Minister of International Development - Briefing book

May 2025
Published: September 3, 2025

Table of contents

1. Your role and responsibilities
   1. Strategic Overview
   2. Minister of International Development’s key portfolio responsibilities
   3. Upcoming ministerial high-level events
2. Background on the department and Crown Corporations
   1. The department at a glance
   2. The Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act
   3. The International Development Research Centre
   4. Deputy ministers and Assistant deputy ministers
   5. Organizational structure
   6. Network map
3. Key trends
   1. The international development landscape
4. Tools
   1. International development policy frame and overview of international development
   2. The International Assistance Envelope and the core development budget
5. Key issues
   1. Humanitarian assistance
   2. Global health
   3. Climate, environment and biodiversity
   4. Natural resources
   5. Food systems and nutrition
   6. Education
   7. The Sustainable Development Goals
   8. Canada’s G7 presidency
   9. The U.S. approach to foreign aid
6. Geographic overviews and key partners
   1. Indo-Pacific
   2. Americas
   3. Middle East
   4. Ukraine
   5. Africa
   6. Multilateral engagement in international development
   7. International financial institutions
   8. The Canadian international development sector

A. Your role and responsibilities 

1. Strategic Overview

Issue

• The challenges that developing countries face in their development – poverty, inequality, conflict, disasters, diseases – can have significant spillover effects globally and in Canada. By helping address these issues in the Global South, international development assistance (or official development assistance – ODA) contributes to Canadians’ national and economic security, prosperity and well-being.
• International development assistance is a key component of the Government of Canada’s wider foreign policy toolkit, providing an entry point to strengthen bilateral relations with other countries and promote and protect Canadian interests in multilateral forums. It supports the social and economic development of developing countries, humanitarian response, peace and security, and governance.
• The evolving geopolitical context, with its impact on global trade, security and multilateral relations will change how Canada and other donors deliver international development assistance and engage in key forums over the next few years.

Background

Evolving Landscape 

Since 2000, UN member states (including Canada) have adopted first the Millennium Development Goals and then the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These are global development frameworks that guide international cooperation.

After three decades of development progress, the compounding effects of conflicts, climate change, low economic growth, and the COVID-19 pandemic have stalled or reversed development gains. Extreme poverty has barely fallen since 2015; nearly 700 million people – 8.5% of the global population – currently live on less than US$2.15 per day. Developing countries are facing growing debt levels and shrinking fiscal space, limiting their capacity to invest in sustainable development. 3.3 billion people are living in countries where governments spend more on interest payments than on health or education. A lack of investment in these critical sectors can lead to instability, social unrest, and can contribute to the rise of violent extremism in some cases.

Developing countries are facing challenges in resourcing their economies and their development objectives. International development assistance from advanced and other economies is only one, albeit meaningful, piece of a larger basket of measures that can serve as a catalyst for economic growth and development. International development assistance is certainly not sufficient to address all gaps in funding. This situation means that much international attention continues to be dedicated to ways to mobilize additional sources of funding for developing countries’ needs.

International development assistance is evolving as the current era of acute competition and diminished space for cooperation takes shape. The geostrategic context will force traditional donors (among them Canada) to rethink how they deploy their international development assistance. In many cases, this includes a rethink of how it could more directly support national economic and security objectives.

Fiscal constraints and changing priorities have led to budget reductions for many donors, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden, while emerging donors such as China, India, Brazil, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia are growing in influence.

Your responsibilities

As Minister of International Development, you are responsible for shaping the Government’s international development agenda and delivering international assistance in a department that brings together foreign policy, trade and international development in an integrated manner. You will be focused on supporting sustainable development and poverty reduction in developing countries, as well as the Government of Canada’s response to humanitarian crises.

The Government of Canada’s international assistance offering also includes initiatives to advance peace, security and governance that will require your close collaboration with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This work complements the work of the Minister of International Trade, given that it helps strengthen and stabilize the economies of low and middle-income countries, thereby create opportunities for mutually beneficial trading partnerships.

Considerations

The Government of Canada's international assistance

Since 2017, the Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) has guided the delivery of the Government of Canada’s international development assistance. This policy focuses on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Based on preliminary data, the International Assistance Envelope, the main fiscal planning tool to support the federal government’s international assistance objectives, totals $7.89 billion in 2024-25, $6.24 billion of which is allocated to Global Affairs Canada.

In recent years, the government has used targets and commitments to prescribe how funds are directed. For example, the Feminist International Assistance Policy directed that 95% of bilateral international development assistance should integrate gender equality, of which 15% has gender equality as the main objective, and 50% to Sub-Saharan Africa. Major funding commitments were made in areas such as climate finance ($5.3 billion over 5 years), and global health ($1.4 billion annually with $700 million for sexual and reproductive health and rights).

Way forward in a changing development context

Choices made by the United States will affect how Canada and other donors provide their international development assistance and engage in key multilateral forums over the next few years. These choices include to severely reduce international development assistance and realign funding to better match the new administration’s stated goal to strengthen its own national power; rejecting the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals; and withdrawing from key multilateral organizations. Cessation, severe reductions or long delays to U.S. support could threaten the stability of entire countries or sectors within countries and will have a significant impact on the viability of the international multilateral aid architecture put in place since 1945.

As the Minister of International Development, Canada's G7 Presidency will add a new dimension to your role and be a major focus this year. Since the mid-2000s, the G7 has traditionally mobilized support and leadership in favour of major international development assistance initiatives. In the context of fiscal restraint, clarifying the G7’s development “offer” will remain important during Canada’s G7 presidency, including in terms of the broader strategic goal of engaging with emerging markets and developing countries, and of countering the alternative development “offers” of others.

2. Minister of International Development’s key portfolio responsibilities

Issue

• As the Minister of International Development, your role is to oversee the government’s development and humanitarian assistance investments, as part of a wider team of ministers focused on Canada’s role and influence in a dynamic global context.

Background

The Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act (2013) specifies that the Minister of International Development’s role is “to foster sustainable international development and poverty reduction in developing countries and to provide humanitarian assistance during crises.” 

The Act outlines that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has overall responsibility for conducting the external affairs of Canada, including international development, international trade and commerce. The Act specifies that the Minister of International Development’s role is to “assist the Minister [of Foreign Affairs] in carrying out his or her responsibilities relating to international development, poverty reduction and humanitarian assistance.” 

Supported by the Deputy Minister of International Development, your key responsibilities include: 

• Providing strategic direction for policy and programming on international development and humanitarian action, and working closely with other ministers in support of coherent Canadian action across the development-humanitarian-peace and security-trade landscape;
• Co-managing Canada’s International Assistance Envelope (IAE) together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Finance, including accountability for effectiveness and results;
• Tabling an annual report on the government’s Official Development Assistance activities in Parliament, as specified under the Official Development Assistance Accountability Act (2008);
• Reporting on the government’s international development assistance through an annual Statistical Report on International Assistance, the Departmental Plan, and the Departmental Results Report;
• Acting as Canada’s Governor to four regional development banks;
• Acting as the Minister responsible for the International Development Research Centre (IDRC); and,
• Working with the Minister of International Trade on matters related to Canada’s development finance institution, FinDev Canada.

You will work with other ministers, deputy ministers and senior officials across the department to implement the government’s international development assistance policy, promote the government’s priorities, and engage with Canadian international, regional, and local partners and stakeholders. You will work with other Cabinet colleagues to advance joint portfolio responsibilities.

Considerations

International Assistance Envelope (IAE)

The International Assistance Envelope is the government’s main fiscal planning tool to support the federal government’s international assistance activities. Based on preliminary data, in the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year, the total International Assistance Envelope is valued at $7.89 billion, of which $6.24 billion is allocated to Global Affairs Canada. The envelope includes 6 distinct funding pools: core development; humanitarian assistance; peace, security, and governance; support for international financial institutions; the crisis pool; and the strategic priorities fund. You have specific spending authorities for the International Assistance Envelope allocations related to the core development, humanitarian assistance, and international financial institutions funding pools.

Alongside the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Finance, who are co-managers of the International Assistance Envelope, you will exercise a leadership role in developing consensus on policy direction and the use of the crisis pool and strategic priorities fund.

Programming Responsibilities

You have an important role in guiding the allocation of the government’s international assistance funding based on Cabinet decisions and government priorities. Global Affairs Canada follows a due diligence assessment process for projects to ensure that they undergo a robust risk assessment, a gender-based analysis plus assessment (GBA+), and align with applicable regulatory and legislative frameworks including the Official Development Assistance Accountability Act (2008), the Impact Assessment Act (2019), and the Cabinet Directive on Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment.

Governorship of development banks

You are Canada’s Governor to the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank. These regional international financial institutions have been established to support international cooperation and help manage the global financial system. The Minister of Finance is Canada’s Governor to the other international financial institutions (the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank). As Canada’s Governor to some of the regional development banks, you are responsible for the oversight of, and engagement in these institutions, including their strategic policy direction, accountability, institutional effectiveness, and financial and programming decisions. Global Affairs Canada also holds executive director positions at each institution, meaning a senior official represents Canada, and other countries part of its constituency, in its daily operations and advocates for Canadian interests and policy priorities.

International Development Research Centre

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is a Crown corporation established by the International Development Research Centre Act (IDRC Act) of 1970. IDRC’s main objective is to promote research and innovation to support economic and social progress in developing countries, in alignment with Canada’s foreign policy and international development assistance goals. You are responsible for recommending appointments to the Board of Governors and approve compliance reports, including the IDRC’s annual report to Parliament, the Auditor General’s annual audit report of IDRC, and the annual report on IDRC’s administration of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. 

FinDev Canada

The Canadian development finance institution, FinDev Canada, was established in 2018 as a subsidiary of Export Development Canada, a Crown corporation. FinDev Canada has a mandate to provide, directly or indirectly, development financing and other forms of development support in emerging markets and developing countries in a manner that is consistent with the government’s international development assistance priorities. As per the Export Development Act, the Minister of International Trade is accountable for Export Development Canada but works in consultation with the Minister of International Development on matters related to FinDev Canada’s mandate.

3. Upcoming ministerial high-level events 

*Note: High-level events only. Subject to change after discussions with the Minister.  

