Applicant GuideWorkplace Opportunities: Removing Barriers to Equity

Your proposal must demonstrate how it will incorporate at least one of the designated groups per the Employment Equity Act:

• Women.
• Indigenous Peoples.
• Persons with disabilities.
• Members of visible minorities.

Projects must aim to increase representation in federally regulated industries, especially in sectors or occupations where designated groups are least represented. This includes:

• Identifying barriers to inclusion.
• Proposing targeted strategies to improve representation.
• Establishing reporting frameworks and key performance indicators.

Barriers to inclusion can include identifying and addressing systemic, structural, and cultural obstacles that limit equitable access, participation, and advancement for designated groups. This includes outlining concrete strategies that enable employees to fully engage and thrive in their work environments.

Your project must focus on at least one of the following federally regulated sectors:

• Banking and financial services.
• Communications.
• Transportation.
• ‘Other’ federally regulated industries.

Within these sectors, your project should identify how to increase representation of the designated groups in one or more of the 14 Employment Equity Occupational Groups:

1. Senior managers.
2. Middle and Other managers.
3. Professionals.
4. Semi-professionals and Technicians.
5. Supervisors.
6. Supervisors (including crafts and trades).
7. Administrative and clerical personnel.
8. Skilled sales and service workers.
9. Skilled trades workers.
10. Clerical staff.
11. Intermediate sales and service workers.
12. Semi-skilled manual workers.
13. Other sales and service personnel.
14. Other manual workers.

All projects must be partnership-based, involving active collaboration with employers. This includes:

• Shared responsibilities and decision-making.
• Financial or in-kind contributions from employer partners (no minimum amount required).
• Clear roles and commitments outlined in agreements.

In collaboration with the third-party evaluator, projects must include systems to track progress over time. This may include:

1. Developing tools, training, or digital solutions.
2. Collecting and analyzing data.
3. Reporting on equity outcomes throughout the project lifecycle.

A third-party evaluator can offer an objective assessment of your project’s outcomes while working in close partnership with you. They can help design practical systems for tracking progress, develop tools and solutions to support implementation, and work with your project to ensure that reporting is clear and consistent.

This collaborative approach provides verifiable data for decision-making, strengthens accountability, and supports continuous improvement throughout the life of your project.

Applicants must demonstrate how they will meet privacy and data protection requirements, including:

• Compliance with relevant legislation (e.g., Privacy Act, Employment Equity Act).
• Ensuring voluntary self-identification.
• Protecting individual identities through secure and ethical data practices.
• Methods for data storage and anonymization.
• Data access and consent protocols.

In the first year, projects must establish a strong foundation for implementation.

Applicants should:

• Collaborate with the third-party evaluator to build a baseline dataset and measurement framework that supports long-term impact tracking.
• Establish strong alignment with WORBE objectives by clearly identifying designated group(s) and sectors, supported by workforce analysis and stakeholder engagement.
• Build feasibility through a detailed project structure, resource plan, and realistic timeline.
• Demonstrate organizational and partner readiness, risk mitigation strategies, and compliance with data privacy requirements.
• Lay the groundwork for scalability by introducing standardized tools, processes, and employer onboarding strategies that can be adapted later.
• Prepare for measurement by defining outcomes and indicators, planning for baseline data collection, and integrating qualitative methods into the design.

Year 1 Expected Outcomes include, but not limited to:

• A finalized workplan, timeline and risk mitigation strategy.
• Signed partnership agreements with clear roles, responsibilities, and data-sharing protocols.
• A finalized workplan, timeline, and risk register.
• Developed training plans tailored for employers and project teams, as required.
• Initial setup of digital tracking tools and secure data collection systems.
• Completion of staff and partner training for measurement processes.
• Ongoing stakeholder engagement and consultation.
• Policies and protocols for data privacy and confidentiality.

In the second year, the program looks for:

• Outreach: applicants should outline new partnerships, activities, and outputs that build on Year 1 foundations.
• Enhanced feasibility: continue refining processes and addressing emerging risks while maintaining strong collaboration with partners.
• Intermediate measurement: implement tracking systems with employer partners and start analyzing early data to inform adjustments.
• Applicants should describe strategies for expanding partnerships, increasing activities, and producing outputs that build on Year 1 achievements, positioning the project for growth and wider impact.

Year 2 Expected Outcomes for Funding include, but not limited to:

• Baseline workforce demographic analysis identifying representation gaps.
• A co-developed measurement framework tailored for each employer.
• Building on Year 1: digital tracking tools and applicable training ready for implementation.
• A completed Year 2 implementation plan outlining activities, timelines, and expected outcomes.
• Evidence of strong partner and sustained engagement.
• Verification that outputs align with the original proposal.

By the third year, the program expects:

• Comprehensive outcomes measurement: demonstrate clear progress toward representation goals using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Scalability: present a credible strategy for replicating results beyond the pilot (as defined above), including but not limited to knowledge-sharing mechanisms.
• Final outputs: Including, but not limited to, delivering standardized tools, protocols, and guidance that enable consistent implementation across diverse employers.
• Knowledge transfer: Begin sharing tools, resources, and lessons learned with broader audiences to encourage uptake.
• Long-term impact readiness: ensure design decisions support continued accountability and adaptation after funding ends.
• A final report summarizing key activities, outcomes, and learning.

