Results Canada celebrated International Development Week (IDW) in early February to commend Canada’s contributions to poverty reduction and international assistance around the world. IDW serves as an important opportunity to applaud Canada for its efforts in advancing global priorities, while continuing to advocate for the improved policies and increased resources needed to realize #TheWorldWeNeed.
We kicked off IDW with our flagship event titled, “Pandemic Proof the World: a global parliamentary discussion on ending pandemics old and new”. This event presented an opportunity for community health care workers, experts, advocates, and decision makers in Canada and Kenya to connect, share experiences, and commit to collaboration and driving progress towards #TheWorldWeNeed. A special thanks to all Canadian parliamentarians who joined the call, including Senator Marty Deacon, Senator Kim Pate, Members of Parliament (MPs) Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Stephanie Kusie, Sameer Zuberi, Chandra Arya, Hon. Mike Lake, Garnett Genuis, Salma Zahid and Anita Vandenbeld. On our YouTube channel, you can access the event recording.
In preparation for the event, all participating parliamentarians from Canada received a briefing package consisting of interactive learning materials in the form of a Prezi and activities to enhance their experience. Since we cannot host a delegation in Kenya in the current context, we wanted to offer a unique “virtual delegation” experience. The interactive presentation included stories and videos produced by our global partners, featuring community voices and experts who were part of our “Pandemic Proof the World” event, offering participants the chance to dig deeper and engage with affected communities. Take a look at the journey we shared with parliamentarians.
Through our event and the more than 50 meetings with parliamentarians over the course of the week, Results Canada joined the Canadian development sector in calling for Canada to increase its International Assistance Envelope (IAE) by CAD$1.5 billion above the current 2020-21 financial commitments to reach CAD$9 billion in Budget 2022. With a CAD$9 billion Canadian aid budget, Canada could continue to invest its fair share in the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-Accelerator) and implementing partners like the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS TB and Malaria (Global Fund) who are critical to achieving the mission of global health security for all during the pandemic and beyond. A big thank you to all the parliamentarians that agreed to meet with us:
Also, thank you to Cooperation Canada, Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health, and Bigger than our Borders for organizing a week of action to bring together the international development sector to meet with parliamentarians and shine a light on the importance of Canada stepping up in the global recovery. Results Canada’s executive director, Chris Dendys, also had the opportunity to meet with the offices of both the Minister of International Development and Minister of Finance, further articulating how an increase in the IAE would enable the world to respond to COVID-19, recover from its secondary effects, and prepare for future threats.
volunteers taking action on social mediaVolunteers amplified the ask for increased IAE as well as participated in the Global Affairs Canada #GoForTheGoals social media contest to highlight the importance of sustained efforts toward achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Shout out to Results Canada fellow, Sarabjeet Kaur, who won a spot in a virtual meeting with the Honourable Minister of International Development, Harjit Sajjan coming in the next few weeks!
Both Minister Sajjan and Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, made statements for IDW confirming their commitments to building a better, more resilient, and peaceful world. Refer to the Prime Minister’s statement and the Minister of International Development’s statement to learn more. We thank Canada for its global leadership and look forward to continuing to work with the government to make progress towards the SDGs.
IDW continues to offer us the chance to broaden understandings, forge new partnerships, identify enduring challenges, and scope out new opportunities for hope and solutions. It is off the success of this week that we continue to speak loudly for the changes needed to end extreme poverty and its lasting impacts.
To continue taking action for #TheWorldWeNeed, follow along with us as we move forward our 2022 advocacy plan.
