Issue Deep Dive: Canada/Education
Last updated: December 16, 2022
ODA Spending
ODA In Context
ODA Trends
Since 2017, Canada’s funding for education has seen a 30% increase. This trend will likely continue since the Liberal Party promised to spend no less than 10% of the country’s development budget on education, with an emphasis on displaced and refugee children.
ODA Breakdown
Bilateral Spending
Canada’s focuses on education as a powerful tool for the empowerment of women and girls.
Multilateral Spending and Commitments
Canada is a founding member of the IDA and is one of its top donors.
Canada disbursed 3% (US$11 million) of its multilateral funding for education to UNRWA; this share might increase, as in 2020, Canada committed up to CA$75 million (US$56 million) to UNRWA in support of basic education, health, and social services for Palestinian refugees.
Funding & Policy Outlook
Canada will continue to prioritize the education of girls and women, especially given the setbacks of COVID-19: In the ‘Mandate Letter’ written to the Minister for International Development in late 2021, the Prime Minister specifically mentions education as a pathway to the empowerment of women and girls. This is presented against the backdrop of COVID-19, which has undermined both education and gender equality around the world.
Key bodies
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