NCP Call for Proposals 2025

NCP Call for Proposals 2025 is sponsored by National Contaminants Program (NCP). Supports the coordinated generation, collection, and management of scientific and environmental data and Indigenous knowledge pertaining to plastic and microplastic pollution.

Northern Contaminants Program 2025 Call for Proposals Northern Contaminants Program 2025 Call for Proposals Download the alternative format (PDF format, 1.

13 MB, 69 pages) Organization: Northern Contaminants Program - Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada The Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) engages Northerners and scientists in research and monitoring of long-range contaminants in the Canadian Arctic, that is, contaminants that are transported to the Arctic through atmospheric and oceanic processes from other parts of the world and which remain in the Arctic environment and build up in the food chain.

The data generated by the NCP is used to assess ecosystem and human health, and the findings of these assessments are used to address the safety of traditional country foods that are important to the health and cultural practices of Northerners and northern communities, particularly Indigenous Peoples. The findings also inform policy, resulting in action to eliminate contaminants from long-range sources.

The NCP is committed to scientific excellence and northern engagement on the issue of long-range contaminants and plastic pollution in the Arctic. Through this Call for Proposals, the NCP is seeking proposals for new activities in the following subprograms: Human Health; Environmental Monitoring and Research – Research projects; Community-Based Monitoring and Research; and Communications, Capacity and Outreach.

NCP is now accepting proposals for projects beginning in 2025, for up to 3 years of funding 2 - Preparing a proposal submission 3 - Community engagement requirements for NCP projects 4 - Proposal review process 5 - Proposal submission checklists 6 - Human Health Blueprint 7 - Environmental Monitoring and Research Blueprint 8 – Community-Based Monitoring and Research Blueprint 9 - Communications, Capacity and Outreach Blueprint 10 - Program Coordination and Indigenous Partnerships Blueprint 1.

1 Timelines for the NCP Call for Proposals 2025 1. 2 NCP Funding available by subprogram for projects beginning in 2025-2026 1. 3 NCP reporting requirements 4.

1 Review criteria - NCP relevance 4. 2 Review criteria - technical and external peer review 4. 3 Review criteria - social/cultural review Appendix A - NCP’s contaminants of concern Appendix B - Contact information Appendix C - Guidelines for responsible research Appendix D - Glossary of acronyms 1.

1 Timelines for the Northern Contaminants Program Call for Proposals The Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) issues an annual Call for Proposals. The NCP is now accepting funding proposals for projects beginning in 2025-2026. The deadline for proposal submissions is 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time, Monday, January 20, 2025.

Table 1.

1 Timelines for the NCP Call for Proposals 2025 Call for Proposals issued Proposal co-development by, and in consultation with, communities, researchers, Regional Contaminants Committees, Inuit Research Advisors, etc. NCP Proposal Seminar #1: Introduction and essential requirements of a NCP proposal and budget Note: Includes practical examples of how to fill in the proposal and budget templates NCP Proposal Seminar #2: Best practices for preparing a Community-Based Monitoring and Research and Communications, Capacity and Outreach Proposal Note: Includes practical examples of how to fill in the proposal and budget templates NCP Proposal Seminar #3: Best practices for preparing a Human Health or Environmental Monitoring and Research Proposal: Note: Includes practical examples of how to fill in the proposal and budget templates Deadline for submission of proposals Deadline for submission of Community Engagement forms Applicants apply for research licences and ethics review, as applicable.

Proposal Review Period - proposals are reviewed by peer reviewers, technical review teams and Regional Contaminants Committees NCP Management Committee meets to make final funding decisions Notification sent to applicants on the status of their proposal(s) Funding Agreements prepared and signed Projects funded by the NCP fall under five subprograms each with its own funding envelope. See Table 1.

2 for the funding available in 2025-2026 to 2027-2028 under this Call for Proposals by subprogram. Funding envelope amounts are approximate and may be subject to change. Since 2020-2021, the NCP has been supporting multi-year projects.

As a consequence, a portion of NCP funding is already committed to projects extending to 2026-2027. Therefore, in 2025, the NCP is seeking proposals for new activities in the following subprograms only: Human Health; Environmental Monitoring and Research – Research projects; Community-Based Monitoring and Research; and Communications, Capacity and Outreach.

NCP supports the coordinated generation, collection and management of scientific and environmental data and Indigenous knowledge pertaining to plastic and microplastic pollution in the environment and wildlife, with a budget of approximately $875,000 annually to 2026-2027 as part of Canada’s Zero Plastic Waste initiatives. Please consult Table 1. 2 when considering new project submissions.

