December 21, 2004 Ottawa -- The Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister of International Cooperation, today officially launched Canada Corps as she oversaw the departure of the Canadian delegation of 500 observers for the Ukrainian election and announced close to 500 new Canada Corps placements. "Canada Corps brings together Canada's many efforts to help developing countries strengthen their own capacity in governance," Minister Carroll said. "Canada Corps will build on existing Canadian efforts and explore new partnerships with other levels of government, civil society, and the private sector. Canadians of all ages will be able to share their skills and expertise with the world, including as elections observers, experts in justice systems and policing, development officers, and diplomats. The new programs that I am announcing today will mean that nearly 500 more Canadians will be able to share their skills with the world." Canada Corps is an initiative aimed at harnessing the energy and experience of Canadian experts, volunteers, young professionals, and youth to deliver international assistance in the areas of governance and institution building. The deployment of the election observers is the first mission of Canada Corps. It is by far the largest electoral observation mission Canada has undertaken. It reflects the importance of Ukraine's election to the country's future, as well as Canada's commitment, through Canada Corps, to bring Canadian skills and expertise to the world. Canada Corps initiatives announced today: Up to $7.7 million over three years for the Solidarité Canada-Haiti program. Developed by a consortium of Canadian organizations composed of CECI, WUSC, the Paul Gérin-Lajoie Foundation, and the Canadian Executive Service Organization, this program will provide support by: mobilizing the Haitian diaspora, facilitating partnerships between Canadian and Haitian organizations, and deploying volunteer experts to participate in governance programming. It will result in up to 250 placements. $1 million for the NetCorps Coalition for governance initiatives. This project will provide six-month internships for up to 50 Canadians primarily between the ages of 18 and 30. The interns will work in developing countries on e-governance and information and communications technology-related projects mostly with public and parapublic organizations, as well as international and regional institutions such as the World Health Organization, the Pan-American Health Organization, the International Organization for Migration, and the African Union. $2 million for overseas projects involving Canadian university students. This project will see the launch of a competitive process involving the 92 member institutions of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. One student from each university across the country will be awarded a work/study placement overseas and earn a credit toward their studies in Canada. This placement with a government or civil society organization in a developing country will be called the Canada Corps Student Internship. In addition, 10 university team projects on a governance theme will be selected, each involving a team of faculty and students that will work on the project in developing countries. In total, approximately 150 students and faculty members will be sent abroad. $1 million during 2004/05 for a Trust Fund for Peacebuilding. This project will fund assignments for volunteer specialists in governance and peacebuilding transition programs. The Trust Fund will build on earlier agreements put in place in 2004 between United Nations Volunteers (UNV), the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), and the Centre canadien d'étude et de coopération internationale (CECI). CECI and WUSC will promote awareness in Canada about opportunities to serve as a UN Volunteer and seek the collaboration of other Canadian organizations. The UNV-Canada Corps Program is part of the Government of Canada's response to the recommendations of the UN High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges, and Changes. The program is expected to assign some 40 volunteer placements. For more information, please see the attached backgrounder or visit: http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/CanadaCorps 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 Graham Director of Communications Office of the Minister of International Cooperation Telephone: (819) 953-6238 Media Relations Office Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Telephone: (819) 953-6534 E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca Web site: www.cida.gc.ca CANADA CORPS Canada Corps is a way for Canadians to work together to promote good governance and institution-building in developing countries and fragile states. New and existing programs to send Canadian expertise overseas are combined under one umbrella organization. Canada Corps is designed to mobilize citizens of all backgrounds together with non-govermental organizations and all levels of government. By sharing our expertise in governance, we can apply our skills and ideas in the countries that need them the most. Canada Corps is built on four pillars: mobilization of Canadians to go abroad; public engagement; coherence of governance programming; expansion of Canada's governance base of knowledge. Canada Corps initiatives include: Up to $7.7 million over three years for the Solidarité Canada-Haiti program. Developed by a consortium of Canadian organizations composed of CECI, WUSC, the Paul Gérin-Lajoie Foundation, and the Canadian Executive Service Organization, this program will provide support by: mobilizing the Haitian diaspora, facilitating partnerships between Canadian and Haitian organizations, and deploying volunteer experts to participate in governance programming. It will result in up to 250 placements. $1 million for the NetCorps Coalition for governance initiatives. This project will provide six-month internships for up to 50 Canadians primarily between the ages of 18 and 30. The interns will work in developing countries on e-governance and information and communications technology-related projects mostly with public and parapublic organizations, as well as international and regional institutions such as the World Health Organization, the Pan-American Health Organization, the International Organization for Migration, and the African Union. $2 million for overseas projects involving Canadian university students. This project will see the launch of a competitive process involving the 92 member institutions of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. One student from each university across the country will be awarded a work/study placement overseas and earn a credit toward their studies in Canada. This placement with a government or civil society organization in a developing country will be called the Canada Corps Student Internship. In addition, 10 university team projects on a governance theme will be selected, each involving a team of faculty and students that will work on the project in developing countries. In total, approximately 150 students and faculty members will be sent abroad. $1 million during 2004/05 for a Trust Fund for Peacebuilding. This project will fund assignments for volunteer specialists in governance and peacebuilding transition programs. The Trust Fund will build on earlier agreements put in place in 2004 between United Nations Volunteers (UNV), the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), and the Centre canadien d'étude et de coopération internationale (CECI). CECI and WUSC will promote awareness in Canada about opportunities to serve as a UN Volunteer and seek the collaboration of other Canadian organizations. The UNV-Canada Corps Program is part of the Government of Canada's response to the recommendations of the UN High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges, and Changes. The program is expected to assign some 40 volunteer placements.
