Dear Global Affairs Canada,
We go back a long way, you and I, from my days as a volunteer in Ethiopia to my time as executive director of three relief and development organizations, including Cuso International, where I am now.
Now that the budget has passed, you have some challenges to deal with. Where to cut? What to cut? How to work within a decreased budget?
I have a few thoughts for you to consider.
As you ponder the future, I remember your past. I have seen you at your best: mobilizing quickly in a crisis, helping communities recover from disaster, standing up for human rights, and working with partners around the world to build fairer, safer societies.
Canada has every reason to be proud of the development assistance budgets you manage each year, in your commitment to humanitarian values, global stability and the success of our global partners.
But I must also be candid. Too often, the extraordinary work you do is held back by slow decision-making, costly administrative processes and a lack of clear direction.
When approvals drag on for months, when programs are spread too thinly across the globe, or when projects end before results can take root, Canada’s impact is less than it should be.
And when you don’t show Canadians clearly what their tax dollars are achieving, public confidence falters. Maybe that’s why it was easy to cut funding for aid and development; politicians think nobody cares. But lots of people do care. They just don’t know what you are doing.
Where are the stories of success, of all the good you make possible? Why so little investment in sharing those good stories? Maybe it’s because you are too Canadian, too humble and unwilling to speak out about all the good you make possible around the world.
But that doesn’t aid your cause when it comes to public support. All that most Canadians hear are the stories of when things that go wrong. You need to speak up more for yourself, or help others do it for you.
Why does this matter? It matters because international development is not just about generosity. It’s about Canada’s role and influence on the global stage. It is one of Canada’s best tools to build durable alliances and advance our national interests. In a world where authoritarian regimes use aid to win friends and expand influence, Canada cannot afford to ever be seen as generous but ineffectual.
As you look ahead to a new reality, let me offer a few suggestions to help you make the great work you do even stronger:
Show Canadians the impact. Just as you insist your partners report results, you also need to tell the story better through clear, accessible reporting, real-time platforms and public communication that demonstrate the difference Canada makes abroad.
Focus where it counts. Aid spread across too many countries and sectors feels shallow. Choose priority regions and themes that make sense for partners and Canada — like climate, economic development, natural resources and gender equity — where Canada can stand out and build lasting partnerships.
Commit for the long term. Three-or four-year project cycles don’t build credibility. Longer-term commitments with trusted partners deliver enduring results and stronger alliances.
Move faster, and closer to the field. Streamline processes, reduce red tape for partners, and give embassies more authority to act within Canada’s priorities. Some of the best opportunities come when decisions can be made quickly and locally.
Use aid to build alliances. Every dollar should do double duty; lifting communities out of poverty while also creating openings for trade, innovation, diplomacy and security cooperation.
None of this diminishes the pride Canadians can take in what you already do. But in today’s polarized and high-stakes world — a world where governments are focusing more on “hard” power through defence and less on “soft” power through development and aid — efficiency, visibility, and strategic focus matter more than ever.
If you can sharpen your approach and better show results, you will not only change lives, you will also help Canada secure the recognition, credibility and alliances we need for the future.
And maybe, in a future budget, get the funding that is needed to make all of that possible.
Respectfully, Nicolas