Applicants should consult the NCP Blueprints (see sections 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ) for a description of the subprograms and their priorities for funding, when preparing a proposal. Applicants may request funding for up to 3 consecutive years. Leaders of ongoing multi-year projects must submit annual proposal updates to report on progress and identify any potential adjustments.

Templates and instructions will be supplied separately by the NCP Secretariat. Table 1.

2 NCP Funding available by subprogram for projects beginning in 2025-2026 NCP Subprograms & Annual Funding Envelopes Funding Available for new projects through this Call for Proposals Human Health (Total $1,075,000 Annually ) Human biomonitoring and research projects: Support for ongoing biomonitoring and research projects that address priorities identified in the Human Health Blueprint Environmental Monitoring & Research (EMR) (Total $1,700,000 Annually ) Core monitoring projects: Support for ongoing core monitoring projects (project leaders identified in the EMR Blueprint) ($1,000,000 per annum) Support for research projects that address priorities identified in the EMR Blueprint ($225,000 per annum) Support for projects and activities that address plastic pollution priorities identified in the EMR Blueprint ($475,000 per annum) Community-Based Monitoring & Research (Total $430,000 Annually ) Support for projects that address priorities identified in the CBMR Blueprint ($230,000 per annum) Support for projects and activities that address plastic pollution ($200,000 per annum) Communications, Capacity & Outreach (Total $700,000 Annually ) Support for Regional Contaminants Committees and Inuit Research Advisors (project leaders identified in the CCO Blueprint) ($500,000 per annum, includes $50,000 per annum plastics funding) Other/new projects (General): Support for projects and activities that address priorities identified in the CCO Blueprint ($200,000 per annum, includes $50,000 per annum plastics funding) Program Coordination & Indigenous Partnerships (Total $1,090,000 Annually ) Support for projects and activities as identified in the Program Coordination & Indigenous Partnerships Blueprint (Includes $100,000 per annum plastic funding) SUBTOTAL - NCP Funding (General - $4,120,000 per annum) SUBTOTAL - NCP Funding (Plastics - $875,000 per annum) A Funds already committed through multi-year projects and/or directed funding B The program also reserves some funds to be made available for new projects through the Call for Proposals 2026 and/or 2027 C Funding for plastics research, monitoring, and related activities in 2027-2028 and beyond is not yet confirmed 1.

3 Geographic focus of the NCP The geographic focus of the NCP is Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut. This includes the traditional territories of Yukon First Nations and of the Dene and Metis of the Northwest Territories, and all of Inuit Nunangat (including Inuvialuit Settlement Region).

Proposals for work to be conducted outside these regions will be considered on a case-by-case basis according to their relevance to the various NCP Blueprints. 1. 4 Changes to the NCP Call for Proposals 2025 Please note the following important changes and updates in this year’s Call for Proposals: Results Workshop: NCP-funded project leaders are expected to attend the NCP Results Workshop in years when they occur.

The next Results Workshop will be held in person i November 2025 (location TBD). If funding is required, applicants should budget a maximum of $3,000 for travel to attend the workshop in the 2025-2026 year. Proposal template: There is a new section of the proposal template related to project challenges/risks.

Applicants are asked to identify factors that may negatively impact their project or its funding, across five categories: Logistical/Operational (e.g., travel, scheduling, shipping); Human Resources (e.g., ability to find/hire the right personnel for the project, obtain proper clearances); Financial (e.g., timing of funding, increasing costs, unexpected expenses); Environmental (e.g., weather, climate-related impacts, migration patterns); and, Health and Safety (e.g., communicable disease, accidents).

Open Access Journal Fees: The NCP will provide support to cover/offset the fees associated with open access to NCP-related journal articles on a separate limited prioritized basis. Do not include these fees in your project proposal budget request.

If leaders of supported projects plan to publish an article in an academic journal between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026 and require funds to support open access publication, they are asked to contact the NCP Secretariat at plcn-ncp@rcaanc-cirnac. gc. ca .

1. 5 Proposal Requirements Proposals must demonstrate that the proposed work will comply with the requirements outlined below. The NCP requires that all funded projects be carried out in partnership with Northerners.

Scientists are encouraged to work with community leaders, Elders, hunters, and other knowledgeable individuals to engage Indigenous Knowledge in the design and conduct of the study. Community input to the research is important, as are sensitive and sound researcher–community relations; all must be clearly demonstrated in project proposals.

