Policy Updates

On May 3, 2024, Canada announced CAD65 million (US$48 million) in international assistance funding to Lebanon, including CAD38 million (US$28 million) in development assistance funding and CAD27 million (US$20 million) in humanitarian assistance funding.

The humanitarian assistance will help provide WASH services, health care including SRH services, and protection services including for survivors of SGBV.

The development funding includes:

• CAD20 million (US$15 million) to the UN FAO to improve the capacities of farmers and increase food security in response to climate change and economic shocks;
• CAD13 million (US$10 million) to UNDP to improve the economic security and prosperity of women-led micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises in sectors with high growth and export potential; and
• CAD5 million (US$4 million) to UN Women and UNDP to address barriers facing women’s representation in decision-making and leadership positions, specifically for women in parliament and municipal councils.

On April 15, 2024, Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen participated in the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and its Neighbours, where he announced CAD132million (US$96 million) in international assistance funding to Sudan and neighbouring Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

The announcement included nearly CAD101 million (US$73 million) in humanitarian assistance and nearly CAD32 million (US$23 million) in development assistance amid the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan. The funding is slated to provide crisis-affected people with emergency health services, food and nutrition assistance, protection services for gender-based violence survivors, and other assistance including shelter, water, and sanitation services. The development assistance will support critical programming in SRHR and education infrastructure.

On March 25, 2024, amid a growing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, Open Canada is criticized the government of Canada for its inaction to address the public health and nutrition crisis, as well as the government’s lack of focus on the African continent as a whole.

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan followed the outbreak of war in April 2023, with 8 million people displaced, roughly half the population (approximately 25 million people) in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, a cholera outbreak, and a widespread famine predicted by June 2024.

Open Canada criticized the government for its passivity in the crisis, with neither Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau nor Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly having spoken publicly about Sudan since shortly after the outbreak of war. While Canada evacuated its Sudanese embassy in April 2023, it did not follow other donor countries in maintaining the presence of a senior official in the region to assist in conflict resolution or support key international humanitarian and development organizations. Open Canada also noted that, unlike the EU, UK, and US, Canada has not imposed sanctions on Sudan.

The group also criticized Canada's apathetic approach to the region more broadly. Canada announced a new Foreign Policy Engagement Plan for Africa in 2022, however, the strategy has since been transitioned into a “framework” with the Canadian government yet to release any details of the plan. Open Canada called on the Canadian government to implement a proper engagement strategy in Africa, particularly amid the growing humanitarian, development, and security crisis in Sudan.

On March 19, 2024, Canada’s Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen announced CAD15 million (US$11 million) in development assistance funding for three projects in Iraq to support resilient food systems, climate change action, and gender empowerment.

Funding announced included:

• CAD5 million (US$4 million) to the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture’s Strengthening Evidence-Based Water Management project, which will improve sustainable water resource management;
• CAD5 million (US$4 million) to Action Against Hunger Canada’s Promoting Feminist Solutions to Climate Change-Driven Water and Food Insecurity, which will promote adoption of climate-smart approaches in food value chains and climate change governance by strengthening women’s rights organizations in drought-affected areas; and
• CAD5 million (US$4 million) to the National Democratic Institute’s Supporting Gender-Sensitive Local Governance Through Women’s Advisory Boards Program, which will strengthen women’s capacity to influence decisions on the allocation of resources in their communities.

On January 30, 2024, Canada’s Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen announced that Canada is providing an additional CAD40 million (US$30 million) to address urgent needs in Gaza, in the wake of Canada’s suspension of funding to UNRWA.

The funding will support Canada’s partners in administering life-saving assistance including food, water, emergency medical assistance, and protection services. The announcement included the following funding lines:

• WFP: CAD16 million (US$12 million);
• UNICEF: CAD6 million (US$4 million);
• UNFPA: CAD5 million (US$4 million);
• WHO: CAD3 million (US$2 million);
• ICRC: CAD3 million (US$2 million);
• UNOCHA: CAD2 million (US$1 million); and
• Canadian NGO partners: CAD5 million (US$4 million).

Canada also vowed to work with UNRWA to support the investigation into the allegations of staff’s involvement in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, and reaffirmed its call for a humanitarian ceasefire and a two-state solution.

On January 26, 2024, Canada’s Minister of International Development announced the temporary suspension of Canada’s funding to UNRWA, in response to allegations of the agency’s staff being involved in Hamas’s attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023.

Canada vowed to continue its life-saving assistance, including food, water, sanitation, and medical services, for the people of Gaza through other partners.

The director of UNRWA warned that the organization would not be able to continue operations beyond February if support is not restored. Global affairs experts raised concern that Canada and other donor nations’ decision to pause funding could have grave consequences for Palestinians.