Retrospective of IDW2023 at Cooperation Canada

Retrospective of IDW2023 at Cooperation Canada

From February 5 to 11, Canadians celebrated from coast to coast to coast and internationally International Development Week (IDW), an annual moment to get involved in activities and celebrate their contributions to eradicating poverty and to a more peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous world. 

This year, Cooperation Canada planning centred on the Hill Day, the Cooperation Canada Awards Ceremony, a Parliamentary reception, and a joint event on the 2021/22 UNDP Human Development report. 

On February 7, Cooperation Canada and its members spent a day on Parliament Hill, speaking to parliamentarians about the strategic importance of international assistance and the difference it is making in the lives of millions of people worldwide. More than 40 people from Cooperation Canada’s member organizations were involved in the meetings with Members of Parliament from the Bloc Québécois, Conservative Party, Green Party, New Democratic Party and Liberal Party. Our members valued their fruitful discussions and thanked Members of Parliament and senators for showing support for Canadian leadership in facing the multiple crises the world is facing. Their discussion arguments are summarized in this document: “In the Midst of Multiple Crises, Canadian Global Leadership is Needed”.

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During IDW, Cooperation Canada also paused to recognize excellence in humanitarian aid and international development at the annual Cooperation Canada Awards ceremony by presenting the Innovation & Impact Awards, in collaboration with World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and the Lewis Perinbam Award Trustees. The ceremony took place on February 9. We have been honoured this year to welcome the Minister of International Development, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, who gave the keynote address at the ceremony. More than 100 people attended the event and congratulated  the 2022 Cooperation Canada Awards winners. 

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One of the key moments of the IDW2023 celebration at Cooperation Canada was the Parliamentary reception held on February 8 and co-hosted in partnership with ONE, Results, Canadian Partnership on Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH) and the Canadian International Education Policy Working Group (CIEPWG). People from our sector and Parliamentarians from all parties gathered to celebrate IDW2023 and raise awareness for the most in need around the world. 

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Cooperation Canada also co-organized with the Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) on February 9 a conversation on advancing in uncertainty in human development. In the context of the recent publication of the 2021-2022 UNDP Human Development Report, policymakers and senior leaders in international development discussed uncertainty and the responsibilities we all have in advancing human development. Pedro Conceicao, Director of the Human Development Report Office delivered the keynote message at this insightful event. 

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On February 8, Cooperation Canada CEO Kate Higgins, appeared at the Senate of Canada Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs & International Trade, where as part of IDW 2023, the committee examined global development issues and challenges. You can read Kate’s testimony here.

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As we wrap up IDW2023, Cooperation Canada thanks all its members for their commitment and the Members of Parliament and senators for their availability. Working together, we can build a world that is fairer, safer, and more sustainable for all. 

Kate Higgins’ Testimony Before the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade 

Kate Higgins’ Testimony Before the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade 

Kate Higgins’ Testimony Before the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Panel 1: from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Good afternoon.  It’s a pleasure to be here.  Thank you for the opportunity to appear before this committee. I would like to honour, and extend my gratitude, to the Algonquin Anishnaabe people, whose unceded and unsurrendered territory we are meeting on today. I would also like to recognize that we are meeting during Black History Month, and acknowledge the harm that colonial, racist and oppressive practices that many, including civil society, have caused around the world in the name of development.  Those of us engaging in international development and humanitarian assistance need to reflect deeply, evolve and take action to do better. 

I am privileged to lead Cooperation Canada, a coalition of nearly 100 Canadian international development and humanitarian organizations working in all regions of the world.  As an independent national voice for international cooperation, we work with our members, and with other partners here in Canada and around the world, to realize a fairer, safer and more sustainable world. As I speak to you today, my thoughts are with the people of affected by this week’s devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria – where to death toll is currently over 11,000 and the World Health Organization is predicting will reach 20,000.  Cooperation Canada members are working with their partners in Turkey and Syria, and their global networks, to provide immediate assistance.  

As you all know, this week is International Development Week. An opportunity for us to shine a light on Canadian contributions to eradicating poverty, tackling inequity, and supporting rights, peace and prosperity around the world. Cooperation Canada members are working from coast to coast to coast to engage thousands of people this week. They’re in schools, universities and libraries, at indoor Farmer’s Markets and in cinemas, here on Parliament Hill, even at big hockey games, talking about the life-saving and life-changing difference that Canadian international development and humanitarian assistance is having around the world. 

These discussions are taking place at a time when the world faces multiple crises that compound and exacerbate each other, and when the world feels more insecure and uncertain than it has in a very long time. 

