The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is at the centre of a political firestorm in the US, with the Trump administration freezing funding and seeking to close the agency down.
But Canada remains committed to supporting international relief and development efforts.
That was the message delivered by the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, on Feb. 4 in Winnipeg.
At a time when there is a “sustained attack” in the US on international development assistance, and on the principles of diversity, inclusion and equity principles, Canada will “never abandon those principles” or cease its support for international relief and development aid, Hussen said.
In fact, he said, the Government of Canada “will double down on those principles” and its support for international aid and development.
Hussen made those remarks at the Manitoba legislature as part of International Development Week (IDW), a national celebration of how Canadians work to eradicate poverty around the world.
The event was organized by the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation (MCIC), which represents 40 organizations in the province that receive funding from the provincial government to do aid and development work in the developing world.
Hussen also used the occasion to announce a new $38.5 million fund to the Inter-Council Network, which is made up of international development councils in eight provinces, including MCIC.
The fund, which will be administered by MCIC on behalf of the network, will provide money for seven years to train and support 150 small and medium-sized Canadian international relief and development organizations.
It will enable the organizations to be better equipped to measure impact, adapt to global trends and promote sustainability and local ownership of the development efforts, Hussen said.
For Janice Hamilton, executive director of MCIC, the fund will enable organizations to build their capacity and do more to engage the public on international relief and development issues.
“Our world is now facing big challenges,” she said, adding that it is easy for people to feel overwhelmed. Funding from Global Affairs will help Canadian aid groups show Canadians that “positive change is happening, led by people who refuse to lose hope.”
The Inter-Council Network represents more than 400 international cooperation and development organizations in Canada.
Double down on DEI, are you kidding? That should never have gone this far and it’s time to say bye-bye!