Canada / Minister Oda announces new initiatives for Africa
OTTAWA, Canada, November 21, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Today, the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, announced 25 new initiatives to further Canada's support to Africa. Minister Oda referenced these projects in a recent speech delivered to African Heads of Missions meeting in Ottawa.
"Canada is proud to invest in Africa's future. These projects announced today reinforce our government's commitment to focused, accountable aid for Africa that delivers results and hope for Africa's poor and vulnerable," said Minister Oda. "Canada is focused on helping Africa fulfil its future potential with assistance that will strengthen country efforts towards a better life for all."
Within these 25 initiatives, Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is supporting 23 projects encompassing all of CIDA's thematic priority areas - Children and Youth, Food Security and Sustainable Economic Growth. Seven of these are multi-country projects supporting efforts to prevent the mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, further improving child health, or increasing the capacity of African Regional Technical Centres. The others are targeted to support work in a range of individual African countries by working with Canadian, international and African-based organizations. These initiatives will serve to:
help families increase their household income;
help farmers increase the productivity of their land and livestock;
improve water management;
empower youth leadership;
increase access to clean water and sanitation, -- increasing access to improved health care at the community level;
extend better nutrition and the delivery of vitamin A and iron supplements;
increase the training of health workers; and,
build 25 new maternal waiting homes.
The final two projects provide ongoing humanitarian assistance to address critical needs in Africa related to drought, conflict and displacement in some of the worst-affected areas of Sudan, South Sudan and Chad.
The announcements made today total more than $200 million, reflecting Canada's ongoing commitment to continue to respond to humanitarian needs, increase food security, improve health care, increase education and promote economic growth.
For more information:
Justin Broekema
Press Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation
Tel. 819-953-6238
Email: [email protected]
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Tel. 819-953-6534
Email: [email protected]
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Background
Today, the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, announced 25 initiatives furthering Canada's support to Africa. Minister Oda referenced these project in a recent speech delivered to African Heads of Missions meeting in Ottawa.
Supporting a range of country specific programs in each of CIDA thematic priority areas, Canada is supporting the following initiatives:
Family Strengthening Programme - Koulou (Mali)
Children and Youth, Economic Growth
SOS Children's Villages Canada ($266,461 over 3 years)
The aim is to improve the ability of poor families and communities in Koulou, Mali to increase their incomes and abilities in order to better meet the needs of vulnerable children. This project will assist 312 families to meet the basic needs of 900 children.
Building Community Resilience (Sudan)
Food Security
Canadian Red Cross Society ($3,587,500 over 4 years)
The goal is to improve the food security of 40,000 beneficiaries in eastern and southern Sudan through community-based agro-ecological interventions, enhanced livelihood skills and increased capacity, and engagement of youth.
Improved Food Security and Health for Farm Families (Kenya)
Food Security
Farmers Helping Farmers ($382,200 over 3 years)
This project will provide support to 200 small-scale farmers in low rainfall areas in Kenya to increase their agriculture production and productivity in order to achieve greater food security.
Youth Leadership, Empowerment and Development (YouthLEAD) Project (Sudan)
Children and Youth
UNICEF ($20,000,000 over 3 years)
The goal of the youthLEAD project is to help at-risk children and youth aged between 10 and 24 contribute to the socio-economic development, and the development of peace, within their communities in three in Sudan and three states in South Sudan.
Sustainable Food Security through Community-Based Livelihood Development and Water Harvesting (Sudan)
Food Security
Food and Agriculture Organization ($15,375,000 over 3 years)
This funding will help implement essential agricultural, livelihood, and water harvesting programs in Upper Nile and Jonglei states in South Sudan. The aim is to increase household food security amongst vulnerable populations and decrease local tensions surrounding water use.
Increasing Food Security in the Niayes and Casamance Regions (Senegal)
Food Security
Food and Agriculture Organization ($5,373,627 over 2 years)
This project will support production increases for vegetable and rice producers in Senegal's Niayes and Casamance regions. This funding will contribute to maintaining aid levels to Africa and to meeting commitments to agriculture made at the G8 Summit in L'Aquila in 2009.
Support to Agricultural Production in Senegal (Senegal)
Food Security
World Food Programme ($6,000,000)
This project will support small-scale fruit, vegetable and rice producers in food insecure areas of Senegal. The funding will contribute to maintaining aid levels to Africa and to meeting commitments to agriculture made at the G8 Summit in L'Aquila in 2009.
Support to Participatory Constitution Making (Zimbabwe)
Governance
UNDP ($2,000,000 over 2 years)
Canada's contribution will support public and media education, broad civic participation and the drafting of a new constitution in Zimbabwe.
Capacity Building in Budget Preparation and Execution for the Health Sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Children and Youth
World Bank ($4,300,000 over 3 years)
This funding support will complement and reinforce the DRC's ongoing efforts towards improving public financial management in the health sector.
Land Husbandry, Harvesting and Hillside Irrigation (Rwanda)
Food Security
World Bank ($9,000,000 over 4 years)
The project targets increased productivity and commercialization of hillside agriculture to enhance food security and livelihoods in rural Rwanda. This project contributes to Canada's G8 commitment made in 2009 in L'Aquilla for agriculture.
Water and Sanitation in Bonke (Ethiopia)
Children and Youth
HOPE International Development Agency ($515,000 over 12 months)
This initiative will increase access to safe and sustainable water supplies and sanitation for women, men, girls and boys in the Bonke district, with a view to improve their health and future well-being.
Ceegaag Water Development Project (Somalia)
Children and Youth
Somali Canadian Education and Rural Development Organization ($153,612 over 2 years)
The aim is to provide a source of potable water for 16,500 children, women and men and to strengthen capacity of local committees to manage this facility.