Text version

UPCOMING MINISTERIAL HIGH-LEVEL EVENTS 

• June 2-3: Hamburg Sustainability Conference, Germany 
  • The conference will feature key forums on reshaping the international financial architecture, unleashing investments for the sustainable development goals, and leveraging transformation in cities, logistics, biodiversity, and artificial intelligence. The conference will bring together leaders from various sectors, including heads of state, ministers, business leaders, academics, and representatives from civil society and international organizations.
• June 15-17: G7 Summit, Kananaskis, Alberta 
  • G7 Leaders Summit hosted by Canada’s Prime Minister as Chair of the G7 for 2025.  Ministers sometimes form part of the Prime Minister’s delegation.
• June 25: Gavi Replenishment "Global Summit: Health and Prosperity through Immunisation" BOZAR, Brussels 
  • The Heads of the European Union and the Gates Foundation will co-host a high-level pledging summit in support of Gavi’s replenishment for its next five-year strategic period (2026–2030).
• June 30-July 3: Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), Seville, Spain
  • A high-level United Nations meeting to discuss ways to mobilize financing in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. Attendance of a number of heads of state/government and ministers anticipated.
• July 10-11: Ukraine Recovery Conference and the Ministerial Meeting of the Ukraine Multi-donor Coordination Platform, Rome, Italy 
  • Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 is a high-level annual political event dedicated to Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, reform progress for EU accession. URC brings together government, civil society, and private sector stakeholders. A Ministerial meeting of the Ukraine Donor Platform will be held on the margins.
• July 14-24: The United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) 2025 and High-level Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), New York City, United States 
  • The annual High-Level Political Forum on sustainable development is the central global platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• July 24-25: G20 – Development Working Group Ministerial Meeting, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, South Africa
  • Meeting of Development Ministers of G20 countries that will focus on the themes of the G20 Development Working Group: mobilizing finance for development and mobilizing the means of implementation; building resilience, reducing inequality, and eliminating poverty through social protection floors; and contributing to the debate on global public goods and promoting universal access to these goods; with the overall goal of catalysing achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
• August 4-8: The United Nations 3rd International Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), Turkmenistan
  • High-level meeting bringing together a diverse range of international partners and center around the LLDC Program of Action (2024-2034), which outlines an ambitious blueprint for transformative development in LLDCs.
• September 23-30: High Level Week of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), New York, United States 
  • UNGA takes place every year from September to December. High level week brings together heads of state or government, and senior officials from all UN Member States and the UN to discuss critical international issues. This year, high-level events are expected to mark the UN’s 80th anniversary.

B. Background on the department and Crown Corporations

1. The department at a glance

Issue

• The department is responsible for managing Canada’s foreign policy, trade, consular relations, and most of its international development assistance with a view to advancing the security and prosperity of Canadians. Since 2013, these functions exist under a single roof.
• The scope of the department’s mandate and footprint is wide, with over 13,000 active employees in Canada and abroad, and a total budget of $9.2 billion in fiscal year 2024-2025.

Background

What the Department Does 

At its core, the work of the department is geared towards Canada’s and Canadians’ security and prosperity through the management of the government’s relations with foreign governments, international organizations, and other stakeholders. The department is part of a broader ecosystem of other players who advance Canadian interests abroad, including other federal government departments, provinces and territories, and private citizens and businesses.

People and skills

Global Affairs Canada (GAC) employees have a range of skills and functions. Employees include foreign service officers, whose career is geared towards representing Canada in work related to diplomacy, trade promotion, international development assistance, and consular services. It also includes senior executives and heads of mission, who provide leadership at headquarters, in regional offices, and at Canada’s embassies, high commissions, consulates and trade offices abroad. There are approximately 1,350 foreign service officers and executives working abroad and in our regional offices. The work of representing Canada in the world is supported by approximately 5,500 locally engaged staff (these are employees hired under local labour laws). At headquarters, there are also approximately 6,500 staff comprising policy officers, programming specialists, communications specialists, and the legal, administrative, financial, and IT support staff needed to keep a complex organization running.

The department has 6 regional offices in Canada, notably to engage with Canadian businesses. They are located in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax.

The international platform

A unique aspect of the department’s work is its responsibility for the government’s presence abroad, which includes a portfolio of properties and assets around the world. Working in 181 missions in 112 countries, the department’s international platform supports the work abroad of other government departments, agencies, Crown corporations, provinces and foreign government partners co-located within Government of Canada mission premises. While some missions are more focused on tracking political developments, and some others have a trade promotion or international development assistance focus, all require office space, human resources, and material support often in complex operating environments.

Core work

A core part of the work of the department’s officials abroad concerns advocating and promoting Canada’s interests (as defined by the government). This takes place through building and maintaining bilateral and multilateral relationships; leading on global issues and negotiations; and encouraging respect for international law, including through the use of sanctions.

The department promotes expanded trade and investment for the benefit of all Canadians, including by fostering the success of Canadian exporters and innovators through the Trade Commissioner Service. It also works to safeguard an open rules-based global trading system, negotiate trade agreements, and manage international trade disputes.

In order to ensure the safety of Canadians abroad, the department provides travel information and consular services. This includes visits to places of detention; deployment of staff to evacuate Canadians in crisis situations (up 3.4 times over the past 5 years); and provision of emergency documentation.

The department also has legal responsibilities and is the principal source of advice on public international law as well as international trade and investment law, and treaty negotiation, for the government.

Various funding envelopes support the government’s international work, with total budget amounting to $9.2 billion in 2024-25. The most significant is the International Assistance Envelope of which GAC administers almost 80%. In 2024-25, this envelope was targeted towards: supporting poverty reduction; alleviating suffering in humanitarian crises; mitigating the impact of climate change; reinforcing opportunities for economic growth; promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment; and improving health and education outcomes. The envelope also supported activities that bolster peace and security, for example by countering violent extremism and terrorism, supporting the building of capacity to counter crime, and supporting peace operations and conflict management.

Considerations 

GAC has three Deputy Ministers and one Associate Deputy Minister, who work to support ministerial mandates. The department has recently undergone transformation efforts that include a new organizational structure and governance model, as part of a wider 3-year transformation agenda focused on 5 pillars: organizational culture, people, global presence, policy, and tool and processes. Currently at its midway point, this multi-year organizational transformation effort aims to position GAC as a best-in-class foreign affairs, international development, trade and consular services department where employees are proud to work and are equipped. This is in recognition that the department needs to evolve to better serve Canadians both at home and abroad, to face changing global contexts.

Twelve branches are headed by assistant deputy ministers, reporting to the deputy ministers. These assistant deputy ministers work with ministers, their own staff, and external partners to deliver on government priorities, with their responsibilities ranging from geographic regions to functional and corporate issues.

A departmental plan provides an overview of policy priorities, core responsibilities, planned results and associated resource requirements for the coming fiscal year. It is approved by the ministers and normally tabled in Parliament in February/March. The plan also presents the performance targets against which the department will report results. A departmental results report is then tabled in Parliament in the fall for the previous fiscal year.

The department’s total 2024-25 budget to date is $9.2 billion. This amount includes: 

• Operating costs: $2.4 billion
• Capital costs: $212.9 million
• Grants and contributions: $6.1 billion
• Locally engaged staff pension, insurance, social security programs: $113.0 million
• Statutory items (e.g., direct payments to international financial institutions; contributions to employee benefit plans): $389.0 million.

2. The Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act

3. The International Development Research Centre

Issue

• The Minister of International Development is designated, through an Order in Council, as the Minister responsible for the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
• Responsibilities include recommending appointments to the Board of Governors and approval of compliance reports, including an annual report to Parliament and Main Estimates submissions.

Background

Mandate

IDRC, a Crown corporation established in 1970 under the International Development Research Centre Act (IDRC Act), advances the Government of Canada’s foreign policy and international development assistance objectives. IDRC funds research and innovation to support economic and social progress in developing countries, aligning its efforts with the government’s strategic interests.

The IDRC advances objectives by funding research that strengthens capacity, fosters innovation, and drives evidence-based solutions for global challenges. The core mandate of the IDRC is defined in Section 4 (1) of the IDRC Act. It includes:

1. Enlisting the talents of natural and social scientists and technologists in Canada and other countries;
2. Assisting the developing regions in building research capabilities, innovative skills, and institutions required to solve their problems;
3. Encouraging the coordination of international development research; and,
4. Fostering cooperation in research on development problems between developed and developing regions for mutual benefit.

The IDRC maintains an international presence, establishes and engages allies on impediments to social and economic development, and supports research and innovation to drive prosperity in emerging markets.

The IDRC is governed by a Board of Governors, which includes the President, a Chairperson, and up to 12 additional governors. The Board sets the strategy, approves budgets, and ensures compliance with the IDRC Act. The Minister of International Development submits appointment recommendations for the Board of Governors.

Resources Overview

For 2025-2026, IDRC’s Main Estimates total $159.4 million, sourced from the International Assistance Envelope, which funds federal international assistance programs. This amount accounts for just over 2% of the Government of Canada’s International Assistance Envelope. From 2020-2024, IDRC positioned itself as a key applied research center by leveraging its parliamentary budget appropriation to establish funding partnerships with bilateral donors, including Global Affairs Canada, and foundations, raising an additional $426.6 million to support its work and advance the Government of Canada’s foreign policy goals.

As of February 2025, IDRC employs 374 staff globally, with headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario, and five regional offices in Amman (Jordan), Dakar (Senegal), Montevideo (Uruguay), Nairobi (Kenya), and New Delhi (India). This decentralized structure boosts local engagement, fosters expertise, and strengthens the Government of Canada’s international engagement.

Strategic Focus

IDRC’s Strategy 2030 focuses on three core objectives: 

• Investing in relevant and high-quality research.
• Applying research to real world use, driving both local and global results.
• Mobilizing alliances by securing funding from international donors and philanthropy to expand IDRC’s influence and reach.

Its five key program areas align with the Government of Canada’s current development priorities: 

• Climate-resilient food systems.
• Global health.
• Education and science.
• Democratic and inclusive governance.
• Sustainable, inclusive economies.

Cross-cutting themes include gender equality, climate action, and responsible artificial intelligence (AI).

