(2004-14)April 7, 2004Ottawa, Ontario -- Aileen Carroll, Minister for International Cooperation, today announced that the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will provide close to $210 million over five years to strengthen the impact of Canadian volunteer-cooperation agencies doing work overseas. This funding will help improve the lives of people and their communities in developing countries around the world."Today, we pay tribute to Canadians making a difference, and the difference Canadians make. Volunteers have always played an important role in support of Canada's work in international cooperation and they remain the face of Canada in developing countries," said Minister Carroll. "These Canadians devote their time, experience and expertise in pursuit of sustainable development, expressing Canada's desire to contribute to a safer, more secure and more prosperous world."The 10 executing agencies are: AFS Interculture Canada, Canada World Youth, Canadian Crossroads International, Canadian Executive Service Overseas, CUSO, Oxfam-Quebec, SUCO, Voluntary Service Overseas Canada, and the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), Centre canadien d'étude et de coopération internationale (CECI). In keeping with CIDA's recent policy on strengthening aid effectiveness, the agencies are focusing on a number of countries and sectors to increase overall impact. Working with their local partners to maximize results, they will promote good governance in partner countries, and inform Canadians about the importance of supporting international cooperation. "Our staff, our partners and our volunteers collectively work to improve the socio-economic conditions of communities in developing countries in areas such as health and basic education, the fight against HIV/AIDS, sustainable economic development, democracy, human rights and gender equality," said Pierre Véronneau, Executive Director of Oxfam-Québec. "When our volunteers return, they will tell their stories to members of their own communities, spreading greater awareness about how Canadians are making a difference in the world." Volunteer-cooperation agencies will play a key role in building the Canada Corps. This initiative will bring new focus and energy to a range of government and civil society activities in which Canada has recognized capability and impact. Canada Corps will match the skills and talents of governments, community groups and all Canadians with communities that need them in developing countries. It will provide opportunities for Canadian volunteers, as well as experts and professionals to be a leading voice in the world for democracy, pluralism, human rights and the rule of law.Funding for these initiatives was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. - 30 - Information: Andrew GrahamPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister for International CooperationTelephone: (819) 953-3160Media Relations OfficeCanadian International Development Agency (CIDA)Telephone: (819) 953-6534E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.caSOME OF CANADA'S VOLUNTEER-COOPERATION AGENCIES AND THEIR PROGRAMSThe programs of Canada's volunteer cooperation agencies help to improve the socio-economic conditions of participating communities in developing countries and are responsive to the needs expressed by their partners overseas. The funding announced today will help to ensure that the work of Canadian volunteers in support of international development continues.AFS Interculture Canada (AFS) - Montreal, QuebecSectors: Child protection, health and nutrition, and gender equality Countries: Honduras, Panama and ParaguayObjectives: Provide service to local organizations helping specific needy individuals and groups of children, youth and women in targeted countries by focusing on these priorities: child protection, basic education and health and nutrition. Programming example: In Honduras, through placements with local partner organizations, AFS volunteers work with affected street children by providing them with educational and technical alternatives.Canada World Youth (CWY) - Montreal, QuebecSectors: building institutional capacity Countries: 24 countries (8 in Africa including Ghana, Mozambique and Tanzania, 9 in the Americas, 4 in Asia, and 3 in Central and Eastern Europe)Objectives: To increase people's ability to participate actively in the development of just, harmonious and sustainable societies. Canada World Youth provides its volunteers with a non-formal educational experience that encourages commitment and action. Examples of programming: CWY has been engaged with and HIV/AIDS program in India that is raising awareness about the pandemic and about protection against STDs among youth. Canadian Executive Services Organization (CESO) - Toronto, OntarioSectors: building institutional capacityCountries: 16 countries (5 in Africa including Senegal, 10 in the Americas including Honduras, and 3 in Asia) Objectives: to improve access to and quality of basic services of their local partners; increase partners' employment opportunities; increase partners' revenue generating activities, including ones strengthening the developing countries' tax base; and, contribute to more effective action by local authorities. CESO's second set of objectives is designed to build understanding and support in Canada for this country's role in international development. Programming examples: Programming is concentrated in private sector development. In countries such as China, the Philippines and Costa Rica, CESO's volunteer advisors help local private sector partners with new operating procedures, marketing tools, organizational practices and training.Canadian Crossroads International (CCI) - Toronto, OntarioSectors: health and HIV/AIDS; education and literacy; human rights, democratization and good governance; agriculture; community