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ABOUT
A National Platform
for Knowledge, Community
and Impact
The Canadian Institute for People of Afrikan Ancestry (CIPAA) is building a national platform for research, community knowledge, policy and lasting impact. Rooted in the United Nations Second International Decade for People of African Descent, Canadian Institute for People of African Ancestry is being built by and for people of Afrikan ancestry across Canada.
Our full digital platform is currently in development.
MISSION
CIPAA exists to strengthen and advance people of Afrikan ancestry in Canada by generating Afrikan-centred research, mobilizing knowledge, and influencing policy, legislation, and systems change across all levels of society.
VISION
A Canada where people of Afrikan ancestry thrive through self-determined development, equitable systems, and policies shaped by our knowledge, experiences /realities, and leadership.
Why CIPAA Matters
CIPAA connects research, policy, community knowledge and economic opportunity to help create lasting, measurable change for People of Afrikan Ancestry in Canada.
RESEARCH
Evidence that reflects our realities.
Africentric research grounded in the lived experiences, knowledge and priorities of People of Afrikan Ancestry.
POLICY
Turning evidence into change.
Connecting community knowledge and research to policies and systems that better reflect our realities.
COMMUNITY
Nothing about us without us.
Creating meaningful opportunities for communities to help shape the questions, priorities and solutions that affect their lives.
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
Building opportunity. Creating lasting impact.
Advancing economic participation, entrepreneurship, partnerships and pathways toward community wealth.
WHERE THIS WORK BEGAN
KUJENGA PAMOJA
Black Community Voices Shaping Our Future
CIPAA grew from a vision shaped by the community. Kujenga Pamoja brought together research, national conversations and the voices of people of Afrikan ancestry across Canada to explore the need for a dedicated national institute focused on our communities, our knowledge and our future.
The study identified a critical gap: the need for an independent, Black-led institution capable of conducting research, advancing policy and connecting community knowledge to the systems and decisions that shape our lives.
Kujenga Pamoja asked what was possible.
The Canadian Institute for People of Afrikan Ancestry is building what comes next.
That vision became the foundation for Canadian Institute for People of Afrikan Ancestry
Our Guiding Principles
Grounded in Knowledge, Values and Community
CIPAA is grounded in Africentricity, Ma’at and the Nguzo Saba guiding principles that shape how we listen, learn, engage and build. Together, they provide the cultural, ethical and community-centred foundation for our research, policy, community engagement and economic empowerment work.
Africentricity
We centre the histories, lived experiences, knowledge systems and aspirations of People of Afrikan Ancestry, ensuring that our work begins from our realities, strengths and perspectives.
Ma’at
We are guided by principles of truth, justice, balance, reciprocity and right relationship, grounding our work in integrity, accountability and care for community.
Nguzo Saba
The Seven Principles: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith help shape a vision of shared progress, collective responsibility and empowerment.
These principles are not decorative; they inform how CIPAA thinks, engages and acts.
HOW CIPAA WORKS
From Community Knowledge to Impact
Our approach begins with listening. We engage People of Afrikan Ancestry to better understand priorities, experiences, challenges and opportunities. That knowledge helps shape the questions we ask, the research we undertake and the evidence we build.
From there, evidence can inform policy, strengthen programs, support advocacy and contribute to decisions that better reflect the realities of our communities.
Community voices and lived experience
Listen
We create space for community voices, experiences and priorities to be heard.
Themes, needs and strengths emerge
Learn
We identify common themes, emerging needs, strengths and opportunities.
Questions are examined through an Africentric lens
Research
We examine community priorities through an Africentric, evidence-informed lens.
Knowledge is organized into credible insight
Evidence
We build credible knowledge that reflects the realities of People of Afrikan Ancestry in Canada.
Evidence informs systems and decision-making
Policy
We connect evidence and community knowledge to policy development and decision-making.
Programs, partnerships and advocacy respond
Action
We support the translation of knowledge into programs, partnerships, advocacy and practical solutions.
Change becomes visible, measurable and lasting
Impact
We work toward measurable, lasting improvements in the lives of People of Afrikan Ancestry and the communities they build.
Community knowledge is not the end of the process. It is where meaningful change begins.
THE FOUNDING DONOR CIRCLE
Build an Institution.
Leave a Legacy.
Inspired by the Afrikan tradition of Esusu, the Founding Donor Circle brings people together through a six-month commitment to help build Canada's national Afrikan-centred policy and applied research institute.
Join the Founding Donor Circle
CHOOSE YOUR CIRCLE
Six months. One shared commitment.
Every contribution helps build the Institute.
NEWS & INSIGHTS
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