Partnerships

IDRC’s focuses on strategic partnerships with researchers, policymakers, and public and private institutions to advance evidence-based research and knowledge.

Signature initiatives include the Artificial Intelligence for Development (AI4D) program, where IDRC partners with the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, philanthropic foundations, private sector entities like Google, and institutions such as the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS).

IDRC works closely with Global Affairs Canada on policy and programming areas of focus, such as Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar project, which amplifies diaspora voices and fosters the development and dissemination of research and knowledge.

4. Deputy ministers and Assistant deputy ministers

Deputy ministers

USS – David Morrison, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs 

On October 12, 2022, David Morrison was appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Prior to this, Mr. Morrison served as Deputy Minister of International Trade. He was also Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister (2019-2022), the Personal Representative of the Prime Minister for the G7 Summit (2018-2023) and held roles such as Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (2017-2019) and Assistant Deputy Minister of the Americas Branch at Global Affairs Canada (2013-2017).

Earlier, Mr. Morrison was Senior Vice-President at the former Canadian International Development Agency (2012-2013). He was also Executive Secretary of the UN Capital Development Fund (2008-2012) and Director of Communications at the UN Development Programme (2004-2008). He began his career with the UN Development Programme in North Korea and held various diplomatic and leadership roles.

Mr. Morrison holds a Master of Philosophy from Oxford and a BA from Yale.

DMT – Rob Stewart, Deputy Minister of International Trade 

Rob Stewart was appointed Deputy Minister of International Trade in October 2022. Before this, he served as Deputy Minister of Public Safety for three years, providing leadership on national security, community safety, and emergency management.

Mr. Stewart spent most of his career at the Department of Finance Canada, starting in 1993. He was the Government of Canada's finance deputy for the G7, G20 and the Financial Stability Board (2016-2019) and held roles such as Assistant Deputy Minister of International Trade and Finance (2010-2014) and Assistant Deputy Minister of Financial Sector Policy (2008-2010). Before joining the Department of Finance Canada, Mr. Stewart worked at Export Development Canada and in the Canadian sport system.

He holds a BA from Carleton University and an MBA from the University of Ottawa.

DME – Christopher MacLennan, Deputy Minister of International Development

Christopher MacLennan was appointed Deputy Minister of International Development in January 2022. Prior to his current role, he was the personal representative of the Prime Minister for the G20 Summit (2020-2024) and the Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (2020-2022). As Assistant Deputy Minister at Global Affairs Canada, he led Canada's international development assistance efforts and served as Canada’s G7 foreign affairs sous-sherpa (2017-2020).

Mr. MacLennan has held various roles in the Privy Council Office, including Acting Assistant Secretary for Priorities and Planning and Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy Innovation (2015-2017). He also held executive roles in the former Canadian International Development Agency, such as Director General, Health and Nutrition (2013-2015), and Director General, Thematic and Sectoral Policy Directorate (2009-2013).

Mr. MacLennan holds a Ph.D. from Western University, specializing in constitutional development and international human rights.

DMA – Sandra McCardell, Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs 

Sandra McCardell was appointed Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in July 2024. Prior to this, she was Assistant Deputy Minister of the International Affairs Branch of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). She has held several senior positions such as Assistant Deputy Minister of Europe, Arctic, Middle East, and Maghreb Branch at Global Affairs Canada (2020-2023) and Director General of the Middle East Bureau (2019-2020).

Ms. McCardell served as High Commissioner of Canada to South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Mauritius, and Madagascar (2015-2019), Ambassador of Canada to Morocco and Mauritania (2012-2015) and Ambassador of Canada to Libya (2009-2011). In line with her commitment to a healthy workplace, Sandra has been the co-champion for values and ethics at ECCC and champion for women at GAC (2020-2023).

Ms. McCardell holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta.

Assistant Deputy Ministers

Functional branches

CFM – Tara Denham, ADM, Emergency Management, Legal and Consular Affairs Branch and Senior Official for Hostage Affairs 

Tara Denham is the Assistant Deputy Minister of Emergency Management, Legal and Consular Affairs (CFM) & Senior Official for Hostage Affairs. Previously, Ms. Denham was the Director General for Human Rights, Freedoms and Inclusion at Global Affairs Canada and the Senior Official on cyber, digital and emerging technology policy issues.

IFM – Richard Arbeiter, ADM, International Security and Political Affairs Branch and Political Director 

Richard Arbeiter is currently the Political Director and Assistant Deputy Minister for International Security and Political Affairs. From 2018 to 2024, Mr. Arbeiter served as Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, New York.

RFM – Catherine Jobin, ADM, Strategy, Policy and Public Affairs Branch 

Catherine Jobin is Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategy, Policy and Public Affairs. Earlier in her career, Catherine worked at the Privy Council Office’s Priorities and Planning Secretariat, with the Canadian International Development Agency, and was posted at the Canadian Embassy to Afghanistan.

TFM – Sara Wilshaw, Senior ADM, International Trade Branch and Chief Trade Commissioner 

Sara Wilshaw is currently Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, International Trade and Chief Trade Commissioner. Prior to this, Ms. Wilshaw served as Director of Operations, Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat at the Privy Council Office.

YFM – Leslie Norton, ADM, International Assistance Partnerships and Programming Branch 

Leslie E. Norton is the Assistant Deputy Minister of the International Assistance Partnerships and Programming Branch. Prior to this, she was appointed Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

Geographic branches

EGM – Alexandre Lévêque, ADM, Europe, Middle East and Arctic Branch 

Alexandre Lévêque is the Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for Europe, the Middle East, and the Arctic. Previously, he was the Assistant Deputy Minister for Strategic Policy at Global Affairs Canada and Assistant Secretary to Cabinet at the Privy Council Office’s Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat. He also served as High Commissioner of Canada in Tanzania, with concurrent accreditation in the Republic of the Seychelles, and Ambassador to the Union of the Comoros.

NGM –Shalini Anand, ADM, Americas Branch 

Shalini Anand is the Assistant Deputy for the Americas. Prior to this, she was the Director General of the Trade and Export Controls Bureau, Trade Policy and Negotiations Branch. She served abroad during three postings in Asia, across foreign policy and trade promotion portfolios, including as Consul and head of the political section at the Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong.

OGM – Weldon Epp, ADM, Indo-Pacific Branch 

Weldon Epp is the Assistant Deputy Minister for Indo-Pacific. Prior to this, he was the Director General of the Northeast Asia Bureau. Abroad, he has served as Consul General in Guangzhou and in Shanghai, and has had assignments in Jakarta, Taipei, and Beijing.

WGM/GFM – Cheryl Urban, ADM, Africa Branch and ADM, Pan-geographic Affairs Branch 

Cheryl Urban is the Assistant Deputy Minister for Africa and Pan-Geographic Affairs branches. Prior to this, she was Director General for Economic Development, leading the department’s engagement with international financial institutions. Ms. Urban was also Director General of Corporate Planning, Performance and Risk Management; Program Director, Southeast Asia; and Policy Director with the Afghanistan Task Force, which included field assignments in Kabul and Kandahar.

Corporate branches

ACM – Stéphane Cousineau, Senior ADM, International Platform Branch 

Stéphane Cousineau is leading the International Platform Branch as Senior Assistant Deputy Minister since January 2022. Prior to this, he served as Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of Corporate Services at Shared Services Canada for nearly four years. His previous roles include Assistant Deputy Minister of Corporate Management Services and Chief Financial Officer at the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada.

SCM – Shirley Carruthers, ADM, People and Corporate Management Branch and Chief Financial Officer 

Shirley Carruthers is the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of the People and Corporate Management Branch, and Chief Financial Officer (CFO).  Between 2021 and 2023, Shirley occupied the position of ADM, Corporate Management and Services Sector, and CFO at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), where she was responsible for finance, human resources, information management, information technology, real property, and security.

Special bureaus

DMFT – Antoine Chevrier, Chief Transformation Officer 

Antoine Chevrier is the Chief Transformation Officer of the department. Prior to this, he was Director General for Pan-African Affairs and subsequently Assistant Deputy Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs at the Privy Council Office, before assuming the position of Assistant Deputy Minister for Sub-Saharan Africa.

DSMX – Daniel Desfossés, ADM, Summits Management Office 

Daniel Desfossés was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister, Summits Management Office. Prior to this, Mr. Desfossés served as Regional Director General for Québec and Atlantic at Environment and Climate Change Canada. He was also Director General Planning, Summits Management Office, for the 2018 G7 Summit, at Global Affairs Canada (2017-2019).

5. Organizational structure

Annex: Global Affairs Canada executive organizational structure (HQ)

Legend

ADM: Assistant Deputy Minister 

AADM: Associate Assistant Deputy Minister 

DG: Director General 

Departmental symbols: Conventions and designations

At Global Affairs Canada, designations for symbols are three letters, with four letters for subgroups and special groups.

• The first letter represents the branch it is associated with (e.g. for TFM Branch, all symbols within the branch will start with “T”).
• The second letter of a branch symbol designates if it is a
  • functional (F), e.g. RFM;
  • geographical (G), e.g. NGM; or,
  • corporate (C) unit, e.g. SCM.
• The third letter of any symbol is determined by the level or function of the symbol:
  • branch-level symbols will end with “M”;
  • bureau-level will end with “D”; and,
  • divisional-level will end with other alphabetical letters.
• Associate ADMs will typically have the same branch symbol, ending with an “A”, for associate (TFMA)

There are exceptions to the general rules for special bureaus (e.g. DMFT, JUS, VBD, etc.).

6. Network map

C. Key trends

1. The international development landscape

Issue

• After three decades of development progress across a number of indicators, the compounding effects of conflicts, climate change, low economic growth, and the COVID-19 pandemic have stalled or reversed these gains in many developing countries.
• Support for international development is in a state of flux globally. Fiscal constraints and changing priorities have led to budget reductions and changes in approach for many traditional donors, while emerging donors are growing in influence. There is an urgent need to mobilize all sources of financing (domestic and international, public and private) to meet developing countries’ evolving needs.
• The geostrategic context is forcing donors to rethink how they deploy their international development assistance, including to better support their own national economic and security objectives.

