Since the 1990s, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has supported the international dimension of Canada’s Arctic priorities through a series of funds. In 2020, these funds were expanded and became the Global Arctic Leadership Initiative (GALI), designed to bolster Canadian leadership and enhance participation of Arctic and northern Canadians in international forums. The joint evaluation and audit of the Global Arctic Leadership Initiative (2020-21 to 2023-24) examined strengths, gaps and opportunities, particularly in terms of program processes, and assessed whether a management framework was in place to support effective program delivery and the management of funds. The evaluation found that GALI’s activities have become increasingly relevant within an emerging context in which Canada seeks to express its presence in the Arctic. Initial underspending was worsened by the COVID pandemic and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the inability of some implementing partners to use budgeted funds. The context of the Arctic posed challenges, including the need to adapt approaches to work with small, Indigenous or non-traditional implementing partners who may not always have a track record with GAC, which required more intensive support from program staff. GALI funding was essential to support Arctic Council initiatives with other government departments, yet opportunities for collaboration on broader Arctic issues remain. The GALI Mission Fund was fundamental in advancing Canadian Arctic priorities through Canadian missions abroad, despite challenges arising from the closure of the Canadian International Arctic Centre (CIAC). The evaluation and audit underscored that while the program has integrated some elements of a distinction-based approach and taken steps to improve engagement with Indigenous partners, program staff do not yet have clear practical guidance from the department in terms of supporting Indigenous engagement. The audit highlighted that appropriate steps were taken to deliver the program in accordance with the Treasury Board submission and terms and conditions. However, its procedures for assessing, implementing, and monitoring projects were not fully documented, posing risks for consistency and knowledge transfer. While the program was delivered in accordance with requirements, the evaluation found that GALI's processes and requirements were not sufficiently adapted to partners' capacities or the context of low-monetary-value projects of short duration. The program’s flexibility helped to alleviate these issues; however, challenges remained in balancing risk management with mitigating the administrative burden for partners. These challenges go beyond GALI and reflect key departmental challenges in transforming processes called for in the 2023 Future of Diplomacy Discussion Paper.