The Regional Contaminants Committees and the Inuit Research Advisors play a particularly important role in this respect and are to be involved in any steps taken to work with the communities. See Appendix B for contact information. The NCP supports interdisciplinary studies that advance general knowledge related to contaminants, including projects that address the interactions between climate change and contaminants.

Applicants are encouraged to seek opportunities to combine NCP activities with those funded by other programs such as ArcticNet and the Indigenous Community-Based Climate Monitoring Program to explore interdisciplinary questions. Project leaders may also wish to consider applying for an Alliance Advantage grant through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Alliance grants encourage researchers to collaborate with partner organizations, which can be from the public or not-for-profit sectors. Please consult NSERC’s eligibility requirements for more information. Project leaders are encouraged to seek co-funding from other programs that support community-based research and monitoring in the North and the Arctic.

Two such programs that operate in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, respectively, are the Northwest Territories Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program (NWT CIMP) and the Nunavut General Monitoring Plan (NGMP) . For more information, please contact NWT CIMP by e-mail at nwtcimp@gov.nt. ca or call 1-867-767-9233 ext.

53084, and for NGMP, please e-mail ngmp-psgn@rcaanc-cirnac. gc. ca or call 1-855-897-6988.

1. 5. 2 Training the next generation of Arctic and northern scientists The NCP recognizes the importance of training the next generation of Arctic and northern scientists, which includes training researchers from the North.

Research funded by the NCP is often well suited for graduate level research projects. The involvement of students of all academic levels in NCP projects is strongly encouraged. Project leaders are encouraged to develop links with Northern and Arctic Colleges and other educational institutions to enhance the training and education of Northern students by including them in the project work.

1. 5. 3 Northern engagement and informed consent All applicants are asked to review the Community Engagement Requirements for Northern Contaminants Program Projects carefully; this specifies engagement requirements for all project proposals, see section 3 .

Applicants must demonstrate, in writing, appropriate engagement as per the above-mentioned requirements, ensure that they allow enough time to complete this process, and are strongly encouraged to discuss their engagement plans with the appropriate Regional Contaminant Committee(s) and/or Inuit Research Advisor(s), see Appendix B – Contact information.

For projects involving the collection of personal information and/or samples from people, informed consent must be obtained prior to final approval of the project.

Additionally, agreements must be established with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit governments or organizations with respect to ownership, control, access, and possession of data and information collected from individuals, as described by OCAP ® and the National Inuit Strategy on Research . 1. 5.

4 Licensing, ethics review and health and safety All research taking place in the North and Arctic requires a scientific research licence. Please consult the websites of the licensing authorities or research institute in the region of study, and/or contact the Regional Contaminants Committee coordinators or Inuit Research Advisor for guidance, see Appendix B - Contact information.

Yukon: Government of Yukon Northwest Territories: Government of Northwest Territories Nunavut: Nunavut Research Institute Nunavik: Nunavik Research Centre Nunatsiavut: Nunatsiavut Research Centre Every project involving the collection of personal information and/or samples from people will be required to provide proof to the NCP Secretariat of approval from all relevant ethics review boards/committees, before the project is given final approval.

The health and safety of NCP project teams, including northern community members who assist/participate in the research in any way, is of paramount importance. NCP Project Leaders should be aware of their responsibilities with respect to ensuring the health and safety of their teams, particularly when carrying out project activities in remote northern locations.

All work carried out with the support of the Northern Contaminants Program will be expected to comply with any and all relevant public health requirements. COVID-19 related information is available from the Government of Canada ( www. canada.

ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19. html ) and territorial/region specific information is available through Polar Knowledge Canada ( www. canada.

ca/en/polar-knowledge/online-portal-for-researchers. html#region-specific-information ). NCP researchers must familiarise themselves with requirements relating to health, safety, insurance, training, licensing, and other aspects of working in the North and Arctic; share relevant information with members of the project team; and incorporate appropriate measures into project plans.

For useful information, see Conducting Research in Canada’s North . For research involving students in Nunavut, the Research in Nunavut Schools Policy aims to establish clear procedures and guidelines for researchers who request to conduct research in Nunavut schools; and ensure that research is relevant, respectful, transparent and fair to students and school staff and that appropriate ethical standards of research are upheld.

Researchers wishing to engage Nunavut schools for research or research-related activities (including outreach, etc.) need to contact the Government of Nunavut, Department of Education, Partner Relations Division at info. edu@gov.nu. ca .