Background

Extreme poverty has barely fallen since 2015. According to the World Bank, the projection for global growth over the next five years is the lowest it has been in decades.¹

The number of conflicts globally is rising, with over 100 active conflicts in 2023 and over 100 million people forcibly displaced as a result. This has led to a corresponding increase in humanitarian need. The impacts of climate change are increasingly acute and extreme, leading to global tensions and disagreements as to “who pays”. Climate finance needs now represent a large portion of Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding.

Developing countries are facing growing debt levels and shrinking fiscal space, limiting their capacity to invest in sustainable development. 3.3 billion people are living in countries where governments spend more on interest payments than on health or education.² As a result, developing countries are advocating for increased access to concessional finance, greater international tax cooperation, and improvements to comprehensive debt frameworks.

The private sector plays a fundamental role in driving job creation, innovation, and economic growth in developing countries. Donors, like Canada, are using low-interest rates, or other concessions, to attract private investment in developing countries to support sustainable development. This approach is known as blended finance and helps reduce risks for private investors, making it more appealing for them to invest in areas that might otherwise be too risky or unprofitable. Bilateral development finance institutions, such as FinDev Canada, can also play a key role in creating a more attractive investment climate.

While ODA continues to be a key part of the development finance equation, including with respect to the provision of climate finance, it was never intended to single-handedly meet expanding global needs. Developing countries need to leverage additional flows, including domestic revenues and foreign direct investment, to address the growing financing gap to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For their part, Canada and other donors are increasingly looking to work with new partners, including the private sector, to unlock new sources of financing.

Considerations

Widespread budget reductions

The United States has historically been by far the world’s largest provider of ODA, providing US$64.7 billion in 2023 (30% of total OECD’s Development Assistance Committee ODA) compared to Germany ranking second with US$37.9 billion, and Canada ranking 6th with US$7.97 billion. The United States provided around 42% of total global humanitarian aid in 2024. Choices made by the current U.S. administration to severely reduce foreign aid funding and realign remaining funding to better match new foreign policy priorities are having profound impacts on countries and regions that have long relied on U.S. aid. These decisions will also affect how Canada and other donors provide their international development assistance and engage in key multilateral forums over the next few years. Other donors (i.e., United Kingdom, Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands) have also recently announced international development assistance budget reductions, leading to significant gaps and uncertainties for developing countries.

National interests, including economic security interests (supply chains, securing access to critical minerals, international trade terms) are increasingly prominent in considerations around how donors spend their international development assistance. This is driven by citizens demanding greater focus from their governments on the main issues affecting their security and prosperity – such as migration, transnational crime, and trade facilitation – and are looking to development assistance to contribute.

Pressure for reform

Many countries in the Global South are calling for reform of international development systems and institutions, pointing to long-standing structural inequities. There are increasing calls to concretely move away from outdated donor-recipient models toward more equitable partnerships framed by respect for context-specific priorities, mutual interests, and locally led development. The international financial architecture continues to be criticized for failing to respond adequately to the financial needs of developing countries.

Emerging donors

Emerging donors who do not abide by established standards for aid effectiveness are growing in influence and number. Donors such as [REDACTED] are providing developing countries with more options in terms of creditors and donor partners. [REDACTED].

Traditional donor countries continue to grapple with how to compete with alternative development models while advancing democratic values and development assistance standards based on transparency, respect for human rights, and local priorities.

D. Tools

1. International development policy frame and overview of international development

Issue

• International development assistance supports the social and economic development of developing countries, humanitarian response, and peace, security and governance. It is an instrument of soft power, and forms part of Canada’s suite of tools to engage with the world and address global challenges. The methods and priorities of development assistance are likely to continue to shift in coming years, as many donor countries, chiefly but not limited to the United States, significantly reduce their available funding and adjust their approaches in more overt pursuit of national interests.
• The government works with a variety of partners to deliver its international development assistance, including civil society organizations in Canada and in partner countries, local governments, private sector, multilateral and international organizations, and others. It contributes to development outcomes such as reducing poverty, advancing gender equality, improving health and education, and promoting peace and security.
• International development assistance is delivered alongside global trade and diplomacy efforts. As appropriate, the Government of Canada takes an integrated approach to delivering development, humanitarian, and peace, security and governance assistance.

Background

The government’s international development assistance is designed to achieve concrete results in support of Canadian priorities and partner country needs, in line with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and global agreements on development effectiveness. Since 2017, the delivery of Canada’s international development assistance has also been guided by the government’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) through six action areas: gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, human dignity (including humanitarian action), growth that works for everyone, environment and climate action, inclusive governance, and peace and security.

International assistance includes all financial resources provided by Canadian governments at all levels to support development in other (primarily developing) countries. In fiscal year 2023 to 2024, 83% of the Government of Canada’s international assistance was composed of Official Development Assistance (ODA); however, it also includes non-official development assistance flows in support of global peace, security, and governance programs.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC) is an international forum of many of the largest providers of development assistance. Canada reports ODA funding to the OECD-DAC. To be counted as ODA, funding must be administered with the promotion of the economic development and welfare of developing countries as its main objective.

The government also reports annually to Parliament on its ODA activities, as required by the Official Development Assistance Accountability Act (2008). As per the Act, ODA reported to Parliament must meet three criteria which align with the definition provided by the OECD-DAC: (1) contribute to poverty reduction; (2) take into account the perspectives of the poor; and (3) be consistent with international human rights standards. It may also be provided for the purposes of alleviating the effects of natural or artificial disasters or other emergencies occurring outside of Canada.

In 2023, Canada was the 6th largest OECD-DAC donor in terms of volume. The United States was by far the world’s largest provider of ODA, providing US$64.7 billion in 2023 (though this will diminish radically for 2025), compared to Germany – ranking second with US$37.9 billion.

Source: OECD-DAC

Considerations

Based on preliminary data, the International Assistance Envelope (IAE), the main fiscal planning tool to support the federal government’s international assistance objectives, totals $7.89 billion in fiscal year 2024 to 2025, of which $6.24 billion is allocated to Global Affairs Canada. The remainder is allocated to other government departments (Finance, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and Crown corporations including the International Development Research Centre and FinDev Canada).

Where funds are currently targeted

Currently, the government’s international development programs are focused in certain countries and regions that reflect historical decisions and bilateral relationships, as well as the ability to respond to local needs, alignment between Canadian and partner country priorities, and the availability and capacity of partner organizations to deliver programming. Typically, Canada works in lower-income countries to reduce poverty and promote human dignity, in middle-income countries to bolster sustainable economic growth, and in fragile and conflict-affected states to foster sustainable peace and prosperity.

Cumulatively, over the last five years, the top recipients of Canada’s international assistance have been Ukraine (mostly loans provided through the Department of Finance), Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Tanzania.

The government uses a range of financial instruments to transfer funds to partners who implement development projects. These include grants, contributions, contracts, and repayable contributions which can support innovative finance structures such as loans, loan guarantees, and others. Currently, the recipients of government funding transfers for international assistance are multilateral organizations (such as multilateral development banks, United Nations agencies), governments in a partner country, local and international organizations in a partner country, and Canadian organizations involved in work abroad.

The government is also engaged in mobilizing additional private funding in developing countries that help achieve the SDGs, including small, early-stage investments to support entrepreneurs and grow local businesses in high-risk sectors and/or regions.

The government uses a variety of channels and funding mechanisms to deliver its international assistance. Channels are the different avenues through which assistance is allocated. The three primary channels are bilateral programming, providing direct support to governments or delivered through international or local organizations in specific countries; multilateral programming, funding international institutions or multilateral development banks that pool resources from multiple donors; and partnerships, engaging Canadian civil society organizations, academic institutions, or the private sector to deliver assistance.

The choice of partner is driven by factors such as partner capacity to manage funds, achieve results, and reach targeted areas, as well as their timeframe for delivery and areas of expertise. Multilateral organizations can deliver large-scale programming quickly due to their ability to pool resources, as well as their expertise and significant on-the-ground presence. They are also particularly valuable in supporting hard-to-reach populations in areas of fragility and conflict.

Bilateral partnerships with other country governments allow the Government of Canada to target its assistance in specific regions and countries, strengthen its relationships with partner country host governments, and enhance its visibility.

Working with Canadian organizations can help the government to leverage Canadian expertise, resources, innovation, and relationships in other countries. It can also help provide visibility for Canada, including in countries where Canada’s bilateral presence is limited, and help bolster public support for international development. In all cases, involving local actors helps ensure programming is responsive to the needs and opportunities on the ground.

In fiscal year 2023 to 2024, 65% of Global Affairs Canada’s total international assistance was provided through multilateral organizations; Canadian organizations delivered 20%; and the remainder was delivered through foreign organizations (other governments, international private sector actors, international non-governmental organizations).

A snapshot of the International Development Assistance Portfolio

Specific targets and commitments have prescribed how international development assistance funds have been directed. Currently, this includes: the targets identified under the Feminist International Assistance Policy to direct 15% of bilateral international development assistance to initiatives that target gender equality, 95% to initiatives that integrate gender equality, and 50% to Sub-Saharan Africa; and major funding commitments such as climate finance ($5.3 billion from 2021 to 2026), and global health ($1.4 billion annually with $700 million for sexual and reproductive health and rights).

As a result, from fiscal years 2019 to 2020 and 2023 to 2024, the bulk of Canada’s international assistance resources have gone to health (with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights) (27%), climate change and biodiversity initiatives (17%), humanitarian assistance (17%), economic growth (11%), education (7%), inclusive governance (5%), peace and security (5%), and support for feminist movements and organizations that advance women and girl’s rights (4%). The government has also provided over $12 billion in economic support to Ukraine, through the Department of Finance.

2. The International Assistance Envelope and the core development budget 

Issue

• The International Assistance Envelope is the Government of Canada’s main fiscal planning tool to support the federal government’s international assistance activities, including the government’s work in support of social and economic welfare of developing countries, multilateral and regional organizations, and peace, security and governance efforts globally.
• The International Assistance Envelope is governed by a Cabinet-approved Management Framework, which provides eligibility criteria and guidance on the use of International Assistance Envelope resources.
• The Minister for International Development is one of three co-managing Ministers of the International Assistance Envelope, along with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Finance.