economic and rural development; environment and natural resources Countries: 15 countries (10 in Africa including Ghana, Mali and Senegal; 4 in the Americas including Bolivia; and, 1 in Asia)Objectives: To build and strengthen the capacity of organizations working towards sustainable development in partner countries and in Canada; and, to build strategic linkages between similar organizations in Canada and in the South, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and best practices. Programming examples: In Mali, CCI works with Radio communautaire Fanakan, strengthening the capacity to use radio as means of educating, informing and mobilizing communities about their democratic rights. In Senegal, working with Siggel Jigeen, a national network of 17 women's organizations, CCI supports its work to promote the economic, social and political rights of Senegalese women. Canadian University Students Overseas (CUSO) - Ottawa, OntarioSectors: building the capacity of developing country partners to improve economic and social well-being, social development including environmental management and governanceCountries: 27 countries (8 in Africa including, Ghana, Mozambique and Tanzania; 12 in the Americas including Bolivia; and 7 in Asia) Objectives: to strengthen the human resource and organizational capacities of local partners in the developing world through the work of qualified international development volunteers (both from the North and the South) and to strengthen the Canadian and international volunteer sector by developing mutually beneficial international partnerships based on knowledge and skill exchanges. Programming examples: In Thailand, volunteers work to strengthen human rights promotion of ethnic minorities and refugees; in Mozambique, CUSO volunteers work with Tools for Arms, a weapons collection project. Oxfam-Québec - Montreal, QuebecSectors: women and economic affairs; health and food security; environment (water and forestry); fundamental human rights; humanitarian action; youth; education and institutional reinforcementCountries: 23 countries (13 in Africa/Middle East, 8 in the Americas including Bolivia; and, 2 in Asia) Objectives: to contribute to the fight against poverty and to bringing peace where needed, building more stable, just, prosperous and influential societies.Programming examples: in Rwanda, Oxfam-Québec helped with community land management for the returning refugees. In Vietnam, volunteers works with local partner Vietnam Inland Waterways to help under-privileged populations access schools and health services.Solidarité, union et coopération (SUCO) - Montreal, QuebecSectors: sustainable agricultural projects with strong income generation components and projects that help bring about a safer environmentCountries: Mali, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru, SénégalObjectives: to strengthen its partners' capacities and abilities to pursue the equitable democratic development of their communities and to promote the emergence and consolidation of greater and stronger South-South and North-South links and ties.Programming example: in Mali, SUCO used the democratization processes to help create local sustainable communities. Today, the model of Sanankoroba' has been adopted by dozens of Malian communities and continues to contribute to the democratization processes.Voluntary Service Overseas Canada (VSO) - Ottawa, OntarioSectors: Education and HIV/AIDSCountries: 15 (of which five are CIDA's enhanced partnerships countries namely, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique and Tanzania, eight others are in Africa and two in Asia)Objectives: Education: to increase access, gender equity, relevance and quality of education for disadvantaged people; HIV and AIDS: to support prevention, and increase the availability of treatment, care and support for those infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Examples of programming: VSO Canada is the only volunteer cooperation agency working in Bangladesh and Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, VSO has been requested by the Ministry of Education to revise educational programs and tools for teachers. World University Service Canada (WUSC) - Ottawa, OntarioandCentre canadien d'étude et de Coopération internationale (CECI) - Montréal, QuébecSectors: WUSC has its roots on Canadian university and college campuses, and engages members of Canada's post-secondary community in programs and activities that promote international understanding and cooperation education, literacy and learning; gender equality, girl child education; child protection. CECI particularly focuses on communities with the most need: aboriginal communities and womenCountries: Bolivia and Guatemala in Latin America; Burkina Faso, Botswana, Ghana, Guinea, Malawi, Mali, Niger and Senegal in Africa; and Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam in Asia. Objectives: In the area of economic well-being, WUSC/CECI works towards equitable growth and the improvement of living conditions of the poor. In the area of social development, the consortium works towards a building a better quality of life for the poor through the improvement of social services, the management of social reforms and progress towards gender equality. In the area of environmental sustainability and regeneration, WUSC/CECI pursues the objectives of environmental protection, conservation and the management of the environmental diversity and integrity. Programming examples: In Bolivia, CECI helps private sector development by introducing new technologies and products among local community producers. In Ghana, WUSC works in Girls' Education which has established gender-balanced curriculum and education policies, built gender awareness of education officials, promoted safe learning environments and strengthened parent-teacher associations.
