Policy Updates

On May 10, 2024, more than 40 Canadian international cooperation organizations issued an open letter to the Canadian government to call for a response to the cross-cutting crisis in Haiti, foster greater coherence in Canada’s foreign policy, and better demonstrate Canada’s feminist approach to promoting peace and security.

The letter, addressed to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other top ministers and backed by representatives from Haitian civil society, presented recommendations for a resolute and lasting contribution to resolving the crisis in Haiti. Haiti’s ongoing political crisis has fostered an environment of violence, SGBV, food insecurity, and socio-economic insecurity.

The signatory organizations called on the Canadian government to champion Haiti’s cause by:

• Support the political transition process: Canada should recognize and support the recently sworn-in Transitional Presidential Council so that it can effectively implement the “Political Accord for a Peaceful and Orderly Transition” to restore constitutional normalcy and legal order. Canada should also insist on broad political representation of all segments of society, particularly women and youth;
• Stand against arms trafficking: Canada should encourage international responses and engage in advocacy with the US to stop arms trafficking to Haiti by providing the security forces with logistical and financial support to help restore public security; and
• Improve development and humanitarian assistance: Canada must reconsider the current project-based approach to development and humanitarian funding, which often fails to reach the most vulnerable people and most affected areas. Canada should work with CSOs to implement the triple nexus approach, combining interventions structured in the humanitarian, development, and peace fields as well as increase and diversify its funding to reach more affected sectors, including agriculture, health, protection of civilians, WASH, shelter, education, economic support, and more.

On May 9, 2024, USAID and the US State Department announced that they will provide an additional US$31 million to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

The additional funds are slated to assist the almost one million refugees who have fled Myanmar and have been living in crowded refugee camps for years. The assistance will include healthcare, WASH services, nutrition, and other live-saving protection. Particular focus will be on treating malnourished children through Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods.

Since the start of the refugee crisis, the US has provided almost U$2.4 billion for assistance to the region. US partners include UNHCR, IFRC, IOM, and UNICEF.

On May 3, 2024, Canada announced CAD65 million (US$48 million) in international assistance funding to Lebanon, including CAD38 million (US$28 million) in development assistance funding and CAD27 million (US$20 million) in humanitarian assistance funding.

The humanitarian assistance will help provide WASH services, health care including SRH services, and protection services including for survivors of SGBV.

The development funding includes:

• CAD20 million (US$15 million) to the UN FAO to improve the capacities of farmers and increase food security in response to climate change and economic shocks;
• CAD13 million (US$10 million) to UNDP to improve the economic security and prosperity of women-led micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises in sectors with high growth and export potential; and
• CAD5 million (US$4 million) to UN Women and UNDP to address barriers facing women’s representation in decision-making and leadership positions, specifically for women in parliament and municipal councils.

On May 2, 2024, the UK government responded to the ICAI, the UK’s aid watchdog, recommendations for tackling fraud in UK ODA funding.

The FCDO thanked ICAI for reviewing the UK's approach to combating fraud in ODA funding released earlier in 2024. The FCDO partially accepted ICAI’s first recommendation to take a more robust and proactive approach to anticipating fraud. The FCDO noted that it was actively exploring the cost-effectiveness of creating an FCDO Fraud Intelligence Unit and was expanding its Fraud Liaison Officers’ Network to strengthen oversight.

The FCDO also partially accepted the second recommendation to strengthen its fraud in its top 20 ODA recipient countries, noting that it will reinforce the mandatory annual assurance assessment across control and risk areas and expand its Fraud Liaison Officer's network.

The FCDO fully accepted the final two recommendations, which called for new fraud management guidance to be written for capital investments and to increase the Head of Mission’s oversight and accountability for fraud risks relating to centrally managed and other government programs.

On April 25, 2024, JICA finalized a loan agreement with the Turkish government, amounting to JPY60 billion (US$389 million), aimed at supporting the Emergency Earthquake Disaster Reconstruction Project to respond to the earthquake that struck southeastern Türkiye in February 2023, causing widespread damage to critical WASH infrastructure, housing, and emergency services.

The reconstruction project encompasses a wide range of initiatives, including the restoration of damaged infrastructure and the construction of new facilities. It will focus on rebuilding water and sewage systems, constructing local housing units, establishing emergency medical-care stations, and procuring new ambulances. The project aims to not only stabilize the lives of affected residents but also foster sustainable social and economic development in the impacted regions.