In 2023, some 339 million people are estimated to need humanitarian aid – a 25% jump over last year. At least 222 million people are food insecure – including some 45 million people facing starvation – in what the UN is calling “the largest global food crisis in modern history.”  These record needs are fueled by a slew of colliding crises, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, pressure on global food systems, economic shocks throughout COVID-19 and the subsequent impact of the pandemic, and the climate emergency.  

 

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In Canada, we are not immune from these challenges or these crises. They directly affect our economic prosperity. They impact our security. And go against our values, and our belief in human rights, gender equity, democracy, and fairness.  

With this as the context distinguished Senators, I have three messages for you today. 

First, Canada must see international assistance as a smart and strategic investment. It is not a handout. It is an investment in supporting democracy and development in countries where rights, especially for women, girls, gender diverse people and minorities, are under threat. It ensures basic services at a time when many countries are struggling with debt loads and defaults. It gives us diplomatic and foreign policy leverage and influence by matching our words with investment and action.  It helps us broker agreements that align with both our values and our strategic interests.  It’s not only the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do. 

The government recognizes this: it has committed to increasing Canada’s international assistance every year towards 2030 to realize the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.  

Second, Canadian international assistance works. It is making a difference in the lives of millions of people around the world. Canada has been a leader in the fight for women’s rights in Honduras, refugee protection in Ukraine, freedom of the press in South Sudan, protection of the Rohingya minority in Bangladesh and Myanmar, inclusive democratic governance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – and as I said, Canadian organizations are mobilizing right now providing life-saving humanitarian aid following this week’s devastating earthquake.  . 

And while I am making the case that international assistance works, and am calling for bold Canadian engagement globally, I also acknowledge that the world is changing fast, and the global development and humanitarian system needs to change to.  We need to unlock new sources of finance to do everything we can to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. We need to change the ways that we work – as governments and as civil society – to shift power, resources and decision making to those bearing the brunt of these compounding crisis. We need to sharpen the way we operationalize global engagement and action across the various pillars of Canadian foreign policy – and act in ways that acknowledge that in the places where these crises are felt most acutely, diplomacy, security, trade, peace operations, development and humanitarian action are all necessary, complementary and inter-twined. 

My third and final point is short and simple: people in Canada support Canadian global engagement and international assistance. We feel and see the impact of converging crises and understand that international assistance is an investment in the world we all want to live in. Indeed, in an Abacus poll conducted last week, 63% of people polled said that given the state of the world at the moment, it is important or very important that Canada continues to invest in supporting development and human rights abroad. Yes, we are looking ahead towards a challenging fiscal context, with increased interest rates, inflation, and potentially slow growth. Yes, there are challenges we need to address here in Canada. But I trust that those of us fortunate enough to call Canada home can appreciate that a country like ours needs to, and can, address issues here in Canada while engaging beyond our borders. We can care about Canada and care about the world too. It’s the right, and the smart, thing to do. 

Retrospective of IDW2023 at Cooperation Canada

Celebrate IDW2023 with Cooperation Canada

Every year, through International Development Week (IDW), Canadians are invited from coast to coast to coast and internationally to get involved in activities and celebrate their contributions to eradicating poverty and to a more peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous world. This year IDW2023 will take place from February 5 to 11. 

Cooperation Canada will host and participate in a range of special events to celebrate the excellence and impact of Canadian international assistance and to call on the Government of Canada to keep its promises to increase international aid. 

The world is facing multiple crises, and Canada is not immune from these global challenges. International assistance is a strategic investment at a time of global insecurity. On February 7, 2023, Cooperation Canada and its members will spend a day on Parliament Hill, speaking to parliamentarians about the strategic importance of international assistance and the difference it is making in the lives of millions of people worldwide. Please, note that this is a Cooperation Canada only-member activity. 

On February 9, 2023, from 4 to 5 pm ET, Cooperation Canada will recognize excellence in humanitarian aid and international development at the annual Cooperation Canada Awards ceremony by presenting the Innovation & Impact Awards, presented in collaboration with World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and the Lewis Perinbam Award Trustees. The Minister of International Development, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, will give the keynote address at this ceremony. Register here and carve out an hour in your agenda to join us to celebrate our outstanding colleagues. 

Cooperation Canada is also co-hosting a Parliamentary reception on February 8, 2023, in partnership with ONE, Results, Canadian Partnership on Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH) and the Canadian International Education Policy Working Group (CIEPWG) Please, note that this is a Cooperation Canada only-member activity. 

