Evaluation of Canada’s Membership in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
Executive summary
Purpose of the Evaluation
The evaluation of Canada’s membership in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)Footnote 1 was conducted in fulfilment of Section 42.1 of the Financial Administration Act. Covering a period from 2009-10 to 2013-14, the evaluation was guided by a logic model and examined Canada’s membership in the IHRA and how it has affected Holocaust education, remembrance and research in Canada. In addition, the evaluation assessed the extent to which Canada met the objectives for its Chair Year. The evaluation did not examine the IHRA itself, the specific activities funded by the IHRA, or the program initiatives undertaken in Canada.
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)
The IHRA is made up of 31 member states who have committed to the Stockholm Declaration and to the implementation of national policies and programs in support of Holocaust education, remembrance and research. The purpose of the IHRA is to ensure member states support for Holocaust education, remembrance and research both nationally and internationally. The IHRA is governed by a rotating Chair and supported by a Permanent Office in Berlin. National delegations convene twice a year at the IHRA Plenary meetings in the chairing country. Member states are expected to appoint one or two expert representatives to each of the IHRA’s four Working Groups and Committees.
Canada became a member of the IHRA in June 2009. As part of its commitment to the IHRA, Canada has funded a number of domestic initiatives, known as Liaison ProjectsFootnote 2, through Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Community Historical Recognition Program (CHRP). The Canadian Head of Delegation participates in Plenaries at biannual IHRA meetings and representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) appointed to the Canadian delegation lead and/or participate in IHRA Working Groups. A CIC representative was the Head of Delegation from 2009 to 2014, and in February 2014, Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom within the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) was appointed as the new Head of Delegation. The Chairmanship of the IHRA rotates annually on a voluntary basis and Canada was awarded the IHRA Chair between March 5, 2013 and February 25, 2014.
Methodology
The methodology and level of effort for the evaluation was calibrated in recognition of the low complexity and the relatively low level of materiality of the contribution. As a result, the evaluation relied on three lines of evidence (interviews, document review, and literature review) to examine the relevance of Canada’s IHRA membership and performance related to intended outcomes over the five-year period from 2009-10 to 2013-14.
Evaluation findings
Relevance
Finding 1: There is a continued need for Canada to be a member of the IHRA in order to support Holocaust education, research and remembrance in Canada and abroad.
Finding 2: Holocaust education, remembrance and research, and membership in the IHRA are aligned with CIC and Government of Canada priorities.
Finding 3: Activities stemming from membership in the IHRA are in alignment with the Government of Canada’s role and responsibilities in fostering multiculturalism.
Performance
Finding 4: Participation in the IHRA and implementation of related CHRP-funded projects have contributed to improving Holocaust education and research in Canada. Increased government support for Holocaust remembrance, demonstrated in part by joining the IHRA, has raised the profile and public awareness of Holocaust remembrance in Canada.
Finding 5: During its Chair Year, Canada met its stated objectives, both domestically and internationally.
Finding 6: Canada has contributed significantly to the IHRA by chairing Working Groups, participating in the IHRA discussions and debates, providing expertise in Holocaust education in a multicultural context, and acting as a consensus builder.
Finding 7: In joining the IHRA and participating as a full member, Canada has demonstrated leadership in Holocaust research and education activities and capacity both in Canada and internationally. However, concerns were cited regarding the lack of a direction outlining how Canada will continue to fulfill its commitments as a member of the IHRA.
Economy and efficiency
Finding 8: Progress has been made to maximize the efficiency of Canada’s participation in the IHRA by leveraging existing funding sources (e.g., CHRP) and rationalizing certain expenditures, such as limiting the number of Canadian delegates for whom travel costs are covered.
Conclusions and recommendations
Given that Canada’s involvement in the IHRA is now a joint initiative between the Office of Religious Freedom and CIC, and based on the evaluation evidence and findings, the following recommendation is put forward:
Recommendation 1 - CIC should clearly establish, in collaboration with the Office of Religious Freedom, their respective accountabilities and roles and responsibilities in meeting Canada’s commitments associated with membership in the IHRA. This should also include:
- clarification of commitments and expected results under the IHRA with respect to working group and plenary meeting preparation and participation; and
- support to the delegation of experts and promotion of Holocaust education, remembrance and research domestically and internationally.
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