A unique Canadian tradition since 1988, International Development Week (IDW) is held annually during the first full week of February and aims to inform, inspire, and involve Canadians in Canada’s international development efforts. It is also an opportunity to celebrate Canadian contributions to eradicating poverty and building a more peaceful, inclusive more prosperous world. 

Canada’s international development efforts have changed millions of lives for the better. In the past two years, this work has surmounted unprecedented challenges because of the pandemic. However, as COVID-19 threatens a decade of global progress in building a peaceful, just, inclusive, clean, resilient and prosperous world for everyone, it has also demonstrated how connected we really are. That is why the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda are more important than ever. They are a global blueprint to get us to that better world—to achieve gender equality, reach net-zero emissions, halt and reverse nature loss, build resilient and inclusive societies and economies, and make sure everyone has access to quality education and health care, including vaccines. While the goals are ambitious, they reflect the scope of these global challenges and give us real targets to strive toward, as well as a working agenda to achieve them. Through human rights-based and gender-responsive approaches, they remain our roadmap to a brighter future. We all have a role to play in realizing a better world. Now more than ever, let’s #GoForTheGoals, #IDW2022.