Backgrounder - Minister Hussen announces projects to support a more equitable world on Zero Discrimination Day

Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced a total of $37.9 million in funding for the following projects:

Project: Power of Equality
Partner: Equitas
Funding: $5 million for fiscal years 2024 to 2026

Power of Equality aims to increase the empowerment of human rights educators and defenders (HREDs) in anglophone and francophone regions of Africa and in select communities in Kenya. By strengthening the leadership of HREDs to design and deliver human rights education and advocacy initiatives, this project will endeavour specifically to promote and protect women’s rights and gender equality and challenge inequitable gender relations.

Project: Technical Assistance Partnership
Partner: Office of the Commissioner for the Federal Judicial Affairs Canada
Funding: $4.8 million for fiscal years of 2023 to 2028

This project in partnership with the Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs to facilitates the involvement of Canadian judges and court systems experts in judicial cooperation with countries eligible for official development assistance. It seeks to support approximately 15 short-term technical assistance initiatives to strengthen gender-sensitive judicial systems, promote the rule of law and enhance access to justice for women, girls and the most-marginalized populations.

Project: Technical Assistance Partnership
Partner: Justice Canada
Funding: $3.6 million for fiscal years of 2023 to 2028

This project, in partnership with Justice Canada, is deploys lawyers and justice-system experts to build the capacity of justice-sector actors in countries eligible for official development assistance. It seeks to support up to 10 short-term technical assistance initiatives to improve access to justice for women and girls and promote legal reforms that eliminate all forms of discrimination.

Project: Access to Rights in the Caribbean: Equality, Non-discrimination, Citizenship, and Empowerment through Law
Partner: Lawyers Without Borders Canada
Funding: $4 million for fiscal years of 2024 to 2028

This project aims to empower advocates in Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines by strengthening their legal capacities with technical assistance. The initiative seeks to address injustices faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and help those in 2SLGBTQIA+ communities assert their rights. By challenging deeply rooted stereotypes, supported organizations will contribute to eliminating gender- and sexual-orientation-based discrimination and fostering more-inclusive societies.

Project: Fund for Innovation and Transformation (FIT)
Partner: Manitoba Council for International Cooperation
Funding: $20.5 million for fiscal years of 2019 to 2027

The project supports Canadian small and medium organizations (SMOs), including diaspora organizations, in developing and applying innovative solutions to global challenges. SMOs will receive funding and support to test various solutions that promote the equality, empowerment and well-being of marginalized women, adolescent girls, younger girls, and their families and communities in developing countries. FIT enables organizations to pilot projects, gather data and evaluate results within a short time frame, fostering learning, knowledge sharing and the exchange of best practices.