecting ownership, control access and possession principles
- evaluating innovative approaches to education programming, for example the projects that received funding from the Innovation in Education Program
- research activities that increase understanding of education and embrace Indigenous research methodologies that may benefit First Nations students, including:
- community-based
- action-based
- relational
- process-oriented
- adaptive
- narrative-based
6. Expenditures
6.1 Eligible expenditures
Eligible expenditures must be directly related to the eligible activities set out in the work plan that has been approved through a First Nations-led regional process.
Eligible expenditures may include the following:
- salaries, fees, tobacco and honoraria for professional services, for example:
- researchers
- language professionals
- advisors
- Elders and guest speakers
- salaries, benefits and wages for employees
- transportation and accommodation costs for eligible participants incurred as a direct result of participating in an eligible activity not already covered by elementary and secondary program funding
- learning materials such as purchasing or developing guides and online tools
- materials and equipment purchases or rentals
- printing and publishing costs, including online publishing costs
- facility rentals
- hospitality
- curriculum and instructional materials development costs
- diagnostic, testing and evaluation tools
- funding for liaison with:
- First Nations education and community service providers, for example, child and family services and employment programs
- provincial service providers
- education organizations to support improved education outcomes
Administration costs include but are not limited to:
- management of regional program processes such as travel, honoraria
- clerical support
- office supplies
- collection, maintenance and reporting of data and information in accordance with program and financial reporting requirements
- costs associated with ensuring that personal information is appropriately managed and safeguarded during its collection, use, disclosure and disposal
Administration costs must not exceed 15% of the sub-total amount requested before administration costs.
Further distribution of funds by ISC’s funding recipients:
- When a funding recipient further transfers to a third party funds that were received under this program, the 15% allowed for administration costs must be divided between the parties, as agreed to between the parties.
- The total administration costs retained by all parties must not exceed 15% of the sub-total amount requested before administration costs.
- Travel expenses are to be claimed at actual cost but cannot exceed the rates and allowances established in the National Joint Council Travel Directive in effect at the time of travel. Expenses which exceed the rates and allowance set for in the directive are ineligible and will not be paid.
7. Proposal process
First Nations partners will drive the development or the selection of costed proposals. If the total costs of identified projects are lower than the total program budget allocation, final decisions regarding the release of these funds will be made together by First Nations and ISC.
First Nations partners are accountable for coming forward with proposals which include the following:
- activities to be undertaken
- expected results
- costs
8. Managing conflict of interest
Recipients that manage the adjudication and administration of the funding of the program must demonstrate transparency and accountability in their policies and processes.
This includes having a:
- publicly available conflict of interest policy
- written standards, policies and procedures on the project selection process for funding
- publicly available list of successful proponents
Individuals cannot participate in the evaluation of a proposal in the following situations:
- individual has assisted in the preparation of the proposal, is an employee of the applicant, has provided consulting services, in any capacity, to the organization submitting the proposal or may in the future
- individual will be a team member on the proposed project
- individual is a relative or close friend of any of the employees of the management team of the eligible recipient which submitted a proposal
Conflicts of interest may arise during the review of proposals. These situations need to be managed in an open and transparent manner.
Should a situation arise that presents a real or potential conflict of interest during the review process, the impacted individual must recuse themselves from the deliberations concerning the specific proposal.
9. Funding
9.1 Maximum amount of funding
The Research and Learning Program provides $1.3 million in national funding annually. The distribution of this funding will depend on:
- the availability of funds in the overall Research and Learning Program funding level
- the regionally-based allocation methodology jointly developed between ISC and:
- First Nations: Assembly of First Nations
- National Indian Education Council
- Chiefs Committee on Education
9.2 Funding approaches
Transfer payments to funding recipients of the Research and Learning Program may be made using fixed contribution or flexible contribution depending on the recipient’s eligibility and the service to be delivered.
Set funding may be used if the recipient so wishes.
ISC regional officers can provide information on the eligibility requirements of these funding approaches and on the requirements related to the management of the funds.
The funding approach used to transfer funds to a recipient is identified in the recipient's signed funding agreement.
The following specific program directions for the management of transfer payments complement the directions provided in the recipient's signed funding agreement and are to be read in conjunction with the funding agreement.
Set contribution funding
Reallocation of funding:
- reallocation of funds is not allowed with transfer payments made using set contribution.
Fixed contribution funding
Reallocation of funding:
- during the fiscal year, recipients may reallocate a reasonable percentage of funds among the eligible activities and expenditures of their ISC-approved proposal for the Research and Learning Program.
Unexpended funding:
- recipients may retain unexpended funding from a fiscal year, to expend in the 1 year period immediately following the fiscal year for which it was provided, on eligible activities and expenditures outlined in these guidelines.
Flexible contribution funding
Reallocation of funding:
- during the fiscal year, recipients may reallocate a reasonable percentage of funds among the eligible activities and expenditures of their ISC-approved proposal for the Research and Learning Program.
Unexpended funding:
- recipients may retain unexpended funding remaining at the end of each fiscal year to expend in a subsequent fiscal year, to further achieve results toward their ISC-approved proposal for the Research and Learning Program.
10. Reporting requirements and monitoring and oversight activities
10.1 Reporting requirements
The reporting requirements, such as program reports and financial reports and their respective due dates are listed in the recipient's funding agreement and details on these requirements are available in the Reporting Guide, Activities and Expenditures Report (DCI number 4548549).
Recipients must report on all funds received and expended, including the use of unexpended funding they were allowed to retain to use in another fiscal year. Consult the funding approaches section of these guidelines for details on the use of unexpended funds.
All recipient reporting requirements are subject to monitoring and oversight activities to determine the accuracy of the information provided to ISC.
10.2 Monitoring and oversight
To ensure that the program or strategy outcomes and objectives are being met and opportunities for continuous improvement with a goal to improve results for Indigenous peoples are being identified, activities including audits, evaluations, as well as targeted program or strategy reviews may be conducted in collaboration with the recipient (for example, desk and on-site reviews).
11. Personal information
ISC's collection and use of personal information and other records for the purposes of targeted program reviews (for example, desk and on-site reviews) will be limited to what is necessary to ensure that the program delivery requirements are met.
ISC is responsible for all information and records in its possession. The confidentiality of the information will be managed by ISC in accordance with the Privacy Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. P-21 and other related policies on privacy.
Recipients are responsible for the protection of personal information as per provincial privacy statutes and regulations and the recipient's policies up to the point that the personal information is transferred to ISC.
12. Accountability
ISC is committed to providing assistance to recipients in order to help them effectively carry out their obligations under these guidelines and their funding agreement.
Regional offices and other ISC contacts are available to answer questions and provide guidance related to ISC programs and strategies and funding.
Recipients must:
- deliver the programs and strategies in accordance with the provisions of their signed funding agreement and the delivery requirements outlined in these guidelines
- ensure that the necessary management controls are in place to manage funding and monitor activities
- exercise due diligence when approving expenditures
- ensure that such expenditures are in accordance with the eligible expenditures set out in these guidelines
First Nations partners and recipients are expected to present the results of their projects to allow for exchange of learnings and knowledge.
13. Contact information
To find out more, visit Research and Learning Program.
The Research and Learning Program is a regionally-based program. Visit the ISC regional offices page to find your regional office contact.
You can also write to:
Education Branch
Indigenous Services Canada
10 rue Wellington - Suite 1455, Mailstop 25E-19
Gatineau QC K1A 0H4
Email: education-education@sac-isc.gc.ca
To learn more about education programs, consult the national program guidelines.