Background

The International Assistance Envelope accounts for programs and initiatives delivered through federal government departments and agencies. It is divided among six distinct thematic pools. The Minister for International Development, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Finance have authorities to implement initiatives and programs under these pools as shown below.

The objective and value of each pool is reflected below:

1. Core Development ($4.691 billion allocated in fiscal year 2024 to 2025): focuses on programs that support longer-term sustainable development and poverty reduction efforts, with most funding channelled towards low- and middle-income countries where the government engages;
2. International Humanitarian Assistance ($759 million allocated in fiscal year 2024 to 2025): provides support based on urgent needs in line with humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality and independence;
3. Peace, Security and Governance ($573 million allocated in fiscal year 2024 to 2025): supports Canadian and global peace, security and resilience responses to a range of potential threats. Funding from this pool is not limited to low- and middle-income countries;
4. International Financial Institutions ($1.464 billion allocated in fiscal year 2024 to 2025): contributes core funding to several International Financial Institutions (IFIs) which provide financial support, policy advice and capacity development to developing countries, to leverage new sources of financing for low- and middle-income countries, and to maintain Canada’s influence of the governance of IFIs. Canada is a shareholder in these institutions;
5. Crisis Pool ($200 million annual allocation): designed to provide timely and short-term responses to unforeseen international crises without disrupting investments in existing long-term programming; and
6. Strategic Priorities Fund ($200 million annual allocation): a reserve allocated at the discretion of the Prime Minister to promote government leadership on issues of global and Canadian concern through development, humanitarian, security and stabilization, foreign policy and economic prosperity initiatives.

The Minister for International Development leads the Core Development and International Humanitarian Assistance pools, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs leads the Peace, Security and Governance pool. The Minister for International Development and the Minister of Finance share responsibilities for the pool that relates to International Financial Institutions. The Crisis Pool can be accessed based on a joint request by the Minister for International Development and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and requires the approval of the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister. The Strategic Priorities Fund can be accessed by any Minister provided that proposals to use resources meet the eligibility criteria of the fund. Access to the fund requires the approval of the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister.

For fiscal year 2024 to 2025, the total International Assistance Envelope is forecasted at $7.89 billion, of which $6.24 billion is allocated to Global Affairs Canada. The allocations for fiscal year 2024 to 2025 for each of these pools are shown below.

While Global Affairs Canada is allocated the majority share of the International Assistance Envelope, other government departments including Finance Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Public Safety/the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Natural Resources Canada, and Crown corporations including the International Development Research Centre and FinDev Canada, receive International Assistance Envelope allocations.

International Assistance Envelope investments support both official development assistance and non-development assistance. Non-official development assistance activities funded by the International Assistance Envelope include peace and security activities, such as peacebuilding and conflict prevention, counterterrorism and anti-crime activities. The International Assistance Envelope does not support militaries or lethal assistance.

Considerations

In recent years, the International Assistance Envelope has allocated resources in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic and Ukraine. Outside of these resource allocations, the International Assistance Envelope still shows an upward trajectory since fiscal year 2015 to 2016, growing from $4.63 billion to an estimated $7.89 billion in fiscal year 2024 to 2025, [REDACTED].

[REDACTED] 

E. Key issues

1. Humanitarian assistance

Issue

• The Government of Canada responds to humanitarian needs through a global system of experienced partners, including United Nations agencies, the Red Cross, and Canadian and International non-governmental organizations to provide urgent assistance where and when it is needed most. Canada is a consistent humanitarian donor, ranking as the 13th largest in 2024. Humanitarian assistance supports global stability and reduces forced displacement.
• Driven by new and increasingly protracted conflicts and natural disasters, it is expected that over 307 million people will need humanitarian assistance in 2025.
• Despite waivers being issued for some urgent, life-saving humanitarian assistance, the United States’ Executive Order calling for a pause and review of its foreign aid has resulted in an international humanitarian system that is being increasingly challenged to meet rising needs. No other donors can fill the funding gap left by the United States and as such, humanitarian partners are making difficult reprioritization decisions and scaling back their activities.

Background

What is Humanitarian Assistance?

Humanitarian assistance focuses on saving lives, alleviating suffering and maintaining dignity in response to conflict and natural disasters. Its delivery is guided by four core principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. These principles ensure assistance is delivered based on need and create the space for humanitarian actors to access the most vulnerable people in highly complex conflict settings.

More Complex Humanitarian Landscape

The scope, scale, and complexity of humanitarian crises has grown significantly over the last decade, characterized by an increasing number of conflicts and continued prevalence of natural disasters, contributing to a record 123 million forcibly displaced persons around the world. Moreover, disregard for international humanitarian law in conflict settings is exacerbating the impact on civilians, and humanitarian actors increasingly find themselves under attack, complicating efforts to get aid to those who need it.

The United Nations has appealed for nearly $45 billion to respond to urgent humanitarian needs in 2025. However, the international system is struggling to keep up, and there are persistent and growing funding gaps. As the largest humanitarian donor, the United States represented 42% of the global share of humanitarian funding in 2024. Following the foreign aid freeze in January 2025, humanitarian programming has been severely impacted, including suspended contracts, staff layoffs, and in some cases, closures of offices, resulting in reduced reach and access to affected populations. Several other likeminded donors have also announced cuts to their humanitarian assistance budgets, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, adding further uncertainty to already challenged humanitarian system.

International Humanitarian System 

The department provides humanitarian assistance funding within a well-established global system via experienced partners from the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Support through this system improves efficiency and avoids duplication of effort; allows for a proportional, timely, coordinated and needs-based response based around consolidated and prioritized appeals; leverages the complementary roles of different humanitarian actors; and channels funding to experienced partners, not to national governments.

The Government of Canada’s Humanitarian Assistance 

While Global Affairs Canada’s humanitarian base budget is currently $609 million per fiscal year, the department’s annual humanitarian spending regularly exceeds that amount, augmented by funds from a variety of sources, including the Crisis Pool, fiscal framework (e.g. Budget 2024), and internal transfers. In fiscal year 2023 to 2024, the department provided $803 million in humanitarian assistance funding and ranked as the 13th largest donor overall in 2024. With annual average disbursements of over $900 million over the last five fiscal years, humanitarian assistance represents a significant and highly visible proportion of Canada’s official development assistance, supports global stability and reduces forced displacement.

The government has a robust toolkit with which to respond to humanitarian crises. Responses consist primarily of financial contributions to experienced partners to support their programming interventions. This includes the provision of emergency food and nutrition assistance, emergency health services, water, sanitation and hygiene support, shelter and non-food items, among other forms of support to vulnerable and crisis-affected populations. In fiscal year 2023 to 2024, Canada’s top funded humanitarian partners included:  

• World Food Programme – $182 million 
• International Committee of the Red Cross – $86 million 
• Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – $84 million 
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – $66 million 
• Canadian Foodgrains Bank – $25 million 

In response to rapid-onset emergencies, such as earthquakes or floods, the Government of Canada can also provide in-kind support such as relief supplies and medical assets from its stockpiles, the deployment of civilian experts, and the use of matching funds as a public engagement tool. Following large-scale natural disasters, it can also include the use of Canadian armed forces’ unique capabilities as a last resort when the ability to respond exceeds civilian capacity.  

Shaping Global Humanitarian Policy

The government is engaged at the global level to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the international humanitarian system by leveraging its influence on the governance mechanisms of key United Nations humanitarian partners. It also works constructively through various multilateral fora, including as a signatory to the Grand Bargain, a multi-stakeholder agreement which aims to improve the impact of humanitarian action. Finally, it also advocates for compliance with International Humanitarian Law in conflict, and for the protection of civilians.

Considerations

The government continues to respond to large-scale and deteriorating humanitarian situations. For example, so far in 2025, it has committed the following in humanitarian assistance funding:  

• $64 million to meet humanitarian needs in Sudan, as well as over $103 million for neighbouring countries impacted by the Sudan crisis, including the Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda;
• $75 million to address the urgent needs in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as over $41 million to those affected in Lebanon; and,
• Over $17 million to respond to urgent needs in Haiti.

2. Global health

Issue

• Achieving progress in global health is critical to poverty reduction, economic growth and advancing gender equality. International collaboration on global health security keeps Canadians and people around the world safe from infectious disease threats.
• For over 20 years, improving health outcomes in developing countries has been a cornerstone of the Government of Canada’s international development assistance, particularly on reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition.
• Progress is threatened, including by domestic financing gaps in developing countries, aggravated by rising debt burdens, U.S. policy shifts and broader reductions in international development assistance globally. There are opportunities to enhance efficiencies across the global health ecosystem and strengthen country ownership to reduce the risks of dependency on international development assistance.

Background

Over the past three decades, there has been significant progress in global health. This includes a 59% reduction in under-5 mortality; a 99% reduction in polio cases; as well as a 70% reduction in AIDS-related deaths. At the same time, close to 300,000 women still die annually in childbirth, 14.5 million children are unvaccinated against childhood illnesses, 260 million women in developing countries have an unmet need for contraception, and the world remains vulnerable to the increasing threat of pandemics. Conflict, climate change and environmental degradation, inequality and financing gaps remain key challenges for sustained progress.

The Government of Canada is the 6th largest donor to global health and nutrition, allocating an average of 19% (2019 to 2023) of its Official Development Assistance (ODA) to health-related programs. Since 2010, the government has been a champion of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition. The 10-Year Commitment to Global Health and Rights (10YC) (2020 to 2030) builds on the Muskoka Initiative for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (2010 to 2020), and includes support for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), including the underfunded areas of SRHR. This includes family planning, advocacy, comprehensive sexuality education, access to safe abortion and post-abortion care, and prevention and response to sexual and of gender-based violence. The government has invested in coordinated international efforts to prevent and control infectious diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and polio.

Global health programming is largely channeled through multilateral and global health partnerships (66% in fiscal year 2023 to 2024) which leverage cost-effective interventions, including through market shaping and public-private sector partnerships based on pooled demand, drive and scale up innovations, and achieve results at scale. In that same year, approximately 21% of the government’s global health portfolio under the 10YC was channeled to Canadian civil society organizations.

