“The future depends entirely on what each of us does every day; a movement is only people moving.”
- Gloria Steinem, American feminist, journalist, and activist
Recent executive orders signed in the United States to freeze all activities of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – with the exception of provision for some urgent humanitarian assistance – is sowing chaos, threatening livelihoods, and jeopardizing decades of progress toward the eradication of extreme poverty.
In a small hospital in rural Burundi, for instance, warehouses of food were locked, and medical supplies vanished without warning. American doctor Jennifer Furin is fighting to save malnourished children with dwindling supplies of therapeutic food. She has the impossible and unacceptable task of choosing who gets to eat and who does not.
The ask: We call on the government of Canada to sustain and increase the International Assistance Envelope in 2025 to solidify global leadership and address the ongoing global gaps in immunization, nutrition, and education worldwide to ensure a more stable, equitable, and prosperous world.
The United States is the largest funder of international assistance programming in the world, with USAID providing assistance to about 130 countries, including 42% of all global health funding worldwide. The rollback of funding has created an enormous vacuum with critical personnel, infrastructure, programming, and partnerships ending abruptly.
global impacts of halting USAID
President Trump’s orders have:
Halted programs that helped eradicate polio and smallpox, or provided HIV/AIDS treatment to 20 million people across Africa;
Cut 30% of funding for the Family Planning Association in Malawi, resulting in the closure of 35 clinics – putting sexual and reproductive health rights at risk;
Interrupted the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in over 50 countries, stalling the development of critically needed methods to immunize against, detect, and treat the world’s deadliest infectious disease;
Halted US-supported investigations and responses to outbreaks of diseases like Ebola, mpox and polio, leading to increased risks of outbreaks spreading regionally and globally.
efforts to end TB at risk
With USAID programs halted indefinitely, gaps will continue to grow across all the issue areas we advocate on and beyond. USAID is the largest bilateral donor in the fight to end TB, having invested more than US$ 4.7 billion to combat the airborne disease since 2000, which has saved more than 79 million lives. In 2023, USAID supported 5 million people to complete their TB treatment, which is an average of 11,000 people every day (figures are from the USAID TB report previously on their website and now taken down).
For example, in Cambodia alone, active case finding for TB has been halted, resulting in over 100,000 people missing out on TB screening. The halting of funding for critical TB services where people seek care, such as awareness raising, prevention, early screening and diagnosis, treatment, as well as supporting people throughout with mental health provisions, peer counselling, and nutritional support, poses grave risks to public health, threatening to undo years of progress made in TB elimination worldwide. With World Tuberculosis Day coming up on March 24th, it is more important than ever to raise awareness and advocate to stop TB!
Canada’s role
Canada has an enormous role to play to meet this moment and has both the diplomatic power and influence needed to mobilize other countries and institutions to come together and reject the notion that turning inward is the answer.
While Canada invests only a small amount of its wealth – less than 0.5% of the Gross National Income – in the fight to end global poverty, these contributions build momentum and leverage billions of dollars of investments from global partners. It is through our robust and growing International Assistance Envelope that Canada steps us as a global leader and influences others to invest.
With a new Prime Minister and a federal election on the horizon, this is the time to make sure the current and future government know that people in Canada care about the world.
Canada has several opportunities to make an enormous difference right now that will translate directly to impact through investment in critical lifesaving mechanisms and initiatives:
Investing in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance will ensure the immunization of over 500 million children, and to support the elimination of cervical cancer through vaccinations against the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Addressing the world’s urgent hunger and nutrition crisis by announcing commitments at March’s Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris will provide nourishing food to millions around the world.
Stepping up as the G7 President to make enormous strides toward solving the global education crisis by leading an initiative at the June’s G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta to ensure that all children living in emergencies have access to quality education.
The challenges on the horizon might feel daunting and a little overwhelming, but we must find compassion and care in community to take action to ensure Canada stands up in 2025 because #TogetherWeLead.
The ask: We call on the government of Canada to sustain and increase the International Assistance Envelope in 2025 to solidify global leadership and address the ongoing global gaps in immunization, nutrition, and education worldwide to ensure a more stable, equitable, and prosperous world.
latest campaign news
#FeedOurFuture:
During International Development Week, the Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen announced $360.6 million for Nutrition International (NI), a high-impact investment that will help put an end to the malnutrition crisis! This funding supports NI’s bold plan to improve millions of people’s lives. With an average return of $28 for every $1 invested, nutrition interventions offer some of the highest returns in global development. And with good nutrition, we know that children can better access education, and healthcare costs will decrease for both countries and individuals. Thank you to all our volunteers who have been advocating for investments in nutrition! This is a solid down payment on the $750 million we need for the Nutrition For Growth Summit.
[BBC] "The freezing of US humanitarian assistance has forced the closure of almost 80% of the emergency food kitchens set up to help people left destitute by Sudan's civil war, the BBC has learned.