Inclusive Health Services in Tanzania (Tanzania)
Children and Youth
Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania ($6,000,000 over 6 years)
The goal is to provide comprehensive services to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable Tanzanians, particularly children and women living with disabilities in underserved communities.
Maziko: Nutrition Foundations for Mothers and Children (Malawi)
Children and Youth
CARE Canada ($6,500,000 over 4 years)
This project will aim to prevent malnutrition in two districts of the central region of Malawi by raising the awareness of good nutrition practices at the community and household level, improving understanding of good hygiene and prevention of childhood illnesses, and supporting women to improve food security and food diversity.
High-Impact Interventions for MNCH (Mozambique)
Children and Youth
Joint UN programme - United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF),World Food Programme (WFP), World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) ($20,000,000 over 4 years)
To reduce maternal, newborn and child morbidity and mortality in Mozambique, this initiative will increase the quality and use of preventive and curative services for adolescent girls, mothers, and newborns in the province of Zambezia. This will include training more than 240 maternal, newborn and child health nurses and building 25 maternal waiting homes.
Improving integrated Local Service Delivery Mozambique/Zambezia Province (Mozambique)
Children and Youth
Government of Mozambique, through the Zambezia Provincial Directorate of Health ($5,000,000 over 4 years)
This project aims to reduce maternal, newborn and child morbidity and mortality in Zambezia Province by improving the availability and quality of maternal, newborn and child health services in Zambezia and enhancing the institutional and financial management capacities of the Provincial Directorate of Health in Zambia.
In addition, Canada is supporting multi-country projects, all centred in African countries, to support efforts to prevent the mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, further improve child health, or to support increasing the capacity of African regional technical centres. These initiatives include:
Building Homes and Sustainable Communities in Sub-Saharan Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, Cameroon, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
Economic Growth, Children and Youth
Rooftops Canada ($5,000,000 over 5 years)
This project aims to reach 90,000 households, and more than 450,000 slum dwellers by building the capacity, efficiency and effectiveness of local partners to deliver housing support services as well as housing microfinance.
Afritac Phase III (Africa-wide)
Economic Growth
International Monetary Fund (IMF) / Africa Regional Technical Assistance Centres ($10,000,000)
AFRITACs has established three regional centres for technical assistance to respond to country-driven requests to help develop the capacity of national and regional public institutions to manage public finances better. Canada's support to this project is providing for two additional technical assistance centres (AFRITACs) to cover Southern Africa and parts of West Africa that are not currently covered. Through the AFRITACs, the IMF combines strategic technical assistance advice from its Headquarters with local expertise and on-the-ground capacity building. The activities of the centres take place in close cooperation with the African Development Bank and donor partners.
Building Microfinance Capacity and Sustainable Services for Rural Ghana and Mozambique (Ghana, Mozambique)
Economic Growth
Opportunity International Canada ($1,315,732 over 3 years)
The goal is to implement a program of building microfinance capacity and sustainable services for the rural areas in both countries.
Partnership for Enhancing Food and Economic Security for the Rural Poor (Ghana, Mozambique, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cambodia)
Food Security, Economic Growth
CHF ($3,970,255)
This program will provide improved food and economic security for 27,270 rural women, men and children in four African and one Asian country.
Towards and HIV-Free Generation: Enhancing the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in High Prevalence Countries (Multi-Country)
Children and Youth
World Health Organization ($20,000,000 over 5 years)
This project will aim to improve the access, quality and uptake of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission services by enhancing service delivery in health facilities and strengthening national programs and health systems in sub-Saharan Africa
Prevention and Treatment of HIV and Undernutrition in Infants and Young Children: Innovation in Integrated Service Delivery (Multi-Country)
Children and Youth, Food Security
UNICEF ($7,000,000 over 3 years)
This project seeks to implement innovative approaches to integrated service delivery in the areas of HIV and malnutrition, in sub-Saharan Africa, with the overall goal of reducing child mortality.
Transitioning to Sustainable Child Health Days (Multi-Country)
Children and Youth, Food Security
Helen Keller International ($10,000,000 over 12 months)
The overall goal is to deliver essential health services to support countries to transition towards institutionalized Child Health Days programs for infants 6 to11 months old and children 12 to 59 months old in Africa.
Finally, to address humanitarian needs in Africa, through the following two initiatives, CIDA is helping to address critical humanitarian needs related to drought, conflict and displacement in some of the worst-affected areas of Sudan, South Sudan and Chad.
Supporting humanitarian needs, Canada has responded to various partners for Africa including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Oxfam Québec, Oxfam Canada, World Relief Canada, World Vision Canada, the Canadian Red Cross Society, and Médecins Sans Frontières ($35,950,000 over 12 months). This funding will help meet the humanitarian needs related to drought, conflict and displacement in Sudan and eastern Chad. The amounts are as follows:
OCHA - $500,000
UNHCR - $6,000,000
WFP - $18,500,000
UNHAS - $1,500,000
ICRC - $2,500,000
Oxfam Quebec - $1,600,000
Oxfam Canada - $500,000
World Relief Canada - $1,000,000
World Vision Canada - $2,500,000
Canadian Red Cross Society - $750,000
Médecins Sans Frontières - $600,000
Canada is also supporting CARE Canada, Development and Peace, Médecins Sans Frontières, and Save the Children Canada to help meet humanitarian needs related to drought, conflict, and displacement in Sudan ($3,300,000 over 12 months). The funding amounts are as follows:
CARE Canada - $500,000
Development and Peace - $800,000
Médecins Sans Frontières - $1,000,000
Save the Children Canada - $1,000,000
These announcements made today total more than $200 million, reflecting Canada's ongoing commitment to continue to respond to humanitarian needs and avoid humanitarian crises by increasing food security, improving health care, increasing education and promoting economic growth.