Policy Updates

On July 25, 2023, Canadian International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan announced CAD213 million (US$160 million) for food security, education, and health programming in Tanzania.

Sajjan made the announcement during a visit to Tanzania. He met with government officials to discuss mutual priorities, including the advancement of inclusive education and of health systems that support sexual and reproductive rights.

The funding from Canada included:

• CAD76 million (US$58 million) to the government of Tanzania and UNICEF for the Health Basket Fund to deliver lifesaving, essential primary healthcare services;
• CAD15 million (US$11 million) to World Vision Canada to support SRHR services and programming for adolescent girls and boys;
• CAD15 million (US$11 million) to Plan International Canada for its Adolescent Girls’ Health and Rights project;
• CAD25 million (US$19 million) to UNICEF to increase access to learning and skills-development opportunities for adolescent girls;
• CAD25 million (US$19 million) to Colleges and Institutes of Canada for its Empowerment Through Skills Program, which seeks to increase the economic participation of women and adolescent girls;
• CAD19 million (US$14 million) to Mennonite Economic Development Associates Canada for its Feminist Entrepreneurs Growing Green Economies project supporting women entrepreneurs in dryland and semi-arid regions of Tanzania;
• CAD23 million (US$17 million) to UNICEF and the WHO as part of Canada’s signature Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity (CanGIVE) initiative; and
• CAD15 million (US$11 million) to Nutrition International to provide young and pregnant girls in the remote and rural region of Tabora with gender-responsive nutrition, SRHR, and SGBV information and services.

Tanzania received CAD127 million (US$96 million) in FY2021-2022, which made it one of the largest recipients of Canada’s international assistance.

On June 26, 2023, Canada announced CAD103 million (US$78 million) in humanitarian assistance for UNRWA to respond to the needs of vulnerable Palestinian refugees.

The announcement was made by Canadian Minister of International Development Harjit Sajjan. The funding from Canada included:

• CAD100 million (US$76 million) over four years to deliver programs that support basic rights, education, health, social services, and livelihood opportunities for Palestinian refugees; and
• CAD3 million (US$2 million) to the Emergency Appeal for the West Bank and Gaza to deliver basic services such as emergency food assistance, health services, and improved water and sanitation access.

On June 19, 2023, Canada announced CAD40 million (US$30 million) in humanitarian and development assistance funding for Sudan and neighboring countries.

The announcement was made by Canadian Minister of International Development Harjit Sajjan. The funding from Canada included:

• CAD34 million (US$25 million) in humanitarian assistance for Sudan and neighboring Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan to provide emergency health services, food and nutrition assistance, protection services, and essential life-saving support such as shelter, water, and sanitation; and
• CAD6 million (US$4 million) in development assistance to support critical programming in areas such as education in emergencies, and GBV prevention and response.

The announcement brought total Canadian humanitarian assistance funding for Sudan and neighboring countries to over CAD165 million (US$123 million) in 2023.

On June 15, 2023, Canada announced CAD149 million (US$111 million) in humanitarian and development assistance funding for Syria and the region in 2023.

Canadian Minister of International Development Harjit Sajjan made the announcement following Canada’s participation in the 7^th Brussels Conference: Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region. The funding from Canada included:

• CAD79 million (US$59 million) in humanitarian assistance to help crisis-affected people meet their basic needs, including food assistance, protection, WASH services, health services, SRHR services, and prevention of sexual and gender-based violence; and
• CAD70 million (US$52 million) in development assistance to deliver gender-responsive services, including in the areas of education, economic development, and climate action.

On May 24, 2023, Civil Society 7 released its review of the May 2023 G7 Hiroshima Summit.

The report looked at six topics, including the nuclear disarmament, climate and environmental justice, the transition to a fair economy, global health, humanitarian aid and conflict, and a resilient and open society, and presented the following findings:

