Toronto (Ontario) - The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, today announced the next steps the Government is taking to heighten focus of Canada’s aid international assistance. Minister Oda announced the three priority themes that will guide CIDA’s work going forward: increasing food security, stimulating sustainable economic growth, and securing the future of children and youth.
“This government promised to make Canada’s international assistance more effective, more focused and more accountable,” said Minister Oda, speaking before an audience of students, academics and aid partners at the University of Toronto’s Munk Centre for International Studies. "We have delivered on our commitment and this will be shaping Canada’s international assistance for the coming years.”
The themes announced today complement other major effectiveness components, such as untying aid, geographic focus and decentralization, and will guide CIDA’s future programming decisions. This will allow Canada to focus on key issues and challenges facing partner countries and ensure that Canadian international assistance investments are achieving concrete results.
“Canada is focusing its international assistance so it has a greater impact,” Minister Oda said. “Aid can—and must—work better. With greater efficiency, focus, and accountability, our Government’s new approach to Canadian aid will be even more effective. This is what the poor of the world need, and this is what Canadians demand of us.”
This new approach will help ensure that efforts to strengthen the environment, improve equality between women and men, promote respect for human rights and supporting strong governance practices and institutions will be integrated as part of our approach to international assistance.
- 30 -
Information:
Michelle Coates
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: media@acdi-cida.gc.ca
