CIDA

CIDA’s Key Facts about the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund -are your charity’s donations being matched

Here is some information from CIDA with respect to their Haiti donation matching program
http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/acdi-cida/ACDI-CIDA.nsf/eng/JOS-114172324-U9P

Safety of Canadian Humanitarian Workers - important for people, reputation and funders

In 2009 I attended the Interaction Forum held in Washington, D.C.  The Interaction Forum is the largest gathering of US and international NGOS involved with international development.  I met some very interesting people and learned quite a lot.  One of the important themes of the conference is that security is increasingly important concern for charities doing international operations – security for your employees, expat workers, national staff and beneficiaries.  To summarize, for those who do not want to read more than one paragraph - aid organizations who don’t not take security seriously probably should be getting out of the humanitarian aid area.  Your employees will not want to work for you, funders will not want to fund you and you may be unnecessarily endangering the lives of national staff and beneficiaries.  I was reminded of this a couple of weeks ago when I reviewed a large CIDA draft contribution agreement - what was interesting was that in project conducted in a moderately dangerous country about 1/4 of the contribution agreement related to security and safety. 

CIDA press release on food security

Here is a CIDA press release on food security http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/acdi-cida/ACDI-CIDA.nsf/En/NAD-111881935-HMS?OpenDocument

Article by Lee Berthiaume on CIDA, Auditor General’s Report, Government Response and future of CIDA

Here is an interesting article by Lee Berthiaume in Embassy on CIDA http://embassymag.ca/page/view/cida-11-11-2009

Auditor General Report on the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) out

Here is the 2009 Fall Report of the Auditor General of Canada and Chapter 8—Strengthening Aid Effectiveness—Canadian International Development Agency which is located at http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_oag_200911_08_e_33209.html#hd3a

Bill C-300 Corporate Accountability of Mining, Oil and Gas Corporations in Developing Countries Act

The purpose of the proposed “Corporate Accountability of Mining, Oil and Gas Corporations in Developing Countries Act” is to “ensure that corporations engaged in mining, oil or gas activities and receiving support from the Government of Canada act in a manner consistent with international environmental best practices and with Canada’s commitments to international human rights standards.”  If you want to read the text of the proposed act see:  http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=3658424&Language=e&Mode=1&File=27#1 

Risk Mitigation and Corporate Social Responsibility in Africa Seminar

I will be making a presentation on Legal Structures for Canadian Companies Carrying out CSR Abroad at the Risk Mitigation and CSR in Africa Seminar which will be held in Toronto on Thursday October 22, 2009.  This full-day seminar is geared towards people doing business, or thinking of doing business, in Africa. The program is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, HATCH, MineAfrica, the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. 

For more information please see Risk_Mitigation_and_Corporate_Social_Responsibility_in_Africa_Seminar.pdf

Famine in Eastern and Sub-Saharan Africa

A number of NGOs have tried to spotlight the famine in Eastern and Sub-Saharan Africa and CIDA has just committed further funds to the problem.  Here is an article by Kevin McCort of CARE Canada http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/789516 “We must make famine in Africa personal”.  The Humanitarian Coalition has described it as a “perfect storm” at http://www.thehumanitariancoalition.ca/ 

CRA provides commentary on Gifts to Certain Charitable Organizations Outside Canada and IC84-3R5

CRA has provided some more detail on how organizations are included in Attachment to IC84-3R5, Gifts to Certain Charitable Organizations Outside Canada.  There are only about 5 organizations left on the list and perhaps this policy commentary will encourage the Canadian government, and especially CIDA and DFAIT, to consider adding a few more foreign charities to the list.

MANGO to deliver training in Ottawa in October for international development finance trainers

Mango (Management Accounting for Non Governmental Organizations) is a UK registered charity that works to strengthen the financial management of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs). It has a very good reputation for providing training and resources to international development organizations.  They are offering a 4 day course in Ottawa from Monday October 19, 2009 till Thu October 22, 2009 entitled Training for Finance Trainers: How to Take the Fear Out of Finance.  They identify that it will be most useful for “Qualified / experienced finance professionals whose work includes training others in finance”. 