This section collects basic information about your organization and key contacts.

1.1 Title of Your Project Proposal (up to 25 words)
Provide a concise, descriptive title that reflects the core focus of your project. This title may be made public.

1.2 Describe your project proposal in one sentence using clear and simple language (up to 150 words)
To ensure clarity for all reviewers and provide a concise, public-friendly summary of your project.

1.3 Lead Organization/Group
Enter the name and legal details of the organization that will lead the project and receive funding if selected.

1.3.1 Organization/Applicant Name: Common name used in operations.

1.3.2 Full Legal Name of Organization/Applicant: Official registered name (if incorporated).

1.3.3 Address: Complete mailing address including city, province, postal code, and country.

1.3.4 Business Email: Primary contact email for correspondence.

1.3.5 Business Phone Number: Primary contact number for correspondence.

1.3.6 Organization/Applicant website URL (if available): organization website to allow reviewers to learn more about your activities and projects.

1.3.7 Organization/Applicant social media accounts (if available): you are invited to share links to these accounts.

1.4 Applicant Category
Select the category that best describes your organization. See eligibility section of this applicant guide for requirements if you are applying as an individual, or if you are an organization located and operating in Quebec.

1.5 Incorporation Status
Indicate whether your organization is incorporated in Canada. If yes, provide your 9-digit CRA Business Number. If not, confirm whether you are willing to incorporate to receive funding.

1.5.1 CRA Registration Number for Businesses, Charities, or Not-for-profit Organizations: Enter your nine-digit Business Number (BN) in this field. Follow this link if you require more information.

1.5.2 Contact Person for the Team
Provide details of the main contact person responsible for the application:

• Full Name
• Job Title
• Organization
• Email Address
• Telephone Number
• Preferred Language (English or French)

1.5.3 Verify if you are willing to incorporate in Canada to receive funding
Verify if you are willing to incorporate in Canada to receive funding, should your project be selected. Note: if you select ‘No’ to this question, your application will not be considered.

1.6 Contact Person details:for the team or organization associated with submitting the application form.

1.7 Additional Contact Persons (Optional, Max 2)
Include up to two additional contacts who can support the application or project.

This section is evaluated and should be completed with clear, concise responses. Word limits are specified for each question.

2.1 Project Alignment

2.1.1 Designated Groups (150 words)
Identify which designated group(s) your project will focus on. Applicants should justify choice using workforce data or identified barriers.

2.1.2 Targeted Federally Regulated Sectors (150 words)
Specify which sectors your project will focus on and explain the rationale, including sector-specific equity challenges.

2.1.3 Foundation for Representation (150 words)
Describe how your project will improve representation of designated group(s) in federally regulated workplaces. Provide a description how activities link to expected outcomes.

2.1.4 Stakeholder Engagement (200 words)
Detail how you consulted with designated group(s) and stakeholders. Summarize feedback and how it shaped your project design and priorities.

2.1.5 Project Partners (200 words)
List all partners and their roles. Explain how collaboration will be managed and how potential conflicts will be addressed. Use a table if helpful.

2.2 Feasibility

2.2.1 Timeline and Results (200 words)
Provide a timeline of activities and deliverables. Explain how progress will be tracked and how you’ll adapt to changes.

2.2.2 Project Structure and Resources (400 words)
Outline your project’s design and resource plan, including financial, human, and technical resources.

2.2.3 Organizational Capacity (150 words)
Describe your experience and capacity to deliver the project, including partner readiness and expertise.

2.2.4 Risk Management (200 words)
Identify key risks and explain your mitigation and contingency strategies.

2.2.5 Data Privacy and Consent (200 words)
Explain how you’ll handle personal and equity data securely and ethically, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation. The program expects applicants to demonstrate how personal and equity data will be handled securely and ethically. This includes outlining safeguards for data protection and ensuring that participation is informed, voluntary, and respectful of individual privacy.

2.3 Scalability

2.3.1 Adaptability (250 words)
Describe how your project can be scaled or adapted by other employers or sectors.

2.3.2 Future Engagement (250 words)
Outline plans to expand partnerships and activities in years 2 and 3, including anticipated outputs and engagement strategies.

2.4 Measurement Readiness

2.4.1 Expected Outcomes (250 words)
Define the outcomes related to representation of designated group(s), including the indicators to be measured.

2.4.2 Tracking Plan (250 words)
Describe how you’ll monitor representation with partners, including data sources and reporting mechanisms.

2.4.3 Qualitative Methods (200 words)
Explain how interviews, surveys, or focus groups will be used to understand lived experiences and barriers.

2.4.4 Standardized Tools (250 words)
Describe tools or protocols to help partners implement equity measurement consistently.

For your application to be eligible for funding, it must be completed and signed by the official representative(s) of the applicant organization in accordance with the organization’s by-laws or other constituting documents.

This section is not evaluated.

This section collects information on your experience with this application process, information about your organization, as well as demographic information.

Note that any data collected will be used strictly for administrative purposes to help Impact Canada and ESDC understand whether and how these projects are an effective tool and improve upon their design in the future.

The data collected in this survey will be aggregated and no individual answers will be published. Your answers to this survey will not be used in the assessment process and will not affect your chances of success in this challenge or any other federal funding application. This information may be shared with other government departments.