Canada is a global leader in ending the preventable deaths of mothers, newborns and children in the developing world, including in the Americas. Maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) remains Canada’s top international development priority. To further support this priority in the Americas, our Government is announcing the following projects:
- Title: Integrated Health Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean
Cost and timeframe: $18.5 million (2015-2018)
Implementing partner: Pan American Health Organization
This project is aimed at facilitating access for mothers, newborns and children to essential health services, enhancing the management of leading diseases by national health authorities, and improving nutritional practices, including breastfeeding in eleven countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Security and Democratic Governance
In the Americas, Canada uses a variety of programming to further strengthen governance, enhance the rule of law and promote anti-crime measures. The following initiatives will support these objectives in the hemisphere:
- Title: Judicial Reform and Institutional Strengthening in the Caribbean
Cost and timeframe: $19.9 million (2014-2019)
Implementing partner: Caribbean Court of Justice
This project is aimed at strengthening the judicial system to be more responsive to the needs of citizens in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region. Transparent and predictable administration of the courts benefits local and foreign investors as well as citizens.
- Title: Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean
Cost and timeframe: $19.8 million (2014-2019)
Implementing Partner: University of the West Indies (Cave Hill)
This project is aimed at ensuring better access to justice in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region. It will help create a more stable and predictable legal environment to promote business development and provide increased access for citizens through alternative means of dispute resolution, outside of the court system.
- Title: Protection and Education of Vulnerable Children and Youth in Colombia Cost and timeframe: $17.3 million (2014-2018)
Implementing partner: Mercy Corps and War Child Holland
This project is aimed at improving security and education, and providing life opportunities for 48,000 at-risk children and youth in the conflict-affected regions of Putumayo and Choco, Colombia.
- Title: Sustainable Colombian Opportunities for Peacebuilding and Employment
Cost and timeframe: $15.3 million (2015-2019)
Implementing partner: CUSO International
This project will provide skills training based on labour market needs, coupled with job internships and placements for vulnerable youth in seven Colombian cities. It will strengthen the capacity of authorities and private sector partners to develop inclusive employment policies and practices for vulnerable populations.
- Title: Improving Access to Civil Justice in Latin America
Cost and timeframe: $8.3 million (2015-2018)
Implementing partner: Justice Studies Center of the Americas
This project is aimed at increasing access for women and men in Latin America to equitable and efficient civil justice that respects the rights of those involved in legal proceedings. The project will support a regional approach to civil justice reform and seek to facilitate more transparent and predictable legal frameworks and procedures for dispute resolution.
- Title: Improved Effectiveness of Parliaments in Latin America and the Caribbean
Cost and timeframe: $8 million (2015-2019)
Implementing partner: ParlAmericas
The project will help ParlAmericas to strengthen the capacity of parliamentarians in the Caribbean and Latin America to carry out their functions more effectively and contribute to policymaking related to issues of national and regional significance.
- Title: Supporting Election Observation in Guyana, Suriname and Guatemala
Cost and timeframe: up to $350,000 (2015-2016)
Implementing partner: Organization of American States
This project aims to support efforts to build stronger, more efficient and transparent electoral processes and democratic institutions, and contribute to confidence building for the people of Guyana, Suriname and Guatemala in their electoral processes.
- Title: Anti-Money Laundering Initiatives
Cost and timeframe: up to $1.77 million (2015-2017)
Implementing partners: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Organization of American States Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission, International Monetary Fund
The three projects will support legitimate economies by increasing governments’ capacity to limit the smuggling of cash and goods into and through their respective jurisdictions, and convene training sessions aimed at ensuring the consistent application of anti-money laundering practices.
- Title: Anti-Drug Trafficking Initiatives
Cost and timeframe: up to $7.85 million (2015-2019)
Implementing partners: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Customs Organization, Organization of American States Inter-American Committee against Terrorism
The three projects will increase governments’ capacity for marine interdiction and port control, including screening and inspection, and provide training in port security and emergency management.
- Title: Combatting Gangs and Criminality in Central America and the Caribbean
Cost and timeframe: up to $10.77 million (2015-2018)
Implementing partners: Justice Education Society, United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, INTERPOL, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
The eight projects will provide specialized equipment, training and coaching to police, prosecutors, judges, technicians and analysts in several countries, including increasing capacity for compiling ballistics evidence, improving cyber infrastructure and cybercrime enforcement capacity, and strengthening community crime prevention.
- Title: Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Security Initiatives
Cost and timeframe: up to $14.5 million (2015-2018)
Implementing partners: United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, US Department of State (Export Control and Border Security Program), Canadian Commercial Corporation, International Atomic Energy Agency
The four projects will help prevent the proliferation and illicit trafficking of weapons of mass destruction, and related chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN ) materials. Resources will be allocated toward providing equipment, training supplies and technical expertise to support sustainable and effective CBRN prevention, detection and response capabilities and to secure and dispose of disused radiological materials.
- Title: Colombian Peace Process
Cost and timeframe: up to $3.94 million (2015-2016)
Implementing partners: International Organization for Migration, National Democratic Institute, Organization of American States
The four projects will enhance the Government of Colombia’s capacity to engage and coordinate with local leaders and citizens in relation to the current peace process, including improving the lives of victims of violence, reducing metropolitan crime, and increasing access to justice for victims of sexual and gender-based violence.
- Title: Support to Strengthening Justice for Victims of Sexual Violence in Guatemala
Cost and timeframe: up to $860,000 (2015-2016)
Implementing partner: Lawyers Without Borders Canada
This project will increase the capacity of Guatemala’s justice system to provide vital legal services to vulnerable female victims of violence, and prosecute the culprits of those crimes.
Border Management
In the Americas, Canada uses a variety of programming to further strengthen border management and increase the capacity of beneficiary states to address criminal threats. The following initiatives will support these objectives in the hemisphere:
- Title: Mexican Border Management and Crime Prevention
Cost and timeframe: up to $3.82 million (2015-2018)
Implementing partner: Organization of American States Inter-American Committee against Terrorism
The two projects will increase the capacity of beneficiary states to deal with criminal threats to maritime ports and increase security in the tourism industry in regions popular with North American tourists.
- Title: Central America and Caribbean Border and Human Trafficking
Cost and timeframe: up to $5 million (2015-2018)
Implementing partners: International Bureau for Children’s Rights, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, INTERPOL
The three projects will help increase border security in beneficiary states and increase states’ capacity to fight human trafficking and human smuggling.
In addition to the initiatives above, on April 10, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced several projects aimed at strengthening economic growth across Latin America and the Caribbean.
