This fall, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) will launch concurrent open and competitive solicitations for time-limited project funding under the HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund (CAF) and the Harm Reduction Fund (HRF). To support the review of the funding applications, PHAC is looking for people living with HIV, people with lived or living experience of hepatitis C, individuals from key populations, individuals who work in community-based organizations, and researchers with a range of expertise in STBBI and harm reduction to ensure the committees are diverse, inclusive and can help assess the extent to which funding applications support the objectives of the funding programs.

As part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to moving toward Truth and Reconciliation, PHAC is committed to supporting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples’ priorities. As such, an Indigenous review committee comprised of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples will be formed to assess Indigenous-led projects. As it selects First Nations, Inuit, and Métis reviewers, PHAC will try to ensure these reviewers also bring intersecting perspectives of other key populations, as outlined in the attached application form. Indigenous reviewers will also be asked to review applications from other organizations that have identified Indigenous people as their key population.

The time commitment for each reviewer is dependent on the number of available reviewers and how many applications for funding will be submitted during the solicitations. However, external reviewers will be expected to:

• participate in a virtual information session in December 2020 (TBC) on the role of external reviewers, including  how people with lived or living experience will be remunerated for their participation;
• review a package of funding applications and complete a one-page assessment with your comments for each application during a three (3) week period in January 2021 (TBC), and
• attend a series of virtual External Review Committee meetings in February 2021 (TBC) over a one (1) week period. The purpose of these meetings will be for review committee members to discuss their assessments and determine which projects will be recommended to proceed to the next stage of the solicitation process, based on available funds and merit.

Go here to apply as a reviewer by October 26, 2020, and submit it to phac.cp-pc.aspc@canada.ca. PHAC will notify you of the results of the application process. Please note that all reviewers will be asked to declare any potential conflicts of interest in advance of the review process.