COVID-19 underscored the importance of strengthening equitable and resilient health systems and core public health capacities to stop outbreaks before a pandemic starts. In addition to 10-Year Commitment to Global Health and Rights funding, the government mobilized over $3.5 billion as part of its COVID-19 international development assistance response and played a key role in the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, a multilateral partnership to increase equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments. The government has helped to enhance global pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response capacities through investments in the Pandemic Fund, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance’s African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. It has also actively contributed to international negotiations to strengthen international legal frameworks for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.

Considerations

Recent international development assistance cuts by traditional donors, including U.S. policy shifts in global health, will have significant impacts. The U.S. intent to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) will impact the organization’s work, particularly in emergency operations and infectious disease programs, undermining global health security. The reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits organizations from receiving funding from the U.S. government if they provide, advocate for, or refer to safe abortion services, will put the reproductive health needs of women and girls at greater risk.

The extent of U.S. funding cuts and their impact on health services at the country level is still unclear. However, as all of the key global health partners are expected to be impacted by the cuts, they are thinking through how to prioritize their work, find efficiencies with others, and encourage greater country ownership. The current crisis is renewing interest in calls for an evolution of the current global health ecosystem, most recently through the Lusaka Agenda, a process in which the Government of Canada has played a leadership role. African countries, which are the primary beneficiaries of development assistance for health, have a key role to play in these discussions, and in accelerating reforms to their own health systems, including increasing domestic financing for health.

The expected reduction in global health funding will occur at a time when key global health partners are undertaking funding replenishments. These include the Pandemic Fund (April 2025), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (June 2025 and for which the Government of Canada already announced a pledge of $675 million), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (September 2025), and the Global Financing Facility for Women’s Children’s and Adolescent Health (2026).

Health financing, including domestic health financing, pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, vaccine equity, expanding access to universal health coverage, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition and combatting infectious diseases have all featured prominently in various G7 and G20 discussions.

Top 20 recipients of Canadian global health international assistance for fiscal year 2023 to 2024

3. Climate, environment and biodiversity

Issue

• The world’s poor and vulnerable in low- and middle-income countries are particularly affected by the impacts of climate change, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. Rising temperatures, more frequent and intense weather events, ecosystem degradation and resource scarcity are intensifying poverty, inequality and food insecurity, and in some cases leading to displacement and exacerbating conflict.
• Developing countries have called on developed countries to take the lead in financing action to reduce further climate change and protect biodiversity as a matter of equity, given most historical greenhouse gas emissions were generated by Europe, North America and Japan.
• Canada and other developed countries have acknowledged these demands, committing to reducing emissions in their own countries and to providing finance and technical assistance to help developing countries address the impacts of climate change and to pay for associated “loss and damage”. These commitments are captured as obligations in a series of multilateral environmental treaties.

Background

Global greenhouse gas emissions and temperatures are rising, leading to more intense and frequent wildfires, hurricanes, floods and droughts, which increase displacement and push millions of people into extreme poverty and making life more difficult for those who are already poor.¹ As land is rendered uninhabitable, livelihoods are disappearing (e.g. traditional herding in northern Kenya). In 2024, natural disasters and severe weather events resulted in $417 billion in economic losses globally.² Between 2010 and 2020, the global net loss in forests was approximately 4.7 million hectares per year, including substantial losses in tropical forests.³ The annual value of global crop output at risk due to pollinator loss is US$235 to US$577.⁴ Reduced access to natural resources and the increased stress of extreme weather are exacerbating conflicts around the world, making them more difficult to resolve.

Considerations

What Canada does

For over four decades, Canada has supported developing countries to build more sustainable economies that are resilient to weather- and nature-related shocks, are powered by clean and reliable energy and minimize impacts on biodiversity. This has included, for example, helping farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia adopt improved irrigation and drought-resilient agricultural practices, supporting developing countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to improve clean energy infrastructure and working with local communities in coastal Africa to preserve and restore mangroves to protect against sea level rise and support local livelihoods, including in fisheries.

Canada provides finance for climate and biodiversity in both integrated and standalone ways. Since 2010, Canada has provided over $9.15 billion in dedicated funding for international climate action. In 2023, Canada announced its $350 million International Biodiversity Program (2023-2026), which funds the multi-donor Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (Canada is the top donor) and individual projects to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.

Canada works with a range of partners to advance climate, environment and biodiversity initiatives, from Canadian civil society organizations and Indigenous organizations, which support community and national efforts, to multilateral institutions, such as agencies of the United Nations or the Multilateral Development Banks and global funds, which deliver programming at larger scales and in partnership with the private sector.

The G7

This year, the proposed agenda for the G7 Presidency includes wildfire prevention and recovery, supported in part by climate and biodiversity finance. In addition, it is proposed that the G7 Presidency address resilient critical mineral supply chains, building on the Canada-led Sustainable Critical Minerals Alliance to promote sustainable mining practices. The dependency of the clean energy transition on critical minerals and a forecasted concentration of minerals production in developing countries present a leadership opportunity for Canada, a mining nation with a global footprint.

Shifting Global Dynamics

At a meeting of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in November 2024 (COP29), countries agreed to a new target of at least US$300 billion per year in climate finance for developing countries, and US$1.3 trillion from all actors (including the private sector) by 2035. The change in the U.S. position on climate, which provided US$4.3 billion in climate finance in 2022, has created a major funding gap. China, the self-appointed leader of developing countries, is already signalling an ambition to take on global leadership for responding to climate change.  

Canadian clean tech

Canadian companies have export capabilities in clean tech, climate solutions and nature conservation/restoration. Canada’s leading clean technologies include: renewable energy; water and wastewater management; energy storage; energy efficiency; smart grids; hydrogen technologies; carbon capture, utilization and storage; and waste-to-energy/value. Global Affairs Canada supports Canadian companies to connect with procurement opportunities at international financial institutions, including funds that use the government’s climate finance.

4. Natural resources

Issue

• The government supports resource-rich developing countries in managing their natural resources¹ responsibly to help drive sustainable economic growth, job creation, revenue generation, infrastructure investment, supply chain security, and poverty reduction.
• As demand grows for natural resources, including critical minerals, so do opportunities and challenges for trade and investment, with the potential to drive local economic growth and public revenues in both developed and developing countries, and to reduce dependency on foreign aid.
• Canada has a significant mining presence abroad and a long-standing history of supporting the sector through its international development assistance. [REDACTED].

Background

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) predicts that global natural resource consumption will increase by 60% by 2060, compared to 2020 levels. For critical minerals —such as cobalt, lithium, nickel, and copper—demand is expected to triple by 2030 and quadruple by 2040, according to the International Energy Agency. These minerals are essential for clean energy technologies like solar panels, semiconductors, and electric vehicles, while also playing a strategic role in digital transformation, defense, and global supply chain security.

Despite Canada's rich endowment of natural resources, including critical minerals, domestic production alone is insufficient to meet demand. Significant untapped reserves exist in resource-rich developing nations (Graph 1) particularly in Africa and Latin America. A recent UN report highlighted a sharp rise in foreign direct investment in critical minerals, increasing from $13.1 billion in 2021 to $57.9 billion in 2023—three-quarters of which went to developing economies.

Graph 1: Major mineral deposits of the world 

Source: U.S. Geological Survey 

Most developing countries face major hurdles in natural resources management. Investments at the exploration stage are impeded by weak governance, poor infrastructure and logistics, low value addition, and limited expertise, while foreign powers like China often secure lucrative resource concessions through non-transparent agreements. Natural resources operations suffer from lax regulations, environmental damage, and minimal local benefits. Most countries export raw minerals without adding value in-country, making them vulnerable to price swings and limiting economic returns. It is estimated that 45 million people depend on artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) for their livelihood, contributing to critical minerals supply (25% of the tantalum and 25% of the tin that goes into modern electronic goods) and 20% of gold globally. ASM often contributes to environmental degradation, insecurity, conflict financing, and human rights abuses. This underscores the growing importance of international development assistance as an important tool to secure supply chains, and support development objectives, including by driving local economic growth, supporting effective public financial management, and reducing poverty.

Over the past 15 years, Global Affairs Canada has provided about $765 million of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the natural resources sector, although there has been a sharp decrease in funding in the past 10 years. A Formative Evaluation of Canada’s International Development on Extractives and Sustainable Development (2011 to 2017) found that natural resource programming enhanced transparency and accountability and built capacity at the national and subnational levels.

This programming helped governments recover millions of dollars in extractives revenues, implement transparency and accountability measures and increase the involvement of local communities in decision making. Overall, these investments have contributed to sustainable natural resource management and progress toward the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition, the government contributes to and participates in the work of key multilateral organizations including the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development (IGF), the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPI).

Considerations

Canada has a significant mining presence abroad, with more than 750 Canadian Mining Assets valued at $220 billion in the extractive sector. In 2023, Canadian companies operated in over 95 foreign countries, most of them in emerging economies and developing countries.

The Government of Canada expects Canadian companies operating abroad to uphold human rights, engage transparently with host governments and local communities, and adhere to high standards. Companies are encouraged to adopt recognized guidelines on responsible business conduct.

In the context of the G7 and G20, supply chain resiliency and security continue to be a priority, including through the G7 Resilient and Inclusive Supply Chain Enhancement Partnership (RISE) and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII).

[REDACTED] 

5. Food systems and nutrition

Issue  

• Food systems are failing to provide food security and nutritious diets in many developing countries. Overall, latest estimates show up to 757 million people faced hunger in 2023. 
• A sustainable food system delivers food security and nutrition for all, while addressing complex issues like hunger, climate change, diet-related noncommunicable diseases, biodiversity loss and gender inequality. Strengthening food systems is essential for achieving many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The Government of Canada supports interventions in agriculture, nutrition and food systems to address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition and strengthen resilience in agriculture and food systems for the poorest and most vulnerable. 

Background  

Food systems, encompassing everything from production to consumption, are major drivers of economic growth, trade, employment and health in developing countries. But they can have negative impacts on soil health, cause land degradation, biodiversity loss and deforestation. Agriculture and rural livelihoods in developing countries are particularly vulnerable to climate and economic shocks. Food systems, while responsible for up to one third of global greenhouse gas emissions, have the potential to offer climate solutions through sustainable land use.