On April 16, 2024, UK Deputy Foreign Minister Andrew Mitchell announced an additional GBP100 million (US$119 million) in humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia.

The funding is slated to be used to support Ethiopia’s access to primary healthcare services, support communities in becoming more climate resilient, and provide help for people displaced due to drought and extreme weather.

The pledge was made at the UK co-hosted Ethiopia pledging conference with OCHA. Ethiopia is facing one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with over 21 million requiring assistance, 15 million people facing food insecurity, and 4 million people internally displaced.

On April 15, 2024, Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen participated in the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and its Neighbours, where he announced CAD132million (US$96 million) in international assistance funding to Sudan and neighbouring Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

The announcement included nearly CAD101 million (US$73 million) in humanitarian assistance and nearly CAD32 million (US$23 million) in development assistance amid the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan. The funding is slated to provide crisis-affected people with emergency health services, food and nutrition assistance, protection services for gender-based violence survivors, and other assistance including shelter, water, and sanitation services. The development assistance will support critical programming in SRHR and education infrastructure.

On April 4, 2024, Japan and Pakistan formalized additional grant agreements totaling approximately US$10 million for climate and hleath related projects.

Installation of Meteorological Radar in Sukkur City saw funding increase from JPY2 billion (US$13 million) to JPY2.8 billion (US$18 million). The grant Expansion of Maternal and Child Health Facilities in Sindh Province increased from JPY3.4 billion (US$22 million) to JPY4.1 billion (US$27 million). These adjustments reflected the necessity to address rising equipment costs and enhance the impact of these initiatives.

The meteorological radar project is slated to respond to Pakistan’s vulnerability to frequent natural disasters, including floods and landslides. With its geographical features making it prone to such calamities, Pakistan faces significant challenges in disaster management. The project aims to bolster the country’s disaster preparedness by installing a modern meteorological radar system in Sukkur City, located in Sindh Province. This upgrade will enhance Pakistan’s ability to monitor weather patterns accurately, issue timely warnings, and implement effective disaster risk reduction strategies.

The MNCH project is slated to address critical gaps in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in maternal and child health services. Pakistan’s healthcare system, especially in Sindh Province, faces challenges in providing adequate maternal and child care, leading to high maternal and infant mortality rates. The project focuses on establishing a new maternal and child health center and upgrading medical equipment at Liaquat University Hospital in Hyderabad, Sindh Province. By strengthening diagnostic and treatment capabilities, this initiative aims to improve healthcare access and outcomes for mothers and children in Pakistan, contributing to the country’s overall health system resilience and development.

On April 3, 2024, due to deepening humanitarian needs in Lebanon, USAID announced an additional US$67 million in assistance to the people of Lebanon and Syrian refugees in the region.

The resources are slated to provide food, WASH, health care, and psychosocial and humanitarian support.

The ongoing humanitarian crises in the region have been exacerbated by the conflict in Gaza, which has internally displaced 91,000 Lebanese people. Food assistance will be delivered through the WFP. Health services will be provided through International Medical Corps and Relief International.

USAID, which already has provided over US$202 million in food assistance in FYs 2022 and 2023, called upon other donors to help meet the needs of the most vulnerable as demand outpaces resources.

On April 3, 2024, Oxfam Canada reported that people in northern Gaza are surviving on an average of 245 calories of food per day and called on the Canadian government to put greater pressure on Israel to support critical international assistance access for civilians.

The availability of food for Gazans at the time of reporting represented less than 12% of the recommended daily intake needed and is resulting in an imminent famine in the region. The situation is exacerbated by Israeli blockades that prevent the majority of food trucks entering Gaza from reaching civilians.

Oxfam Canada’s Executive Director Lauren Ravon stated that Israel is ignoring both the International Court of Justice order to prevent genocide as well as recent UN Security Council resolutions. She asserted that Canada must step up its pressure by immediately suspending all arms export permits to Israel to secure an immediate ceasefire and prevent famine.

Oxfam called for a permanent ceasefire, the return of all hostages, and access to humanitarian assistance to restore nutritious food systems, health services, and water and sanitation infrastructure for Palestinian civilians.