Canada and Philippines Reaffirm Partnership to Reduce Poverty

News Release

May 8, 2015 - Ottawa, Ontario - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada

The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, and Arsenio Balisacan, Philippine Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority, today signed a mutual accountability framework reaffirming the foundations of transparent, effective and sustainable international development cooperation between Canada and the Philippines.

The framework links Canadian development assistance in the Philippines to Canadian priorities and values, including respect for democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and sustainable economic growth, consistent with the principles of aid transparency and effectiveness.

The framework reaffirms Canada’s respect and support for the Philippines’ leadership of its own development process and reflects the mature and growing relationship between the two countries.

The agreement also clearly states Canada’s priorities and the expected results of its development assistance program in the country. The monitoring and evaluation of expected results and agreed targets will be carried out over the five-year life of the framework through an annual joint review process.

The signing took place as part of a three-day state visit to Canada of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III. It was President Aquino’s first state visit, and the first state visit by a sitting Philippine president since 1997.

In 2014 the Government of Canada confirmed the Philippines as a country of focus for Canada’s international development efforts.

Quick Facts

To further increase transparency and accountability for results, Canada announced in June 2014 that it will sign mutual accountability frameworks with partner countries. These frameworks establish mutual expectations; stress the importance of Canadian principles and values; establish greater transparency, predictability, and accountability in how investments are spent; and set clear targets for the results Canada and its partners want to achieve.
Canada was one of the first countries to respond to the Typhoon Haiyan crisis, and was the third-largest humanitarian donor. Within 24 hours of the typhoon, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) provided $5 million to humanitarian organizations for emergency relief activities.
To date, including funds matched through the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund, the Government of Canada has committed $90.56 million in financial support toward the crisis.
The Philippines ranks 114 out of 187 countries on the United Nations Development Programme's 2012 Human Development Index.
A key priority in Canada’s international development work in the Philippines is the advancement of the economic opportunities for women and men.
On May 29, 2014, at the Saving Every Woman, Every Child: Within Arm’s Reach summit, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced an additional commitment of $3.5 billion for the period 2015–2020 for maternal, newborn and child health. At the summit, the Prime Minister set out a strategy to effectively reduce maternal and child death with an emphasis on strengthening health systems, improving nutrition and reducing the burden of leading diseases, as well as a commitment to supporting Canadian partners’ important work in advancing this global priority.

Quotes

“The agreement signed today demonstrates the growing relationship between Canada and the Philippines, recognizes the ability of the Philippines to lead its own development process, and reflects Canadian priorities for stimulating sustainable economic growth and prosperity. Our government reaffirms its commitment to supporting the Philippines’ efforts to stimulate sustainable economic growth by improving the climate for investment and reducing poverty, as well as assisting in the country’s recovery after Typhoon Haiyan.”

- Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie

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Canada and Philippines Reaffirm Partnership to Reduce Poverty

News Release

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