Aid volunteers said the impact of President Donald Trump's executive order halting contributions from the US government's development organisation (USAID) for 90 days meant more than 1,100 communal kitchens had shut.
It is estimated that nearly two million people struggling to survive have been affected."
No matter what the political future looks like here in Canada or around the world, we know we can find comfort and solidarity together through our volunteer community. When we come together, raise our voices and take action, we can make change and create a better world for all.
That is why we are thrilled to invite Results Canada volunteers and Fellows to the Together We Lead!2025 Volunteer Retreat in Ottawa on May 31st and June 1st. At this exciting and free event, we come together as passionate advocates from across Canada for a weekend filled with learning, connection, and fun.
Come develop your skills in generating the political will to end extreme poverty through engaging sessions, inspiring discussions, and hands-on actions. Don’t miss this opportunity to grow your community with lasting friendships. Let’s lead together toward a better tomorrow!
We are excited to offer free admission for our volunteers and a bursary to help with costs associated with attending the Volunteer Retreat. We genuinely appreciate the dedication you bring as advocates and while a bursary may not cover all of your expenses, we hope that it will help with your travel and accommodation. Our goal is to ensure that you can focus on the experience of the retreat and the connections you make with each other.
This event is in English and is open to any Results Canada volunteer or Fellow. Not a volunteer yet? Join us and make a global impact today!
2. email your Member of Parliament
Many Members of Parliament (MPs) don’t believe that Canadians care about global issues. We know this isn’t true.
Advocates like you are among the thousands of Canadians who care about how we show up for our world. A recent survey found that 89% of Canadians feel it is important for Canada to be respected internationally. Another 81% of people believe it’s important for Canada to be seen as contributing its fair share to solving global problems, and that Canada engages and works to improve global problems respectively.
A federal election is coming soon. It could be next week, next month, or in the fall. Parliamentarians want to hear from their voters and constituents. Now is the time to let your MP know that you care about how Canada steps up to help solve global problems.
Email your MP today to tell them that you care about global issues and international development. Tell them why you advocate for people to have lifesaving vaccines, nutritious food, and quality education. We have power in numbers, and we must use our voices to let our MPs know that we care – and that they need to care, too.
Expert tip: Use the EPIC model to communicate your message to your MP effectively and confidently.
Watch our video series for tips and tricks on parliamentary engagement.
3. write a Letter to the Editor (LTE)
With Canada’s political landscape uncertain, and an election coming soon, now is the time to get vocal and active about global issues that matter, including filling gaps in the system that has been upended due to the United States drastically cutting aid. Explain how Canada can use its global influence to help mobilize support and solidarity from other countries and that now more than ever we can’t retreat domestically, we need to show leadership on the world stage.
Use examples like how investing in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance will ensure the immunization of over 500 million children, support the elimination of cervical cancer through vaccinations against the human papillomavirus (HPV) and boost global health security by standing ready to respond to 150 disease outbreaks. Let readers know how Canada can use its G7 Presidency this year to stand true to its value and global leadership by leading an initiative that ensures all children living in emergencies have access to quality education.
See all our resources to help you write your LTE, along with key dates, hashtags, tags and keywords found on our call-to-action page.
4. take action on World TB Day
Thanks to Results Canada volunteers like you, a record 52 monuments (and counting!) across the country will be lit up in red to raise awareness for tuberculosis (TB) on or around March 24th for World TB Day 🎉
This effort to raise awareness of TB as the world's deadliest infectious disease is more important than ever as global health budgets are being cut around the world and TB rates right here in Canada are rising. We stand in solidarity with the millions affected by TB every year, people like Himanshu. These lights serve as a call-to-action for decision-makers to take action to #EndTB at home and abroad.
take action now
Help raise awareness of the need to #EndTB now more than ever. Find the full list of monuments being lit up in red below. The monument will be lit up on the evening of March 24th unless otherwise indicated.
actions you can take:
Take a photo or selfie in front of a monument lit up in red. You can print off these signs to use as a prop for your photos! If you are not located near a monument or are unable to get to one, we encourage you take a picture with a sign.
Join Results volunteers in person on the evening of March 24th at meet-ups in some cities to amplify the call for Canada to do more to end TB at home and around the world – you can find the list here. Please contact action@resultscanada.ca for details!
Be sure to share your photo on social media with a message that #YesWeCanEndTB with strong political will and sustained investments and tag Results Canada, your Member of Parliament, and the Member of Parliament representing the location of the monument! For graphics and/or support, check our social media toolkit here.
Then upload your photos and videos to this folder for us to look back at all the great action you've taken and share throughout the year.
Volunteers across Canada are meeting up for World TB Day – join us! Toronto (ON) - 6PM onwards, at the Ted Rogers School of Management (register here!) Ottawa (ON) - 6:45PM onwards, at the Ottawa Sign (Byward Market) Montreal (QC) - 7PM onwards, at the Olympic Park Tower Calgary (AB) - meet at 6PM at the Southern Alberta Heritage Language Association Vancouver (BC) - TBD
