Policy & Analysis
- Monitor and track emerging trends in global development cooperation and humanitarian policy, and signal these changes to our members to help them be as effective and impactful as possible;
- Propose, and react to, new sustainable development and humanitarian policies in Canada and beyond as the global landscape evolves;
- Encourage the Canadian government and civil society to be cooperative leaders on key policy issues in global development and humanitarian assistance;
- Conduct in-depth research and analysis of Canada’s aid portfolio and emerging global issues, and assess the implications for Canadian programs overseas, in particular for Canadian civil society organizations;
- Organize learning events to socialize new developments, key analysis, and policy and political changes for our membership and the broader community;
- Convene our members in policy working groups to ensure our policy development and analysis is shaped and informed by their lived experiences; and
- Facilitate consultations and dialogue between civil society organizations, government officials, and political staff.
This work includes analyzing, commenting on, and providing recommendations for policy and programming at Global Affairs Canada, and advocating for robust Canadian engagement on global development and humanitarian issues.
Institutional Policies
Cooperation Canada is committed to gender equality and women’s rights and strives in our goals, our analysis, and how we work to be consistent with this commitment. With this policy, Cooperation Canada wants to ensure that its governance, programming and organizational practices are explicit about issues related to women’s rights and gender equality.
Cooperation Canada’s Organizational Policy:
Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
Cooperation Canada By-Laws
Revised May 2018
Cooperation Canada 10-Point Agenda

Humanitarian Discussions, Policy, and Funding
HRN Heads of Agencies MeetingLeaders from members of the Humanitarian Response Network of Canada (HRN) met on September 30th in Montreal at the HRN Heads of Agency Meeting (HoA). This annual event convenes Executive Directors and CEOs of HRN members, their...

Cooperation Canada Releases Recommendations to Improve the Regulatory and Legislative Framework for Canada’s Charitable Sector
Ottawa, ON (15 OCT 2019) – Cooperation Canada released a policy brief today showing that Canadian charities working internationally are governed by a set of provisions that restrict their ability to partner effectively in the delivery of their charitable...
Joint Humanitarian Civil Society Statement on Canada’s Policy for Gender Equality in Humanitarian Action
On April 13, 2019, Canada introduced its new policy on gender equality in humanitarian action. The following is a joint response by Canadian civil society organizations active in humanitarian response, welcoming the new policy and looking forward to its implementation.
Partnering with Global Affairs Canada to Enhance Canada’s International Assistance
Partnering with Global Affairs Canada to Enhance Canada’s International Assistance As part of Cooperation Canada’s efforts to support an enabling environment for civil society in Canada and abroad and elevate the voice and influence of Cooperation Canada members, we...

Daring to risk and fail – Building an innovation agenda in Canada’s global development and humanitarian community
Is the practice of innovation an essential way forward for international development and humanitarian organizations? How do we test out radical ideas when there is so much at stake? And what does ‘innovation’ actually mean?