• Nuclear Disarmament: The G7 summit did not focus on nuclear disarmament, and its leaders did not show any commitment to starting time-bound negotiations. While condemning Russia’s nuclear threats, they justified their own nuclear weapons as being for defense and deterrence;
• Climate and Environmental Justice: The G7 summit acknowledged the need to strengthen adaptation measures, enhance resilience support for vulnerable groups, and increase support to the most vulnerable countries for avoiding, minimizing, and addressing losses and damages. It emphasized the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, including non-CO2 gases, and reaffirmed commitment to global methane reduction efforts. However, the report argued that the G7’s approach to climate change, in particular its descriptions of fossil fuels, is far from ideal;
• Transition to a Fair Economy: The G7 summit prioritized “economic security” from its perspective rather than focusing on resolving challenges faced by partner countries. It aimed to decouple supply chains from China, but such decoupling could impose additional burdens on developing countries. The summit lacked strong commitments regarding debt restructuring, international negotiations, and debt cancellation. It also weakened the organization's stance on business and human rights;
• Global Health: The G7 summit fell short of expectations due to time constraints and limitations imposed by Japan. It failed to address intellectual property rights as a key factor in addressing the pandemic and ensuring equitable access to therapeutics. The summit lacked specific commitments, and its focus was more on ordering and reaffirming previous pledges rather than providing the required funding and technological contributions;
• Humanitarian Aid and Conflict: The G7 summit's commitment of US$21 billion in support, with particular focus on addressing food crises and prioritizing education, was welcomed. However, apart from this financial commitment, the summit lacked clear and concrete commitments. It failed to mention the importance of strengthening local leadership and access to humanitarian aid and protection; and
• Resilient and Open Society: The G7 summit did not address the concept of an open society or democracy in its statements. It neglected to discuss civic space and shrinking civil society, and its focus on democracy mainly revolved around countering information warfare. The summit did not address issues like digital space safety, fake news, freedom of expression, or topics covered in previous G7 meetings. The treatment of non-regular immigrants and their dire situations was a significant problem. The summit lacked references to freedom of expression and did not improve citizen participation or support for civil society organizations.

C7 aims to achieve a society envisioned by the SDGs that leaves no one behind, and its criticism of the G7 Hiroshima Summit was presented as a means of holding leaders to account for their role in building a better world.

On March 28, 2023, Canada unveiled its new federal budget, which cut international assistance spending by CA$1.3 billion (US$945 million), or 15% compared to the previous year.

The budget also included no new investments for international assistance programs.

The Trudeau government has repeatedly promised to increase Canada’s international development assistance every year, including in the Minister of International Development’s most recent mandate letter. The newly released budget repeats this commitment, while simultaneously breaking that promise.

A coalition of more than 90 Canadian civil society organizations expressed disappointment in the budget, warning that cutting international assistance funding undermines Canada’s standing in a period of multiple global crises. They also questioned Canada's ability to deliver on its commitments under the FIAP without renewed investment.

On March 17, 2023, Canada pledged CAD59 million (US$43 million) in international assistance funding to help address the displacement crisis in Venezuela.

Canadian Minister of International Development Harjit Sajjan made the annoucnement during the 2023 International Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants that was co-hosted by Canada and the EU.

The funding from Canada will be used to provide access to shelter, food, water, and sanitation for refugees and migrants, support long-term integration into host communities, and facilitate access to education, health, and employment opportunities.

Ad of March 2023, Canada has provided more than CAD239 million (US$174 million) in response to the Venezuela crisis since 2019.

On March 8, 2023, Canada announced CA$158 million (US$116 million) in development and humanitarian assistance funding focused mainly on Bangladesh.

The announcement was made by Canadian Minister of International Development Harjit Sajjan as he concluded his visit to Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Qatar. The trip focused on shared priorities including climate action, food security, green and inclusive growth, health, women's economic empowerment, and advancing gender equality. The funding from Canada included:

• CA$$99 million (US$73 million) for projects in Bangladesh that promote SRHR, climate resilience, training and employment for women, education access for youth, and humanitarian and health services for refugees; and
• CA$59 million (US$43 million) to UNICEF for nutrition projects to help reduce child mortality in 15 countries.

During the trip, Sajjan also attended LDC5 held in Qatar.

On February 16, 2023, Canadian International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan committed CA$88 million (US$66 million) to ECW, the UN global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises.

Canada’s contribution is focused on supporting quality education for girls and young women living in hard-to-reach, fragile, or conflict-affected regions. The contribution also includes funding to ECW’s Multi-Year Resilience Program in Bangladesh, as part of Canada’s strategy to respond to the Rohingya and Myanmar crises.

Sajjan made the announcement virtually at ECW’s High-Level Financing Conference in Geneva. Canada helped establish ECW in 2016 and is currently its seventh-largest donor.

On February 10, 2023, Canada’s IDRC announced a CA$11 million (US$8 million) extension to the KIX.

KIX is a joint endeavour between the IDRC and GPE. It aims to identify common policy challenges and facilitate knowledge sharing across 70 LICs and MICs to build stronger education systems and accelerate progress toward SDG 4: "Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all."

The announcement from the IDRC was part of a broader US$88 million extension for KIX, which included US$80 million from GPE. The extension more than doubles the current budget of US$77 million for KIX activities through to 2024.