Cooperation Canada will also co-organize with the Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) on February 9 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am EST, a conversation on advancing in uncertainty in human development. In the context of the recent publication of the 2021-2022 UNDP Human Development Report, policymakers and senior leaders in international development will discuss uncertainty and the responsibilities we all have in advancing human development. You can attend in person at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat (199 Sussex Drive, Ottawa) or online via Zoom. Please, indicate your attendance preference when you register. 

During IDW, a lot is going on, and we want to provide you with a list of events led by our programs and members to help you engage, advocate, and celebrate. 

 

Happy International Development Week 2023! 

A conversation with Canada’s new Minister for International Development

A conversation with Canada’s new Minister for International Development

Cooperation Canada partnered with sister coalitions, including the Canadian Association for International Development Professionals (CAIDP), Climate Action Network (CAN-Rac), the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH), the Inter-Council Network (ICN), and Dignity Network Canada, to plan and organize a conversation with Canada’s new Minister for International Development, the Honourable Harjit Sajjan, Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada. In the lead-up to the event, coalitions consulted members on key priorities and concerns for Canada’s international cooperation. This brief presents a summary of the key issues that emerged during the conversation with the Minister, punctuated by reflections on sector expectations and concerns raised during the conversation, as well as implications for Cooperation Canada’s members and other actors in the sector.

On February 3, 2022, Minister Sajjan shared his vision for Canada’s international cooperation with an audience of over 470 representatives from government, civil society, academia and the private sector. This conversation served as a timely kick-off to the International Development Week activities held on February 7-11, 2022.

 

Reflections by Cooperation Canada: https://staging.cooperation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ministerial-briefing-ENG-Offical.pdf

 

Recipients of the 2021 Cooperation Canada Awards have been selected

Recipients of the 2021 Cooperation Canada Awards have been selected

The Cooperation Canada Awards recognizes excellence and merit in the field of international cooperation by awarding prizes to individuals or organizations that have distinguished themselves in the past year.

On February 9, Cooperation Canada presented the Karen Takacs Award to Rita Morbia for her outstanding leadership and commitment to the promotion of women’s equality. Rita exemplifies the qualities that Karen Takacs possessed; she actively promoted the movements for peace and democracy, women’s rights and indigenous self-determination.  

More details on the Karen Takacs Award here 

Cooperation Canada, in collaboration with World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and the Trustees of the Lewis Perinbam Award, presented the Innovation & Impact Award to Vinod Rajasekaran for developing Future of Good, a digital tool for publishing stories, news, analysis and commentary to make sense of our sector. 

Read more about the Innovation & Impact Award here. 

Cooperation Canada, in collaboration with World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and the trustees of the Lewis Perinbam Award, also presented an Innovation & Impact Award to Cause for its innovation test project, “Mi Small Wef” No More: Eradicating Child Marriage in Sierra Leone by Working with Men in Sierra Leone, West Africa. 

Read more about the Innovation & Impact Award here. 

Congratulations to the winners! 

Zaida Bastos, Kehkashan Basu and Développement international Desjardins (DID) win the 2020 Cooperation Canada Awards

Zaida Bastos, Kehkashan Basu and Développement international Desjardins (DID) win the 2020 Cooperation Canada Awards

February 11, 2021, OTTAWA – Cooperation Canada announced the recipients of the 2020 Cooperation Canada Awards at its awards ceremony tonight: Zaida Bastos, Kehkashan Basu and Développement international Desjardins (DID). 

 

The Karen Takacs Award 

Cooperation Canada presented Zaida Bastos, former Development Partnerships Program Director for the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF), with the Karen Takacs Award for Women’s Leadership in International Development 

Zaida began working with PWRDF in 1998 and, over the years, served in several capacities, including as Africa Program Coordinator and External Funding Program Manager. Over the span of her career, she has worked for the Working Group on Refugee Resettlement, UNESCO in Paris and the United Nations Development Program in Angola. Zaida’s expertise focuses on community development, gender equality and organizational development and has worked to support effective training and the integration of prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse policies. 

“In our experience on the frontlines of community-based health and develop work in Burundi, we can think of no one who better embodies the dual focus of collaborative leadership and advancing women’s equality, empowerment and voices,” said Cathryn Christensen, Clinical Partnerships Director for Village Health Works and a colleague of Zaida’s. 

Zaida Bastos (left) in Tanzania. 

 

“Zaida’s peers and colleagues at PWRDF and representatives of the many development agencies and community partner organizations have benefited from her support, knowledge and passion over her many years of work in women’s leadership in international development,” said Will Postma, Executive Director for PWRDF. 

