Cooperation Canada Is Powering Capacity for Impact

Across our community, the ground is shifting. Civil society is navigating closing civic space, volatile funding and the hard—but necessary—work of shifting power. In this disrupted landscape, feminist, intersectional international cooperation isn’t a “nice-to-have”; it’s the compass. So are protection and safety—preventing sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment—and embedding equity in how we partner and deliver. Organizations need practical tools and steady partners to uphold these standards while building organizational resilience that lasts. That’s where Cooperation Canada shows up: convening, resourcing and advocating for an enabling environment—and strengthening the sector’s capacity to deliver impact with integrity and excellence. 

With Global Affairs Canada’s support, we have created and shared resources and training on preventing sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH) and on anti-racism in international cooperation, alongside regular progress monitoring to guide practice—work stewarded through Digna, the Canadian Centre of Expertise on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and the Anti-Racist Cooperation (ARC) Hub. Together with our members and many allies, we’ve advanced policy guidance, training and communities of practice that centre survivor safety, power-shifting, anti-racism and organizational change.  

Shifting to Support Sector Impact 

Supporting our members and the international cooperation ecosystem to shift power is a priority for Cooperation Canada. This includes our work on PSEAH, anti-racism, locally-led development, advancing Reconciliation and upholding Indigenous rights, ethical practice and building fit-for-purpose organizations for the future of international cooperation. As part of this priority—and to ensure the sustainability and longevity of funded program streams like Digna and the ARC Hub—we’re consolidating all of Cooperation Canada’s capacity strengthening efforts together in one place. What this looks like in practice: 

• One stop shop. Guidance, toolkits, templates and recordings developed through Digna and the ARC Hub are being consolidated and maintained on Cooperation Canada’s website—a single, reliable access point that protects continuity beyond program cycles. 
• Shared leadership, integrated practice. With expanded support from Global Affairs Canada, we delivering capacity strengthening in areas that explicitly shift power—PSEAH, anti-racism, locally led development, advancing feminist, intersectional approaches to international cooperation, and advancing Reconciliation. This work is driven by collective leadership across Cooperation Canada, integrated across the team and carried out with subject-matter experts and sector leaders. 

What This Means for You 

• Sustained support. The resources and communities you rely on are not ending; they’re being stewarded for the long term and refreshed as part of Cooperation Canada’s core offer. 
• Practice that holds. We’ll keep turning guidance into action—helping organizations strengthen safeguarding, shift power and build organizational resilience in complex contexts. 

• Aligned with sector realities. As needs evolve, our tools, convening and advocacy will evolve with you. 
• Clear access. With materials under one trusted home, it’s simpler to find what you need and request support when it counts. We’re also introducing a new inbox — Programs@cooperation.ca — replacing the legacy Digna and ARC Hub support inboxes so there’s one simple point of contact; those older inboxes will continue to be monitored and will redirect during the transition. 

What’s Coming up 

Transition 

Over the coming months, we’ll fold Digna and the ARC Hub’s websites into www.cooperation.ca. During this period, resources will remain available; once the transition is complete, the current program’s websites will redirect to their new home.  

Stay Connected 

We’re retiring the Digna and ARC Hub newsletters. Going forward, the Cooperation Canada Newsletter will continue to feature regular updates on PSEAH, anti-racism, locally led development, Reconciliation/Indigenous rights and feminist international cooperation, as is our current practice. In addition, we are excited to launch a quarterly newsletter that will focus specifically on our efforts to shift power. Subscribe to Cooperation Canada’s Newsletter to stay connected here! 

2025–26 Capacity Strengthening Training Program Incoming! 

Get ready for advanced, practice-oriented sessions on PSEAH, anti-racism, locally led development, intersectional feminism, Reconciliation and humanitarian action/the triple nexus—with tailored streams for boards, managers and diverse teams. Watch for registration details in the coming weeks and start sketching your learning calendar. 

With Gratitude—and a Clear Path Forward 

This evolution is about durability and impact in a time of deep disruption. We are grateful to Global Affairs Canada for funding that enabled the sector to build and share these foundations, and to our staff, members and partners who have shaped, tested and improved this work at every step. By bringing these streams together under Cooperation Canada, we’re positioning the sector for the next phase: clearer access, integrated practice and a stronger enabling environment for civil society at home and globally—grounded in feminist, intersectional approaches and a steadfast commitment to protection, safety and organizational resilience.