CIDA Issues Paper on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and extractive sector (mining, oil)

Here is a CIDA Issues Paper on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and extractive sector (mining, oil).  Well worth reviewing for those interested in international development and the importance of natural resources.

CRA Releases Registered Charity Newsletter 32 - discusses new applications, T3010B, webinars,

Here is the latest CRA Registered Charity Newsletter # 32.  It includes an extensive discussion on applications for charity status and how to improve your application and avoid unnecessary delays.  It sets out the procedures that CRA will follow upon receiving a charity application. 

CIDA to initiate consultations in near future, according to Minister Bev Oda

In an article in Embassy Magazine CIDA Minister Bev Oda say that “she plans to hold extensive consultations over the coming months on how to make the agency work better.” 

Canada Announces “New Effective Approach to its International Assistance”

CIDA Minister Bev Oda announced today “A New Effective Approach to Canadian Aid”.  Here is the press release and below it is the speaking notes.  CIDA will be focusing on increasing food security, stimulating sustainable economic growth, and securing the future of children and youth.

CIDA announces partnership with Save the Children to fight Malaria and Pneumonia

CIDA announced today $20 million in funding for malaria and pneumonia treatment to Save the Children.  The press release notes that this will “will make a difference and directly benefit approximately 1,100,000 children under five. This initiative of Save The Children is expected to save up to 45,000 children’s lives.”

Global Philanthropy and Remittances 2009 Report from Canada - Remittances skyrocket

CIDA - Canadian International Development Agency

If one is interested in international development in Canada CIDA is hard to ignore, and one would not want to ignore CIDA, the Canadian International Development Agency.  It spends about 4 billion per year on international development in bilateral, multilateral and partnership areas.  In the last budget Canada will increase its ODA commitment by 8% this year, which although less than some would want, is a significant amount in these difficult times.  I have been looking for information on CIDA and I am finding it really hard to find that information.  Not sure what I am missing but I thought that I would blog a little about CIDA and see what I will find out.  For a government department spending $4 billion there is surprisingly little on the web, except that which is placed on the CIDA website, or information put out by organizations that receive substantial amounts of CIDA funding.  Even then the information is often very basic.

CIDA and Canadian Government Makes Major Investment in Preventing tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (TB) kills about 1.7 million people every year.  The Canadian government has just announced spending about 127 million to fight TB.

Alberta Council for Global Cooperation (ACGC) - Canadian National poll on Global poverty

In March 2009 the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation (ACGC), in partnership with the Wild Rose Foundation, had Angus Reid conduct a poll of Canadians.  Despite the global economic crisis, it appears that there is substantial support for various actors including federal and provincial governments, NGOs and others, tackling the issue of global poverty.  In the poll they found that 89% of Canadians say they believe “Canada should be addressing global poverty in some way, with three-in-ten (29%) actually placing global poverty as a higher priority than local issues.”

Canada Narrows Focus of Countries for CIDA Aid as part of Aid Effectiveness Agenda

Here is a press release from the Canadian government with respect to the 20 countries that will be the focus of Canadian bilateral (government to government) aid and they include: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Caribbean, Colombia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Mali, Mozambique, Pakistan, Peru, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Ukraine, Vietnam, West Bank/Gaza. 

Bev Oda, CIDA boss, answers questions and provides direction on aid in article with Embassy Magazine

In this article from Embassy Magazine entitled “Aid to Focus on Needs During Downturn: Oda”, Bev Oda, the Minister of International Cooperation who is responsible for CIDA provides some very interesting insights into questions that many have wondered about in terms of the direction of CIDA.  For those who want to understand CIDA this article is very useful.  The article by Lee Berthiaume covers many issues including why aid was not discussed in last budget, doubling aid to Africa, Food Aid Convention commitments, untying of aid, relative importance of Africa versus South America, and aid effectiveness.

Workshop on Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies (MSEE), and Crises- by CIDA and STC

This CIDA and Save the Children Canada workshop sounds really interesting on “Understanding and Using the Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies (MSEE), Chronic Crises and Early Reconstruction.”