1. 5. 5 Project communications The NCP places an emphasis on the importance of clear and appropriate communications during all phases of a project’s lifecycle, from planning and development, to the dissemination of results, and all of the stages in-between.

Proposals must present a communications plan/strategy that is acceptable to the relevant Regional Contaminants Committee, First Nations, Métis, Inuit governments and organizations and regional health authorities (where applicable).

The NCP requires that successful applicants work in partnership with relevant local/regional organizations and the NCP Secretariat to develop any messaging related to contaminants exposure to human populations. Regional health authorities and Indigenous governments in areas with settled land claims bear the ultimate authority to approve and release public health messages.

Communication initiatives in the North need to be appropriate to how knowledge is normally shared in a particular region or community. Applicants are strongly advised to contact the appropriate Regional Contaminants Committee and Inuit Research Advisor for advice and guidance on communications planning during the development of their proposal, and throughout all stages of project implementation.

The integrity and long-term stability of sample archive and data management is very important for meeting the long-term science and policy objectives of the NCP.

Therefore, the NCP, in collaboration with other partners, has developed the Data Management Principles and Guidelines for Polar Research and Monitoring in Canada , which outlines the expectations and responsibilities of the NCP and of project teams regarding data, metadata, and other information generated from NCP-funded research and monitoring projects.

To meet the objectives laid out in the document, the NCP has partnered with the Canadian Polar Data Network - Polar Data Catalogue to ensure long-term access and availability of data, and to promote collaboration among researchers. All NCP project leaders must use the Polar Data Catalogue to create a full set of metadata that completely document and describe the data collected as part of their NCP projects.

In 2025-2026, training and technical support will be offered to project leaders on how to create meta data and upload associated data files through webinar presentations. Applicants must describe their data management plans in their proposals. Upon approval of funding each project leader will be required to complete and sign the NCP Data Deposit Agreement.

Where possible, Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates should be recorded at sample locations. The NCP Secretariat will review entries in the Polar Data Catalogue to ensure that NCP projects are reporting their metadata. Since metadata can be created before analysis is complete, the deadline for completion is March 31, 2025.

Any holdback or further instalment of funds including funding for the subsequent year will be contingent upon the creation of a new metadata record or update to an existing record. It is important that all tissue samples collected during NCP studies be properly archived for future use, as appropriate. For example, the collection and archiving of tissues from important traditional/country foods is of particular importance.

Archived tissues can be used in future studies to assess dietary exposure of Northerners to contaminants. Special considerations are necessary for archiving samples from human biomonitoring.

If the project will be using archived samples from previous research or samples from another project, the communities involved in the original collections may need to be re-engaged and confirm their participation in the new proposal and the analyses. 1. 5.

8 Quality assurance and quality control A quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program has been established to assess the performance of all laboratories carrying out contaminant analyses under the NCP and to ensure inter-comparability of data.

The QA/QC program is also designed to meet the diverse QA/QC needs of the researchers and analysts by providing them with appropriate diagnostic tools for their analyses and by offering guidance and support in taking corrective measures if needed. Further information on the NCP QA/QC program can be found in a detailed QA/QC report available upon request by e-mail to the NCP Secretariat.

To ensure the continued success of the QA/QC program, all laboratories performing analyses for NCP research are required to participate in the program . Applicants are required to report on laboratory QA/QC performance in their proposals, including their performance in past NCP QA/QC Interlaboratory studies if applicable (see “The Proposal” in Section 2 ).

Funding recipients are responsible for submitting the following project reports to the NCP Secretariat, in accordance with the deadlines outlined in Table 1. 3 . Please incorporate these reporting requirements into work plans.

Table 1.

3 NCP reporting requirements Type of Reporting Requirement Federal Government funding recipients All other funding recipients Mid-year report and Data Deposit Agreement Project metadata input in the Polar Data Catalogue End of year synopsis of research report NCP funded project leaders are expected to attend the NCP Results Workshop in years when they occur The next NCP Results Workshop will be held in person in November 2025 (location TBD).

Applicants should budget a maximum of $3,000 for travel to attend the workshop in 2025. The end of year synopsis of research report enables the NCP Secretariat to make research results and other project information available to the public, including Northerners and the scientific community, in a timely manner. Short versions of the reports are posted on the NCP website .

The complete Synopsis Report of NCP research is published in electronic format in September of each year. The contents of the Synopsis Report are also widely accessible to the public through the NCP Publications Database . 1.

