National Initiatives

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is committed to the implementation of the Contribution Accountability Framework (CAF). The development of the framework began in 1999.

CAF will allow CIC to demonstrate accountability for its settlement and re-settlement contribution programs for immigrants and refugees. It will ensure accountability through monitoring of service delivery and evaluation of program effectiveness.

Information collected will be used to identify program changes that will help enhance the capacity of newcomers to integrate into Canadian society.

This website contains information on the five CAF components, progress on their implementation, and more.

• What's New
  The latest information about CAF published on this Web site
  
• About the Contribution Accountability Framework
  Find out about the background of the framework
  
• Settlement Program Evaluations
  Find out about the evaluations of the LINC, ISAP, and Host settlement programs
  
• Privacy/Security
  Read about the safeguards in place to ensure the information gathered through iCAMS remains private
  
• Contact Us
  Send your comments or questions to the CAF team

Read below to find answers to your most frequently asked questions. If you would like to submit a question you don't see here, please visit our Contact Us section.

Q: What is the Contribution Accountability Framework (CAF)?

A: CAF is an initiative aimed at enhancing the accountability of CIC's contribution programs by analyzing service delivery and evaluating the effectiveness of settlement and resettlement programs.

The framework has five components:

• Performance measurement
• Evaluation
• Contribution agreement process
• Management control framework
• Provincial / territorial accountability

Q: To which programs does CAF apply?

A: CAF applies to four contribution programs:

• Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)
• Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program (ISAP)
• Host Program
• Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP)

Q: What is iCAMS?

A: iCAMS is the acronym for the Immigration - Contribution Accountability Measurement System. It is an Internet-based database designed to collect service information on CIC's settlement and resettlement programs.

iCAMS collects other information about settlement clients, such as their education, their country of origin and the languages they speak.

The information collected through iCAMS will be used to identify areas where programs can be improved to further the integration of newcomers into Canadian society.

Q: How is the information in iCAMS kept secure?

A: There are a number of safeguards in place to ensure the privacy and security of client information, including:

• Computer systems with up-to-date security features
• Extensive training for service providers who use the system
• Restricted access to the system
• Aggregate reports used for evaluation

In addition to these measures, CIC has consulted with privacy and security experts and partners, such as Canada's Privacy Commissioner, and completed studies to make sure the system is secure. These studies have included a privacy impact assessment, which makes sure privacy is considered during program design.