December 9, 2010
Ottawa, Ontario--The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister for International Cooperation, underlined Canada's ongoing commitment to fighting for accountability and supporting good governance today by announcing two projects that will improve accountability in 16 developing countries. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is pleased to be working with the Parliamentary Centre in Africa and with Transparency International.
"International Anti-Corruption Day is a time when nations join together to raise accountability and help address corruption that prevents responsible, good governance to take hold in many countries. Effective and corruption-free governments are key to reducing poverty and building sustainable improvements in the quality of life for those in developing countries," stated Minister Oda. "Our government is committed to accountability in Canada, and through CIDA, our commitment extends to help improve accountability, promote greater transparency, and reduce corruption in many developing countries."
Canada is supporting the Parliamentary Centre in Africa to create good governance, greater transparency, and accountability in select African parliaments. This project will assist parliamentarians and other stakeholders in Benin, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia as they work to strengthen their institutions. The project also supports the African Parliamentarians' Network Against Corruption.
Minister Oda also announced that CIDA would support Transparency International in its efforts to increase the awareness and reduce the incidence of corruption, as well as improve the standards of governance and levels of transparency in 11 of CIDA's countries of focus: Bolivia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Mozambique, Pakistan, Peru, Senegal, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
CIDA has committed $14 million over five years to support the Parliamentary Centre in Africa's project, and $2.1 million over three years to Transparency International.
More information on CIDA-supported projects aimed at fighting corruption and building good governance can be found by visiting CIDA's Project Browser, though which details of more than 3,000 projects funded by the Agency can be found.
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Information:
Justin Broekema
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
CIDA'S Support to the Parliamentary Centre in Africa
The Parliamentary Centre in Africa works to create good governance, greater transparency, and accountability in select African parliaments. This includes support to the African Parliamentarians' Network Against Corruption (APNAC), which trains parliamentarians and civil society organizations on anti-corruption measures in order to strengthen budget oversight capacities and accountability to its citizens.
The goal of the program is improved poverty reduction in select African countries through strengthened parliaments in the budgetary process. The program has already begun its work by providing training sessions to parliamentarians across Africa.
The Parliamentary Centre in Africa is working in Benin, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. CIDA has committed $14 million over five years, between 2009 and 2014, to support the centre's project.
CIDA's Support to Transparency International
Transparency International (TI) is a global civil society organization dedicated to leading the fight against corruption. Since 1994, CIDA has been a key supporter of TI's work to highlight and combat corruption.
TI, with CIDA's support, will increase awareness and help to reduce the incidence of corruption, as well as improve the standards of governance and levels of transparency in 11 CIDA priority countries:, Bolivia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Mozambique, Pakistan, Peru, Senegal, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
The government's support to this project is $2.1 over three years, starting in 2010.
Other CIDA Anti-Corruption Activities
CIDA coordinates its anti-corruption efforts with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Development Assistance Committee, and with multilateral bodies such as the World Bank aimed at greater accountability and transparency in development assistance.
Canada has also been a member of the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre (U4RC) since 2005. U4RC allows Canada to collaborate with other donors to more effectively address corruption challenges through development support. The centre enhances the capacity of development agencies to provide relevant anti-corruption resources, training, and help-desk functions to facilitate development programming.
Between 2006 and 2010, CIDA has provided approximately $2.4 billion in funding to projects and partners working in democratic governance to end corruption, and build accountability and good governance.
More information on CIDA-supported projects aimed at fighting corruption and building good governance can be found by visiting CIDA's Project Browser, through which details of more than 3,000 projects funded by the Agency can be found.