5. 10 Publications, Products and Acknowledgments Project leaders are expected to publish their results in peer-reviewed literature in a timely manner. Open access to journal articles is encouraged.

The NCP will provide support for the publication of selected open access journal articles through a separate process. To request funding to support open access publication, you are asked to contact the NCP Secretariat at plcn-ncp@rcaanc-cirnac. gc.

ca . Project leaders are required to provide the NCP Secretariat with an advance copy of any materials being developed for communication with the public that is related to or resulting from work carried out with the support of the NCP.

Project leaders and all team members are required to acknowledge funding from the NCP in any publications, presentations, print, and electronic communications related to and/or resulting from work carried out with the support of the NCP.

Subject to requirements for confidentiality, publications should give appropriate credit to all individuals and organizations, particularly Indigenous and northern organizations, that contribute to the research. For guidance and/or instructions on the proper acknowledgment of the NCP funding, and/or logos to use, please contact the NCP Secretariat at plcn-ncp@rcaanc-cirnac. gc.

ca . 2 - Preparing a proposal submission A complete proposal submission to the Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) includes: a detailed proposal (see section 2. 1 ); detailed budget tables (see section 2.

2 ); and, as applicable, signed Community Engagement forms and/or letters of support (see section 3. 1 ). The NCP is now accepting multi-year proposals for consideration under all subprograms.

If applying for multi-year funding, the proposal, budget tables and community Engagement forms/letters of support should reflect the full duration of funding support being requested (maximum up to 3 years). A request for multi-year funding does not guarantee that funding will be approved for the full duration requested, i.e. the NCP Management Committee reserves the right to approve single year funding.

If your proposal was previously submitted and approved for multi-year funding, you will receive a personalized proposal update template. All proposals submitted to the NCP must include a detailed proposal following the general format outlined below. To request a sample proposal, please contact the NCP Secretariat.

A fillable template is available that should be used for the proposal. Note: For ongoing multi-year projects, please emphasize any project modifications from the original/previous year’s approved proposal. Multi-Year Funding Requests: Details provided in the proposal must reflect the full funding period proposed.

Years of funding request: (check all that apply) Region(s) of proposed activities: (check all that apply) Northwest Territories (Mackenzie Valley) Northwest Territories (Inuvialuit Settlement Region) The project title should provide an indication of the nature and location of the work being proposed. Please also provide an alternate short title for use in plain language communications.

A project under one subprogram can be linked to priorities under other subprograms or can be a standalone project. A project that links two or more subprograms are encouraged.

Indicate which of the following five subprograms the project falls under as its primary subprogram: Human Health (new submissions invited) Community-Based Monitoring and Research (new submissions invited) Environmental Monitoring and Research (no new submissions; directed projects only) Communications, Capacity and Outreach (new submissions invited) Program Coordination and Indigenous Partnerships (no new submissions; directed projects only) Indicate the key priority/priorities addressed by the proposed work, as per the relevant subprogram Blueprint(s).

4. Project leader, affiliation, and contact information: Include name, title, affiliation, mailing address, telephone #, and e-mail address. No more than three individuals should be identified as Project Leaders.

The Project Leader(s) will be the main contact(s) on the project, and will be responsible for the overall project implementation and for meeting all NCP reporting requirements. 5. Project team members and their affiliations: List names of all the project team members, their affiliations, and their role in the project.

All team members listed must be actively involved in the project. For ongoing/multi-year projects please ensure that the list of project team members is still valid.

By listing members of the project team, the applicant (or Project Leader) is confirming that these individuals have agreed to be included as members of the project team in 2025-2026 and have been granted an opportunity to review and/or provide input on this project proposal. 6.

Plain language summary: In a maximum of 200 words (narrative or bullet-form), provide a clear and concise summary of the project and its proposed activities using non-technical plain-language so that it can be understood by a non-scientific audience.

The summary will be used in the review process, particularly by the Regional Contaminants Committees during their social/cultural review of proposals, as well as by the NCP Management Committee. These plain language summaries will also be used on the NCP website to provide a brief description of NCP-funded projects. The summary should provide an overview of the proposed work by addressing the following: What is the proposed work?

What questions does the project attempt to answer and why? Where and when will the work be done? How will the project involve/help Indigenous peoples and other Northerners?

What are the expected results and the results to date, and how will results be communicated back to the community? Provide well-defined short-term and long-term objectives for the overall project in relation to the applicable NCP Blueprint. Describe the rationale for the project in relation to the applicable NCP Blueprint.

