Dakar, Senegal
30 November 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today concluded a successful three-day visit to Dakar, Senegal, where he led Canada’s delegation to the 15th Summit of La Francophonie from November 28 to 30, 2014.
During the Summit’s opening ceremony, the Prime Minister delivered an address, in which he reiterated Canada’s strong support for the important work of La Francophonie in advancing the prosperity and stability of developing Francophonie nations.
Leaders discussed an array of issues facing nations of La Francophonie, including advancing the cause of improved maternal, newborn and child health, further cooperation to address the ongoing Ebola crisis in West Africa, and economic and political challenges facing women and youth in Francophonie countries. Economic development is an essential focus of La Francophonie, and one of the main themes of Canada’s development assistance. To that end, the Prime Minister announced Canadian support for initiatives aimed at equipping education and public service professionals with the tools and training they need to advance economic prosperity and social equality in Francophonie countries.
During the Summit, Prime Minister Harper recognized the leadership of outgoing Secretary General Abdou Diouf, and welcomed Michaëlle Jean as the new Secretary General of La Francophonie. He congratulated Michaëlle Jean on her appointment and expressed his gratitude to the members of La Francophonie for having elected a Canadian woman to this important position, representing the renewal needed by La Francophonie of the 21st century.
The Prime Minister also reaffirmed Canada’s leadership on maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) by announcing support for the GAVI Alliance and the Micronutrient Initiative, which will help ensure that mothers and children across the developing world have access to lifesaving vaccines and nutrition. Canada’s strong support of robust and high-quality health systems is not only key to saving the lives of women and children, but also to preventing and managing major disease outbreaks, such as the ongoing Ebola crisis that is ravaging parts of Western Africa.
The Prime Minister also held a series of bilateral meetings on the margins of the Summit, including with the outgoing Secretary General of La Francophonie Abdou Diouf, and the leaders of Cameroon, Guinea and Tunisia.
