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Theme 2: Advancing Women in Various Sectors through Mentorship/Sponsorship
Project Objective
The purpose of this theme is to increase opportunities for the advancement of women within an industry or profession, including entrepreneurial enterprises, through the piloting of sustainable mentorship/sponsorship models.
Project Description
Through the piloting of sustainable mentorship/sponsorship models, projects will address sector-specific barriers that limit the advancement of women, particularly professional or entrepreneurial women. Models will be formally evaluated to test their effectiveness.
Funding Available/Duration
Funding Available | Duration | |
---|---|---|
Projects at the local level | Up to $250,000 | Up to 30 months |
Projects in multiple communities across Canada | Up to $300,000 | Up to 36 months |
Mandatory Key Activities
a) Partnerships
- Throughout the duration of the project, women, women’s and other community organizations, and stakeholders (such as professional and business associations, and economic development agencies) will work in partnership.
b) Examine Context
- To inform the planning and development of a mentorship/sponsorship model, an assessment of the current situation of women professionals or entrepreneurs will be conducted to identify needs and barriers. Using a gender lens, the assessment will:
- Consider the current contribution of women professionals or entrepreneurs to employment and prosperity in their sector/profession;
- Consult with professional and entrepreneurial women, partners and stakeholders to identify barriers, priorities and opportunities;
- Identify existing policies, services, decision-making processes, etc., and determine the effectiveness.
c) Determine and Choose an Option
- Identify promising mentorship/sponsorship models that could be implemented, taking into consideration their sustainability, strengths and challenges.
- For example:
- Work with key decision-makers to formalize an existing but informal mentorship/sponsorship model currently in use within the organization.
- Work with professional associations to assist them in establishing within their own industry or sector, a sponsorship model that recognizes the commitments required of the sponsor.
d) Implementation
- Collaboratively implement the chosen mentorship/sponsorship model.
e) Knowledge Sharing
- Ensure that knowledge gained throughout the project is shared, as appropriate.
f) Project Evaluation
- Up to 15 percent of the project budget should be allotted for an external evaluation.
- In addition to evaluating the effectiveness of the mentorship/sponsorship model, evaluations must consider the extent of organizational uptake and the sustainability of the selected model. (Evaluation and reporting requirements and timelines will be determined after the proposed project has been approved).
Important Considerations
For the purposes of this Call for Proposals, the only applications that will be considered for funding will:
- propose piloting formal** mentoring/sponsorship models; and
- have secured confirmed partners at the time of application, or will secure them within 4 months post-approval.
** Models that are: supported by the organization in which they will be implemented; have dedicated resources to support the program; and, have defined roles and responsibilities.
Projects proposing the following types of activities will not be considered under this Call for Proposals:
- delivering training (occupational or otherwise) to women, unless the training is to facilitate participation in the project (e.g. facilitation skills);
- mentoring activities to recruit and/or increase awareness about employment/entrepreneurial (start-up or expansion) opportunities (e.g. directly mentoring women business owners to either establish new businesses or expand existing businesses through the development of business growth plans);
- mentoring activities that provide direct informal/personal mentorship to assist women with job readiness;
- providing direct access to existing services/supports; and
- supporting existing and/or ongoing activities or programs, or direct services under the jurisdiction of other levels of government.
Planned results
- Formal, sustainable mentorship/sponsorship models to increase opportunities for the advancement of women within an industry or profession have been piloted and tested.
- Women and stakeholders can identify the opportunities and barriers women face in accessing professional and business opportunities and advancing within their professions or enterprises.
- Women are actively engaging with stakeholders and taking on leadership roles to address these barriers at work, within sectors or in their communities.
- Community partners and stakeholders collaborate to strengthen opportunities to retain and advance women.
Project Deliverables (After Approval)
Month 4
- Detailed work plan, results framework and performance measurement plan, risk management plan, evaluation plan, and list of confirmed project partners, including a description of how you will work collaboratively with these partner(s) and their contribution.
Month 12 and 24
- Interim report, needs assessment report (at 12 months), identification and description of selected formal mentorship/sponsorship model, and other project documents, as required.
Project end
- Final report and evaluation.
Note: Performance reporting requirements and timelines will be determined after the proposed project has been approved.
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