 

About the Karen Takacs Award 

Karen Takacs was a celebrated and cherished leader of the Canadian international community. For over 20 years, Karen worked tirelessly to improve the lives and advance the rights of women and girls locally, nationally, and internationally. Karen was a catalyst for collaboration in the Canadian international sector. Throughout her life, Karen was admired for motivating and bringing people together around a common cause. By way of encouragement, generosity, and humour, Karen led by mobilizing and supporting others. Following Karen’s passing in 2015, Cooperation Canada (then the Canadian Council for International Cooperation) created an award to honour her invaluable contribution to the fight for social and economic justice, and to celebrate the unique collaborative leadership she demonstrated throughout her career, including her time as Chair of the Board of Cooperation Canada. For the Canadian global development community, The Karen Takacs Award is a symbol of feminism, collaboration, advocacy, mentorship and resilience. 

 

The Innovation and Impact Awards

Kehkashan Basu (Founder and President of the Green Hope Foundationand Développement international Desjardins (DID) are the recipients of the 2020 Innovation and Impact Awards in Honour of Lewis Perinbam, presented by Cooperation Canada and World University Service of Canada (WUSC), in collaboration with the Trustees of the Lewis Perinbam Award. 

A youth leader, global influencer, environmentalist, and champion of women and children’s rights, Kehkashan Basu is described by her peers as a trailblazer who has been challenging the status quo and breaking social strictures and taboos that impede the progress and rights of future generations. She is the Founder and President of global social innovation enterprise the Green Hope Foundation, which works at a grassroots level in 16 countries, empowering young people, especially those from vulnerable communities – amongst them, Syrian refugees, Rohingya refugees, children of prisoners in Nepal and Kenya, and Covid affected communities in Bangladesh and Liberia. 

“With COVID and all the other ongoing crises facing humanity, it is so easy and tempting to get discouraged and to retreat into our bubbles,” said Jean-Marc Mangin, Chair of the Trustees of the Lewis Perinbam Award. “Defeatism was never in the DNA of Lewis Perinbam. This year’s winner of the Impact Award in honour of Lewis Perinbam, Kehkashan Basu, embodies fully his courage of the imagination and his can-do attitude that our age requires.” 

 Kehkashan Basu speaking at the United Nations on 2019 International Day of Peace (New York).

 

Cooperation Canada and WUSC awarded Développement international Desjardins (DID) with the Innovation and Impact Awards (organization prize) for its transformative approach in increasing the economic power of farmers in Colombia. The organization used innovative and impactful means through its design of the DECISION mobile applicationwhich facilitates the process of analyzing credit applications on the spot and promotes the secure financial inclusion of farmersBy the end of the project, 136,000 agricultural credits had been granted to 80,000 farmers; 15,000 farmers had received financial education (57% of whom were women), and these figures continue to increase. 

With its initiative, Développement international Desjardins (DID) helped make Colombia’s agricultural financial sector more inclusive, efficient, and secure for farmers. 

 

“Kehkashan Basu and Développement international Desjardins (DID) are leaders who embody the values and principles of these awards,” said Nicolas Moyer, CEO for Cooperation Canada. “They have both demonstrated dedication to being innovative in their approaches to their work, for which the impact will be felt for many years.” 

 

About the Innovation and Impact Awards 

Annually, Cooperation Canada and the Trustees of the Lewis Perinbam celebrate and recognize Canadian individuals and civil society organizations (CSOs) that are doing impactful and innovative work. Cooperation Canada defines an Innovative Practice as a new or more impactful means of, or approach to, addressing development challenges and improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable. An innovative practice can take many forms, it can be an innovation that is new to a particular context, but tried and true elsewhere.  In addition, the innovative practice could be an approach, technology, business model, policy practice, partnership and more. To achieve impact through innovation, an Innovative Practice should align with The Whistler Principles to Accelerate Innovation for Development Impact. 

 

Honouring Lewis Perinbam 

Lewis Perinbam, O.C, (1925-2007) was a pioneer in building the international development sector in Canada. He was the founding Executive Director of CUSO, the first full time Secretary General of the Canadian National Commission of UNESCO and the Executive Director of World University Service of Canada (WUSC). He joined a fledging Canadian International Development Agency in 1969 and became the founding director general of the NGO division. He later became the Vice-President of the Canadian Partnership Program where he launched several programs that made Canada a leader in civil society-government collaboration. He led the 2000 Task Force on the Participation of Visible Minorities in the Public Service which generated deep change throughout Government. The awards recognize his outstanding contributions and provide a reminder and a call for action that ambitious system-wide innovation is always possible. 

 

Media Contact 

Kat Guerin
Communications Manager, Cooperation Canada
[email protected] or 613-222-3009 

 

Stephanie Leclair
Director, Communications and Digital Transformation, WUSC
[email protected] or 613-761-3714