This should be a detailed section that clearly lays out the scientific basis for the proposed project. It is this section that will convince reviewers that the proposed project addresses the needs described in the Blueprint in a way that is scientifically defensible. Describe the results of any work completed to date so that the project can be properly and fully evaluated.

This should include any work carried out in related NCP projects as well as non-NCP funded projects whose results are specifically relevant to the proposed work. This section should also include information on any progress in the areas of capacity building, communications, and/or the use of Indigenous Knowledge.

Provide a brief description of activities, including project design and methodology, where and when the work will be carried out over the lifetime of the project. Include a more detailed description of planned activities in the year(s) for which funds are being requested. Specify the deliverables to be submitted to the NCP Secretariat over the lifetime of the project, as well as for the year(s) for which funding is requested.

Include data reports, open literature publications, reports, workshops, and items for communications initiatives, etc.; please refer to Table 1. 3 for reporting requirements. List the departments, agencies, Indigenous organizations, communities, and other countries, along with the corresponding contact persons, involved in the project and/or who could make use of the results ( for the requested funding year(s) only ).

List any other projects that are related to the proposed work and indicate any shared costs and/or sample archival possibilities. 9.

Communications, capacity building, and Indigenous knowledge: Under sections (a) Communications, (b) Northern Capacity Building and Training, and (c) Indigenous Knowledge, below, please indicate any activities that have shared responsibilities (presentations, reports, workshops, etc.) with other NCP-funded projects.

For these, please specify which proposal and project leaders are directly responsible for the activities and related deliverables. Describe in detail ( for the requested funding year(s) only ) any communications activities planned as part of the proposed project, including the names of people and organizations that have been or will be contacted.

Note that it is a requirement of all NCP-funded projects to provide the relevant Regional Contaminants Committee(s) with draft communications materials for review, prior to translation and/or communication activities in northern communities.

b) Northern Capacity Building and Training Capacity building is defined, for the purposes of the NCP, as activities that improve an individual’s, organization’s, or community’s ability to engage in contaminants issues. Describe the capacity building efforts planned for the year(s) for which funding is requested.

Some examples of capacity building include (but are not limited to): Formal training programs (one-on-one or small group training with the researcher) Community or target-group workshops Presentations to, and engagement of, science classes (promoting student involvement) Hiring and engagement of local individuals in research projects Explain how the proposed project will engage with local knowledge and/or Indigenous Knowledge and create bridges between Indigenous Knowledge and Western knowledge ( for the requested funding year(s) only ).

The NCP promotes the engagement of Indigenous Knowledge holders throughout all project stages, including project development, sample collection, data analysis, conclusions, and communication of results. This informs, for example, appropriate sample collection timing, improves understanding of changes in migration patterns, changes in populations, and changes in habitat.

Indigenous engagement aids in overall results interpretation, formulating new research questions, identifying knowledge gaps, and improving communication with local communities. Please contact the appropriate NCP Research Advisor and/or Regional Contaminants Committees to discuss the potential for collaborative application of Indigenous Knowledge in your project. See Contacts in Appendix B .

10. Community engagement: This section must be completed for all projects, including ongoing multi-year projects for which any part of the project in any year of the study was conducted in the North or made use of samples from the North.

For projects that have no northern component at any stage, a brief statement explaining why there has been no northern community engagement may be sufficient; project leaders should confirm that engagement is not required with the appropriate Regional Contaminants Committee(s).

If the project will be using archived samples from previous research or samples from another project, the communities involved in the original collections may need to be re-engaged and confirm their participation in the new proposal and the analyses. Please consult the appropriate Regional Contaminants Committee or Inuit Research Advisor for advice on appropriate engagement in these circumstances.

Describe the specific details of the community engagement that has occurred thus far, including efforts and successes from the previous year’s project (if applicable) and specific plans for future community engagement (e.g. what was discussed, with whom and when). Signed Community Engagement form(s) and/or letters of community consent must be submitted with project proposals.

The community engagement forms are considered, along with the proposal, as part of the social/cultural review of proposals carried out by the five Regional Contaminants Committees and are requirements for funding approval from the NCP. Applicants should be considerate of the challenges and potential delays in Northern communities due to COVID-19 or other factors in their engagement plans.

Please include a list of the expected engagement forms that includes the organization, the signing representative of that organization (if possible), and whether it has been submitted with the proposal or is expected at a later date. Proposals for human health research and social science research (i.e. Indigenous Knowledge)