December 18, 2020
The Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) is a national, charitable, non-profit organization founded in 1985. LEAF works to advance the substantive equality rights of women and girls in Canada through litigation, law reform, and public education using the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We are funding one researcher to support the work of our Basic Income Project.
Overview
| Number of awards | One (1) |
| Value | $10,000 |
| Duration | January to May 2021 |
| Application deadline | January 8 2021, 12 pm EST |
| Results announced | January 15 2021 |
| Submission instructions | Submit all documents as a single PDF to Cee Strauss at [email protected] |
Context
The Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) is a national, charitable, non-profit organization founded in 1985. LEAF works to advance the substantive equality rights of women and girls in Canada through litigation, law reform, and public education using the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
This year, LEAF launched its Basic Income Project. While LEAF, like many others, is interested in the potential for a basic income to address poverty and unemployment, there are important questions that need answering when it comes to basic income and gender equality. The Basic Income Project will allow LEAF to examine many of these questions.
LEAF is working with the help of an expert Advisory Committee to assess the potential for basic income to address longstanding issues of gender and racial socioeconomic inequality. This work will help us develop an advocacy strategy – and make a meaningful contribution to the current discussions around basic income – that will centre and advance women and gender diverse people’s socioeconomic rights.
Research Description
Using an intersectional feminist framework, LEAF will write a report evaluating the ability of a basic income program to address gender inequalities.
The researcher will examine one aspect of this evaluation: the ability of a basic income program to contribute to women and gender-diverse people with disabilities’ full and effective participation and inclusion in society. This study will assess the differential impact of a basic income for women and gender-diverse people with disabilities living at the intersections of multiple categories of marginalization (e.g. seniors, Indigenous women, migrant women).
In researching this topic, the researcher will examine questions including:
- How does income insecurity and economic inequality affect the full and effective participation and inclusion in society for women and gender-diverse people with disabilities?
- What current disability income supports exist in Canada? What is the relationship between basic income and these existing supports?
- How could a basic income program impact poverty rates and economic inequality for women and gender-diverse people with disabilities?
- What impact could a basic income have on labour market conditions and inclusion for women and gender-diverse people with disabilities?
- Are there additional supports or programs that, combined with a basic income, could improve the ability of basic income to support and promote the fundamental inclusion of people with disabilities?
The researcher will review academic and grey literature, particularly in relation to disability justice, in carrying out their research. They are not expected to conduct original research. Instead, they will create a document which brings together and summarizes existing knowledge.
The researcher will be expected to draft a report of 30-40 pages, double spaced. They will also be expected to write a 3 to 5-page executive summary of the report.
Value and duration
The successful applicant will be awarded $10,000 to complete their research. The researcher will be expected to adhere to an agreed upon schedule of deliverables, including: a detailed outline of the report (date to be determined); a draft of the research report by mid-April 2021, to be reviewed by the Advisory Committee; and a final report by May 31, 2021. All research products must be completed by May 31, 2021.
By applying for this funding opportunity, the successful applicant consents to LEAF publicly sharing the resulting research products.
Application process
Applicants must submit the following as a single PDF attachment:
- A letter of intent summarizing the applicant’s relevant expertise/experience in relation to the research topic
- Applicant’s CV
- A brief writing sample (5-10 pages)
Applications will be accepted by email only. In the subject line of your email application, reference “Basic Income Project – Call for Proposals”. Applications are to be submitted to Cee Strauss at [email protected], and must be submitted by 12:00 pm EST on January 8, 2021.
LEAF encourages applications from candidates who reflect the diversity of our communities, including from people with disabilities. Where possible, accommodations will be made available upon request for applicants.
The successful applicant will be notified by January 15, 2021.
Download the call for proposals in PDF here.
Contact Information
Cee Strauss
Staff Lawyer and Basic Income Project Chair
Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)
Email: [email protected]
The Basic Income Project is supported by:
The Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund and Toronto Foundation
The Canadian Bar Association’s Law for the Future Fund