The global food crisis is worsening, with 757 million people facing hunger in 2023, more than a 100 million increase since 2020. Globally, 3.1 billion people still cannot afford a healthy diet. Malnutrition contributes to nearly half of all deaths in children under 5, with 148 million stunted and 45 million wasted.¹ Women and girls are disproportionately vulnerable, often eating the least and last in their households.

Global Hunger Trends (2005 to 2023)² 

Source: FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO. 2024. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024 – Financing to end hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms. Rome. Data within Annex A of https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cd1254en 

Considerations  

Funding 

The Government of Canada has different funding envelopes, including climate finance and health commitments, from which it can fund food and nutrition initiatives of partners. Important emphasis is on improving nutrition and strengthening the resilience of agri-food systems to improve food security.  

Global Affairs Canada supports significant investments in food systems, having disbursed $678 million in fiscal year 2023 - 2024 for agriculture, forestry, nutrition, value-chain development and agri-food trade. The International Assistance Innovation Program, launched in 2018, is responsible for most of the growth in this area; almost 40% of its agriculture disbursements in fiscal year 2023 - 2024 were in the form of loans. Annually, Global Affairs Canada disburses about $100 million for nutrition-specific interventions and $1 billion for nutrition-sensitive initiatives.

Global Affairs Canada’s food system funding is disbursed through multilateral partners (66%) and Canadian civil society partners (27%), with the remainder to partner governments, local communities, and private sector.

Partnerships 

Global Affairs Canada supports key multilateral institutions working in this sector — the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), World Food Programme (WFP), and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Through its engagement on the governing bodies of these institutions, it promotes good governance, partnerships, and inclusive growth to support resilient and sustainable food systems and nutrition.  

Nutrition International, a Canadian-based international NGO, received a new funding commitment of $360.6 million over six years (2025-2031) to deliver critical nutrition support. In 2023-24, Nutrition International received $59 million, $44 million of which was specifically for food systems programming. Another $182 million was disbursed to 56 Canadian civil society organizations (CSOs) for food systems programming. La Société de coopération pour le développement international (SOCODEVI), Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) and World Vision Canada received another 25% collectively. Policy dialogue is mainly with the Canadian Food Security Policy Group, a coalition of forty CSOs, that continues to advocate for stronger prioritization of food security in Canada’s international development assistance.  

Emergency food and nutrition assistance is a key component of the Department’s humanitarian assistance portfolio and has received increased funding in recent years due to growing needs. Each year, the Department meets or exceeds its annual Food Assistance Convention commitment of $250 million through support to key food assistance partners, including the World Food Programme, and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

Policy dialogue 

Food security remains a global priority in policy dialogue and for the Global South. At the 2024 G20 Summit in Brazil, the Government of Canada joined the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty to work on the root causes of hunger, with efforts continuing under South Africa's 2025 G20 Presidency. The G7 has prioritized food security since 2009 and will continue this work under Canada’s 2025 G7 Presidency through the G7 Food Systems Working Group. The Government of Canada participated in the 2025 Paris Nutrition for Growth Summit where global partners announced over US$27 billion for nutrition through 2030. President Macron committed to prioritize nutrition during France’s 2026 G7 Presidency. The July 2025 United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake in Addis Ababa will focus on accelerating sustainable, inclusive and resilient food systems transformation.

The Government of Canada has also contributed to coordination, knowledge sharing and policy dialogue at key regional fora, including agri-food system initiatives of the African Union, Organization of American States (OAS), Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).  

Implication of United States’ policy shift

The United States was a major global food systems and nutrition donor. The current shift in its policy is expected to have significant negative impacts to global food security. Furthermore, its trade policies, such as tariffs on imported goods and countermeasures by other countries, could affect the cost and availability of nutritious foods in developing countries, further exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition.

6. Education

Issue

• Across the developing world, hundreds of millions of children remain out of school, and millions more in school are unable to read or do basic math by age 10. These learning gaps are worsened by a growing global skills gap, with a growing youth population lacking the ability to access jobs and take advantage of economic opportunities. Girls and the most marginalized children are disproportionately affected.
• Achieving progress in global education can help address the root causes of conflict and create new economic opportunities, making it a catalyst for poverty reduction and global stability.

Background

Today, over 251 million children and youth are out of school globally, the majority of which live in developing countries, including 129 million girls and 7 million refugee children, due to prolonged conflicts, climate crises, health shocks and generally, weak education systems in many countries. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of educational exclusion, with 32.6 million children of primary school age out of school. Children with disabilities are approximately 47% more likely to be out of primary school compared with children without disabilities. In conflict-affected countries, girls are twice as likely as boys to be out of school. For those in school, learning outcomes remain poor: 70% of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries cannot read and understand a simple text; in Sub-Saharan Africa this figure rises to 90%. This is further compounded by the fact that three-quarters of young people aged 15 to 24 lack the skills needed for employment.

Support to education has historically been seen by donors as a non-controversial way to foster stability, promote economic growth and serve as a catalyst for poverty reduction. Over the past three years (fiscal years 2022 to 2023 and 2024 to 2025), Global Affairs Canada has invested over $1.2 billion in education, allocating an average of 7.4% of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to this sector. The top 5 country partners in fiscal year 2024 to 2025 were Mozambique, Jordan, Mali, Tanzania and Bangladesh. While basic education has been the primary focus, there has been renewed interest to support skills development/technical and vocational education and training.

Programming partners include country governments, Canadian and multilateral organizations, notably the Global Partnership for Education, Education Cannot Wait, Generation Unlimited, Colleges and Institutes Canada, World University Services Canada and Aga Khan Foundation Canada. These investments boost literacy/numeracy, drive socio-economic growth and expand support for skills development/Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), enhancing employment opportunities particularly for marginalized youth. Additionally, the government supports the International Finance Facility for Education to leverage increased funding for education through innovative mechanisms including, donor guarantees and private sector mechanisms.

As the seventh largest donor to education, Global Affairs Canada’s investments have significantly improved access to quality education for children and youth, with the aim to eliminate barriers for girls, including early and forced child marriage, violence in and around schools, and female genital mutilation. These investments also focus on enhancing teacher training, curriculum reform, and skills development, boosting learning outcomes and employment opportunities. Achievements include enrolling 53 million learners in formal and non-formal education, and training 940,000 teachers.

Notable G7 initiatives include the government’s 2018 Charlevoix Education initiative, which secured $4.3 billion for girls’ education in crises, with Canada's funding supporting over 4 million girls' access to safe, quality learning. Similarly, the United Kingdom's 2021 G7 Presidency set targets to enroll 40 million more girls in school and ensure 20 million more can read by age 10 within five years.

Considerations

Recent cuts in international development funding by traditional donors, including the United States, are expected to have significant impacts. The United States, one of the largest donors to education, has contributed over $1 billion annually. However, uncertainty remains over continued support, with over 300 U.S. funded education initiatives already halted, disrupting education services especially for the hardest-to-reach populations. These cuts are sparking critical discussions about the current global education ecosystem, underscoring the urgent need for system reform in partner countries, and a significant increase in domestic financing for education. At the same time, reductions in global education funding are occurring just as key partners like the Global Partnership for Education (January 2026) and Education Cannot Wait (September 2026) are undertaking funding replenishments.

7. The Sustainable Development Goals

Issue

• The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a global development framework aimed at addressing global challenges like poverty, inequality, climate change, and peace and security, to create a sustainable, inclusive, and equitable world by 2030.

Background

The 2030 Agenda was adopted by UN Member States in September 2015. It is an ambitious global framework centered on a set of 17 interrelated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This agenda is universal, meaning that it applies to all countries, not just developing countries. Concurrent and overlapping crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the war on Ukraine and in the Middle East, along with the climate crisis have eroded sustainable development progress.

The Sustainable Development Goals 

National Framework 

Moving Forward Together, Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy, guides the Government of Canada’s implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Under the leadership of the Minister for Families, Children, and Social Development, the strategy aims to support whole-of-society engagement and participation in the SDGs, recognizing that everyone has a role in realizing sustainable development. The strategy is supported by a Canadian indicator framework to track progress on the SDGs, and a federal implementation plan that outlines key roles and responsibilities for Government of Canada departments and agencies. The government produces an annual report on its implementation of the strategy.

International Implementation and Engagement

The Government of Canada’s National Strategy guides its international implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Supporting policies and frameworks include the Feminist International Assistance Policy and the National Action Plan on Women Peace and Security. The Government of Canada’s international development assistance is designed to help foster sustainable development globally and to advance the SDGs. The government’s contributions to the implementation of the SDGs in developing countries are diverse and cover a range of sectors, including health, education, climate, food security, economic development, governance, and peace. A key part of international engagement on the 2030 Agenda is a follow-up and review mechanism called voluntary national reviews, which allow countries to share best practices and lessons learned in implementing the SDGs. The Government of Canada presented its first voluntary national review in 2018 and its second in 2023 at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Canada is scheduled to present its third voluntary national review in 2027.

Considerations

The government is making progress on all aspects of the SDGs through domestic and international action, including initiatives to eradicate poverty, advance gender equality, protect the planet, and improve equality, however challenges remain. Achieving progress against the SDGs also reinforces the government’s overarching objectives of strengthening a rules-based international system, supporting lasting peace and security, fostering prosperity, and advancing human rights, including diversity and inclusion and gender equality.

In 2022, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was appointed by the UN Secretary General to co-chair the SDG Advocates Group with Prime Minister Mottley of Barbados. The Advocates are 17 influential people raising global awareness of the Goals and the need for accelerated action. This role has provided opportunities for the Government of Canada to highlight its leadership and increase awareness and support for the 2030 Agenda.

In March 2025, the United States announced that it now rejects and denounces the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs and will no longer reaffirm them as a matter of course. Officials are closely tracking to what extent this decision will impact the ability of the international community to advance key elements of the multilateral agenda, including at this year’s Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development.

8. Canada’s G7 presidency

Issue

• During its G7 presidency, the Government oif Canada will work with its G7 partners on shared international development priorities, which could include topics such as financing for development, infrastructure, education, global health, economic growth, and the changing international development/aid architecture.
• [REDACTED].

