(2004- 06) News ReleaseMarch 3, 2004 Montreal — The Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister for International Cooperation, today announced three Government of Canada initiatives designed to nurture private sector development, social development and peace building in the Middle East. These initiatives include support to private sector development in Egypt; a contribution to McGill University for peace and democracy initiatives in the Middle East; and a contribution to Oxfam-Quebec for social development initiatives in Lebanon. Minister Carroll made the announcement in Montreal this morning."These initiatives are designed to reduce poverty and support development in the Middle East," said Minister Carroll. "They reflect Canada's commitment to work with our partners to help create an environment conducive to peace, and support long-term development of the private sector in developing countries."CIDA will contribute $20 million over six years to support business development services for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Egypt. This support will help existing institutions become more responsive to local needs and strengthen networks of local support to solve the problems facing SMEs. CIDA and the Egyptian SME sector will work together to stimulate services in areas such as business management and access to technology, markets, skilled labour and credit channels. Canada's announcement is consistent with conclusions contained in the report of the UN Commission on the Private Sector and Development, announced by Prime Minister Paul Martin in New York on Monday. The report called for increased entrepreneurship and invigorated domestic private sectors in developing countries to reduce poverty and encourage economic growth. CIDA will also contribute $4.5 million over three years to McGill University to strengthen the community of social work practitioners in the Middle East, including community practice centres in Jordan, the Palestinian Territories and Israel, and the regional network of social work practitioners set up between universities and these community practice centres. This project is an extension of an existing four-year initiative that included the establishment of the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Jordan. Through OXFAM-Quebec, CIDA's $5 million contribution will support Lebanon's social development efforts with a focus on assisting the most vulnerable in Lebanese society, including women, youth and Palestinian refugees. This four-year program will finance as many as 50 local projects ranging in value from $50,000 to $200,000 each. These projects will be carried out by local community groups and NGOs and will focus on job training, health, education and community development.Funding for these initiatives was provided for in the February 2003 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.- 30 -Information:Andrew GrahamDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Minister for International CooperationTelephone: (819) 953-3160Media Relations OfficeCanadian International Development Agency (CIDA)Telephone: (819) 953-6534E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.caWeb site: www.acdi-cida.gc.ca (electronic version of document)Canada supports private sector development, social development and peace building in Middle EastBusiness Development Services for Small and Medium Enterprises in EgyptThe Government of Canada, through the Canadian International Develoment Agency (CIDA), will provide $20 million over six years in support of business development services for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Egypt.Support for SME as a means of creating sustainable jobs is contributing directly to Egypt's overall goal of reducing poverty among the country's marginalized populations, in particular women and youth.The initiative emphasizes local ownership and partnership through assisting existing institutions to become more responsive to local needs, enhancing job creation and strengthening the existing networks that provide local support to SMEs.The project will focus initially in two regional administrations - one in Upper Egypt and another in the Delta - with provision to expand to others when possible.The Government of Egypt places high priority on SMEs as a means to stimulate job creation in poorer areas and distribute more equitably the benefits of economic growth and globalization.The Government of Egypt expects that SMEs will provide over half of the new jobs needed annually to match the influx of youth into the labour market.This initiative will strengthen the SME sector by:stimulating innovative non-financial business development services;increasing access to technology, markets, skilled labour, and to existing credit channels;supporting both existing and new business development service providers.Middle East Program in Civil Society and Peace Building Project (Phase II)The Government of Canada, through CIDA, will provide $4.5 million over three years to McGill University for the implementation of the Middle East Program in Civil Society and Peace Building Phase II. The project is a follow up to a previous four-year project funded by CIDA with Palestinian, Jordanian, Israeli and Canadian partners.Phase I of the project (completed) resulted in the establishment of community practice centres in Jordan and the Palestinian Territories, the formation of a network of social work practitioners, and the establishment of the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Jordan. Phase II will develop effective management capacities to enable the community practice centres and the network to build on their strengths and to continue their activities into the future.This project will focus on the sustainability of the community practice centres, including increasing the organizational and financial viability of the centres; strengthening the relationship between the centres and their university partners; and improving the ability of centres to access relevant resources and link with other community-based organizations. The project will also focus on making the network of social work practitioners more viable through the long term by expanding the network to include other social work professionals in the region; improving the network's ability to access other donors; and improving the tools and mechanisms the network uses to effectively communicate with its members and potential members.Canada has a long-standing commitment to regional stability and socio-economic progress in the Middle East. CIDA's programs are focused on poverty reduction and capacity building, targeting women, children and refugees throughout the region. Canada Fund for Social Development (CFSD) ProjectThe Government of Canada, through CIDA, will provide $5 million over four years to Oxfam-Québec for the implementation of the Canada Fund for Social Development (CFSD) Project. This $5 million contribution will be utilized by up to 50 sub-projects ranging in value of $50,000 to $200,000 each. These sub-projects will be carried out by local community groups and NGOs and will focus on job training, health, education and community development.The CFSD Project will help to develop the intervention capacity and institutional autonomy of networks and partner NGOs. It will also offer direct services to Lebanon's poorest. Lebanese and Palestinian organizations will build their capacities to develop innovative solutions to the problems of the Palestinian population in Lebanon. As a result, these organizations will be better organized and more effective in providing social and economic development services to the poorest communities. Canadian aid to Lebanon began in 1950 and focused on humanitarian assistance particularly at the time of the civil war. With the restoration of civil order, longer term developmental projects were initiated in 1994.
