Empowering Communities Together: Understanding LIP, ZIP and RIF

Introduction 

Newcomer integration is a shared responsibility that relies on strong collaboration across communities. Across Canada, partnership models such as Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs), Zonal Immigration Partnerships (ZIPs), and Réseaux en immigration francophone (RIFs) bring together service providers, municipalities, and community stakeholders to strengthen coordination and support inclusive, welcoming communities. This document provides an overview of these partnership models, outlining their roles within the settlement system and how they work alongside Service Provider Organizations (SPOs) to enhance planning, collaboration, and overall newcomer outcomes. 

Why This Resource Was Created 

As immigration partnerships continue to evolve, there is a growing need for clear and accessible information on how they function and how organizations can engage with them effectively. This resource was developed to help organizations in Alberta and beyond better understand these models, and to highlight how they complement—rather than compete with—the work of Service Provider Organizations (SPOs). 

Purpose of this Resource 

This toolkit helps readers understand the roles, structures, and activities of immigration partnerships across Canada, with a focus on Alberta. It also highlights opportunities for collaboration and alignment among Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs), Zonal Immigration Partnerships (ZIPs), and Réseaux en immigration francophone (RIFs), and shows how these partnerships contribute to coordinated, strategic, and inclusive newcomer services. 

Who Is This Toolkit For? 

• Service Provider Organizations (SPOs)
• Municipalities
• Funders
• Community partners and stakeholders 

What Are Local Immigration Partnerships (LIP), Zonal Immigration Partnerships (ZIP) and Réseaux en Immigration Francophone (RIF)? 

Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs) are collaborative efforts funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that bring together actors from all sectors—such as municipalities, service provider organizations (SPOs), employers, newcomers, civil society organizations, and community groups—to create welcoming communities and support newcomer integration. They coordinate services, share resources, and develop shared strategies while amplifying local, grassroots, and non-settlement perspectives in planning. Zonal Immigration Partnerships (ZIPs) are similar networks that operate across larger rural areas or multiple small towns, pooling resources and expertise to foster cohesive communities and support immigrant success through coordinated services and strategic planning. Réseau en immigration francophone (RIFs, or Francophone Immigration Networks) are IRCC-funded networks focused on attracting, welcoming, integrating, and retaining French-speaking immigrants in Francophone minority communities outside Quebec. In Alberta, Réseau en immigration francophone de l’Alberta (RIFA) work with local partners and stakeholders to coordinate and strengthen services that enable the successful settlement and integration of French-speaking newcomers across the province. 

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Role 

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) funds and supports immigration partnership models to improve integration outcomes across Canada. 

Comparative Table: LIPs, ZIPs, and RIFs 

How LIPs, ZIPs, and RIFs Support the Settlement System in the IRCC Logic Model

Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs), Zonal Immigration Partnerships (ZIPs), and Réseaux en immigration francophone (RIFs) falls under the “indirect services” portion of the IRCC Settlement and Resettlement Program Logic Model. Unlike Service Provider Organizations (SPOs), which deliver direct services to newcomers (such as language training, employment support, or orientation), LIPs, ZIPs, and RIFs focus on strengthening the settlement system and working with the broader community to welcome newcomers. They do this by coordinating efforts across sectors, sharing resources, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and supporting strategic planning to improve newcomer integration. In other words, they help ensure the settlement system works efficiently and inclusively by connecting SPOs with municipalities, employers, community groups, and other partners. To see how these partnerships fit within Canada’s broader settlement programs, you can explore the IRCC Settlement and Resettlement Program Logic Model. 

Key Message 

Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs), Zonal Immigration Partnerships (ZIPs), and Réseaux en immigration francophone (RIFs) are strategic planning bodies. They do not provide direct settlement services. Instead, they: 

• Support SPOs through coordination, knowledge sharing, and partnership member capacity building  
• Foster community-wide planning that enhances service delivery 
• Help align multiple stakeholders around a common vision for newcomer integration by engaging non-settlement actors in integration efforts and serving as a bridge between the settlement sector and the broader community.  

Important: SPOs see these partnerships as supportive frameworks. By participating in LIPs, ZIPs, or RIFs, SPOs gain access to coordinated networks, shared resources, and strategic guidance—enhancing, rather than replacing, the direct services they provide. 

Keyways SPOs benefit from participation in LIPs/ZIPs/RIFs: 

• Shared Planning – Align programs, engage non-settlement actors, avoid duplication, and work together to leverage resources for supports and services. 
• Knowledge Exchange – Training, webinars, best practices. 
• Community Data & Insights – Gather local data to target services effectively. 
• Public Education & Policy Input – Influence local strategies and funding priorities. 
• Coordinate joint initiatives across organizations to increase reach and impact 

Bottom line: Participation strengthens SPO capacity, visibility, and community connections

Navigation Tips for Toolkit Users 

•  Know the Partnerships in Your Area 
  • Identify which LIPs, ZIPs, or RIF operate in your community. 
  • Understand their role and focus.
• Find Opportunities to Collaborate
  • Map out how your organization can engage with partnerships. 
  • Examples: joint planning, referrals, contributing to initiatives.
• Use Trusted Resources
  • Access IRCC guidance, LIP frameworks, and RIF resources. 
  • Align your programs and strategies with community-wide plans.
• Track and Share Outcomes
  • Document improvements in newcomer integration and inclusion. 
  • Share successes to support advocacy and continuous improvement.