Working Groups and

Communities of Practice

Cooperation Canada’s working groups and communities of practice (CoPs) are collaborative spaces where members work together and connect to share learnings, develop best practice and maximize collective influence, drawing on member diversity to attain joint objectives.

Our working groups and CoPs convene virtually on our Members Portal. If you are a member of a working group or CoP and have trouble signing in or have not yet created an account, please contact Fanta Diaby, Member Services Liaison, at [email protected].

 

Guidelines

These Guidelines are considered an “evergreen” document, subject to ongoing changes based on member feedback and evolving practice for Cooperation Canada Woking Groups.

Groups and chairs

CoCo:
Bella Lam
(Jane Goodall Institute)
Hila Olyan
(CODE NGO)
Elmer Lighid
(World Vision Canada)

Africa-Canada Forum

Engage in dialogue with African counterparts and colleagues to improve the quality and impact of Canadian groups working in development coordination and social justice in sub-Saharan Africa.  

Leads:
 

Asia-Pacific Working Group

Through collaborative reflection, policy analysis, dialogue and learning, help improve the impact of members that have a specific interest in development, social justice, and human rights in Asia.

Leads:
Sylvie Dobinson
(Cuso International)
Salim Ferozali
(Aga Khan Foundation Canada)

CFO Working Group

Meet with other Chief Financial Officers to advance the interests of the international development and humanitarian sector as they relate to financial and administrative policies and practice. 

 

Leads:
 

Communications Group

Convening Cooperation Canada’s members’ communications professionals.

Leads:
John Clayton
(Samaritan’s Purse – Canada)
Céline Füri
(Oxfam-Québec)
 

Direction and Control

Hey! I’m new-ish here, but the regulations I’m trying to change date back to the 1950’s! Direction and Control regulations of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) impose outdated and ineffective obligations on Canadian charities, expected to direct charitable funds towards their “own activities” or exercise full control of the activities implemented by their local partners. These regulations hinder charities’ ability to ensure equitable partnerships with local actors. So I’m focused on improving these, and looking at ways in which CSOs can support these efforts!

Leads:
Danielle Porteous
(SOS Children’s Villages)
Ginnette Michaud
(CECI)
 

Fundraising Working Group

Share and learn about great fundraising and professional development opportunities with other fundraising professionals within the international development and humanitarian sector. 

Leads:
Marie-Hélène Gagnon
(SOCODEVI)
Alex Cote
(Développement international Desjardins)

Innovative Finance Working Group 

Identify new financing mechanisms and models through discussing innovative financing sources outside of government funders and explore how the sector can best leverage government finance to facilitate new and additional financial sources. 

Leads:
Brian Tomlinson
(AidWatch Canada)
Marlen Mondaca
(By Invitation)

Localization Working Group

We hope to welcome colleagues directly or indirectly working to ensure our institutions, processes, and partnerships ensure that the organizations and communities in the Global South with whom our sector are collaborating, are also those in charge of agenda-setting, decision-making, and resource management.

Leads:
 

Youth Engagement Working Group

Share best practices, creative solutions and learnings around successes and failures and find out about great opportunities for partnerships and cooperation for youth engagement in the context of the international cooperation and humanitarian sector.  

To join or learn more, contact:  

Fanta Diaby

Member Services Liaison

at [email protected]