(2006-15) News Release
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Backgrounder
Ottawa -- The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation, today launched the new Voluntary Sector Fund. With a budget of $20 million per year, this fund will support development projects that strive to reduce poverty and promote human rights. These projects will be realized through partnerships between Canadian organizations and those in developing countries.
At an event held in Ottawa today to launch the new Fund, Minister Verner and her Parliamentary Secretary, Ted Menzies, met with over 100 partner organization representatives from across the country.
"This new approach will strengthen the capacity of civil society in developing countries to contribute to their own country's development by employing the expertise and knowledge of Canadian organizations," said Minister Verner. "I am pleased to announce that CIDA will work with all seven Provincial Councils for International Cooperation to provide training for eligible Canadian non-governmental organizations on results-based management, monitoring, and the promotion of equality between women and men."
The Fund enables Canadian non-governmental organizations across Canada to submit international development proposals to CIDA for funding of up to $500,000 per project. With this announcement, CIDA is committed to establishing clear, transparent and equitable funding mechanisms. New partners such as diaspora groups and professional associations will now be eligible for funding.
CIDA will also be offering information sessions on the new Voluntary Sector Fund in the near future. For more information on this initiative or on the schedule of information sessions, please refer to the enclosed backgrounder or to CIDA's website.
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Information:
Pascale St. Pierre
Press Secretary
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
Promoting Aid Effectiveness with the Support of Our Canadian Partners
A new approach to development aid will put in place clear, transparent and equitable funding mechanisms for partners participating in the Canadian International Development Agency’s (CIDA) projects and programs. Our Canadian partners—including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), diaspora groups and professional associations—in cooperation with organizations in developing countries, implement projects or programs that support Canada's priorities with respect to development aid, in particular, reducing poverty and promoting human rights.
This approach will improve aid effectiveness by strengthening the capacity of civil society in developing countries and by enhancing local ownership through partnerships between Canadian NGOs and their developing country counterparts.
Highlights
Improved access for Canadian NGOs across Canada to the Voluntary Sector Fund:
Annual budget of $20 million
Maximum CIDA contribution of $500,000 per project
Up to three active projects per eligible organization
Project proposals accepted on an ongoing basis
Eligibility of new partners (e.g. diaspora groups and professional associations)
CIDA-to-partner-NGO cost-sharing ratio of up to 3:1
Improved access to the program approach through CIDA’s Voluntary Sector Program
A more effective approach:
Enhanced local ownership through partnerships between Canadian and developing country NGOs
Strengthening the capacity of civil society in the developing world
Transparency in decision-making:
All proposals evaluated by an internal multidisciplinary team
Introduction of a decision review committee
CIDA will work with all seven Provincial Councils for International Cooperation to provide training, for eligible Canadian non-governmental organizations, on results-based management, monitoring and the promotion of equality between women and men.
Furthermore, CIDA will be offering information sessions to Canadian NGOs across Canada on the new Voluntary Sector Fund on the following dates:
June 19 Moncton, New Brunswick
Ottawa, Ontario
June 20Winnipeg, Manitoba
June 21Montreal, Quebec
Regina, Saskatchewan
June 22Quebec, Quebec
Halifax, Nova Scotia
June 23Calgary, Alberta
June 26Edmonton, Alberta
June 28Vancouver, British Columbia
Toronto, Ontario
June 29 Victoria, British Columbia