Background

The G7

The G7 is an informal consensus-based grouping, established in 1975, that includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union Council and Commission (Russia joined in 1997 and was suspended in 2014, after it invaded Crimea). It is underpinned by shared values and advances shared economic and foreign policy interests by raising awareness, coordinating positions and catalyzing action.

Recent G7 achievements include the coordinated response to Russia’s war in Ukraine; COVID-19 vaccine delivery and investment in vaccine manufacturing capacity across developing world; and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) to mobilize US$600 billion by 2027 (2022). Signature G7 initiatives have been important features of previous Canadian presidencies. For instance, in 2018 the Charlevoix Declaration on Quality Education galvanized over US$4 billion for education for women and girls, the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism was created to counter foreign threats to democracy, and the Gender Equality Advisory Council was established to promote and integrate gender equality across the G7 agenda. In 2010, under the Muskoka Initiative, Canada and its global partners pledged more than US$7.3 billion to support Maternal, Newborn and Children Health, and committed to supporting Strengthening Civilian Security Systems initiatives to reduce conflict-related instability, protect civilians, and counter terrorism and transnational crime.

Canada’s G7 Presidency

Canada holds the Presidency of the G7 in 2025, marking the 50th anniversary of the group. The Prime Minister’s Personal Representative (Sherpa) for the G7 and G20 Summits is Deputy Minister Cindy Termorshuizen.

Canada’s G7 agenda is currently focused on three priorities: 

1. Making communities safe and the world secure, including fostering peace and security in Ukraine, countering foreign interference, addressing transnational crime, and fighting wildfires.
2. Promoting prosperity, including by driving energy security and the digital transition, including resilient critical mineral supply chains, promoting AI access and adoption and accelerating the development of quantum technologies.
3. Investing in partnerships of the future, including by helping mobilize the private sector, development finance institutions and multilateral development banks to support priorities like infrastructure development.

To deliver on this agenda, Canada will convene G7 Leaders in Kananaskis, Alberta on June 15 to 17. [REDACTED]. It hosted the foreign ministers’ meeting from March 12 to 14 in Charlevoix and will host the finance ministers’ meeting from May 20 to 22 in Banff. [REDACTED]. Most working groups will continue their collaboration at the technical level even if ministerial meetings are not planned.

Canada’s G7 Development Priorities

Officials of all G7 members are working together on an ongoing basis to support their respective Ministers responsible for International Development through the G7 Senior Development Officials (SDO) working group. Global Affairs Canada convened the first meetings of the G7 SDO in February, March and April 2025, and will continue on a regular monthly basis. Initial SDO meetings have focused on possible international development contributions to the Leaders’ Summit, and on strategic thematic discussions on the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), the future of international development/aid architecture, and G7/G20 crosswalks. Following the G7 leaders’ summit in June, SDO meetings would focus on the International Development Ministerial meeting preparations, including elaboration of key priorities and developing a detailed agenda. The Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, Food Security and the Accountability Working Groups are also active currently and will contribute to international development track planning, including by developing the Comprehensive Accountability Report. Ministers can include guest countries and organizations in their Ministerial meetings. No decisions on guest invitations have been taken at this time. Options (agenda, guests, initiatives) for an International Development Ministers’ Meeting will be presented for consideration in due course.

Considerations

International positions

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Summit and ministerial guests

The Prime Minister may invite a limited number of outreach partners to the Summit; to date, invitations to the Summit have been extended to the President of Ukraine [REDACTED]. Ministers may likewise include outreach partners in their ministerial meetings.

9. The U.S. approach to foreign aid

Issue

• An Executive Order issued on January 20, 2025, invoked a 90-day freeze on U.S. foreign aid and a review to align it with new U.S. foreign policy priorities. This review was extended for an additional 30 days (until May 19).
• In March, Secretary of State Rubio announced the cancellation of 83% of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) projects although final decisions on specific cuts and programs to be retained are still evolving. The administration plans to propose legislation to formally “abolish USAID as an independent establishment.” Implications for Canada will to some extent hinge on outcomes of the current phase of the U.S. review on future foreign aid priorities. There may be potential opportunities to partner with the United States in different ways, going forward.
• On May 3, a budget proposal was submitted to Congress for fiscal year 2026 which proposes significant budget cuts and to rescind funds previously approved, amounting to approximately an 84% reduction in U.S. international development funding.

Background

In 2023, the United States was the largest Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) member country provider of Official Development Assistance (ODA), at US$64.7 billion (30% of total DAC ODA). The United States provided around 42% of total global humanitarian aid in 2024. USAID’s program budget, estimated at more than US$43 billion in 2023, accounted for the majority of U.S. ODA spending.

In initially announcing the cancellation of 83% of USAID programs, Secretary of State Rubio indicated that these “did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States.” As well, about 40% of State Department foreign aid projects were reported to be eliminated. Lists provided to Congress and the Senate regarding specific USAID programs and projects that have been cut have been leaked to the media over recent weeks and indicate approximately 5,300 terminated USAID programs along with nearly 900 that are still active. However, questions remain about the completeness of the lists as well as the reliability of the data provided. Questions remain about the legality and constitutionality of an administration shuttering USAID as a federal agency created by an act of Congress, and a number of lawsuits have been filed and are in progress in response to the funding freeze, staffing cuts, and non-payment of contractors.

Exceptions to the U.S. funding freeze included emergency food assistance and life-saving humanitarian assistance. However, there has been confusion over what programs are exempted and flows of funds have been hampered in some cases by the U.S. government’s payment system.  

Further U.S. actions with impacts on foreign aid have included:  

• withdrawing from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNWRA), and the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC);
• actions related to sexual and reproductive health and rights in foreign assistance – i.e. reinstating the Mexico City Policy (prohibiting U.S. funding of organizations or programs providing abortion counseling or referrals, advocacy to decriminalize abortion, or expanding abortion services) and enforcing the Hyde Amendment (preventing U.S. federal government funding of elective abortion); and
• rolling back Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs across all departments.

A further review is underway of all international intergovernmental organizations of which the United States is a member and provides any type of funding or other support, and all conventions and treaties to which the United States is a party. The results may have implications for additional United Nations organizations and International Financial Institutions.

A comprehensive reorganization of the State Department to consolidate and reduce the number of bureaux and staff was recently announced. Earlier unofficial reports suggested that the new U.S. international development assistance architecture may be established with three pillars under the banner of safer, stronger and more prosperous: 1) The former USAID may become the U.S. Agency for International Humanitarian Assistance embedded in the State Department, focusing on humanitarian assistance, disaster response, global health, and food security; 2) The State Department may expand its work to focus democracy promotion, religious freedom, conflict prevention /stabilization, women’s empowerment, and civil society; and 3) The U.S. Development Finance Corporation may expand its focus to trade and investment, energy, infrastructure, technology and innovation, with the aim of creating U.S. jobs and the expansion of markets for U.S. firms. Additional details on the final aid architecture remain unclear pending official results of the foreign aid review.

A budget proposal to Congress for fiscal year 2026 would see a significant cut to international development assistance spending. In addition, the proposal signals that the White House will try to rescind billions of dollars that Congress already appropriated. If approved, the total would add up to a reduction of $49 billion or 84% in U.S. international development funding, putting the new funding level at just $9.6 billion per year. The budget also proposes the creation of a $2.9 billion “America First Opportunity Fund” to fund national security priorities. The U.S. Development Finance Corporation is slated to receive $2.8 billion more for a revolving fund which would allow it to keep and reinvest earning returns from its investments.

Considerations

Increased international development assistance funding by other donor countries to fill gaps left by U.S. cuts would be insufficient due to the sheer size and scope of previous U.S. foreign aid programming. In addition, there is a major shift in the international development assistance landscape with a growing number of donor countries (such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France) implementing significant reductions in international development budgets or adjusting strategic priorities. Increased engagement by non-likeminded countries such as China to fill funding gaps has potential geopolitical implications and could jeopardize efforts on issues such as human rights and democracy.

Implications for Global Affairs Canada (GAC) programs and implementing partners

U.S. foreign aid cuts have targeted previous administration priority areas such as climate action, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, and diversity and inclusion – which have also been central to the Government of Canada’s approach to international development. GAC has undertaken a preliminary assessment of the potential financial impacts on its top 30 Canadian partners and implementing organizations. Of these, the majority are either not impacted (no U.S. funding) or have only limited or indirect financial impact due to reduced local capacity (e.g. reliance on USAID’s networks and infrastructure to deliver a GAC-funded project). However, risks remain that expected results of GAC projects might not be fully achieved because complementary or enabling activities are no longer available or the cost increases. In addition, GAC implementing organizations also receiving U.S. support could be forced to shut down due to U.S. cuts or U.S. withdrawal from an entire sector could render a GAC project unviable.

Impacts to GAC funding agreements with the United States for international development programming were minimal with few projects affected. GAC funds remain to be returned from two suspended programs totaling about $1.04 million.

F. Geographic overviews and key partners

1. Indo-Pacific

Issue

• The Indo-Pacific region is a key driver of global economic growth and a central focus of geopolitical competition between great powers.
• Despite being a vital region for global economic growth, the Indo-Pacific faces challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.
• Canada has deep economic ties, strong people-to-people connections, and a Pacific identity that reinforces engagement in shaping a stable and prosperous region.

Background

The Indo-Pacific is the fastest growing economic region of the world and is responsible for almost two thirds of global growth over the last several years.

Nonetheless, the Indo-Pacific’s future will largely hinge on addressing its multifaceted challenges. International development assistance has helped position Canada as a key partner supporting democracy, rule of law, rules-based trade, peace and security, gender equality and action on climate change and the environment but there remains a significant infrastructure gap across much of the region. These efforts contribute to helping shape a stable and inclusive geopolitical landscape.

The Indo-Pacific region encompasses 40 countries and economies, over 4 billion people, and $47.19 trillion in economic activity, making it the world’s fastest-growing economic region. It represents more than one-third of global economic activity and is home to 3 of the world’s top 5 economies: China, India, and Japan. The region will account for more than half of global Gross Domestic Product by 2040 and is projected to be home to two-thirds of the global middle class by 2030. Almost 20% of new Canadians come from the region, close to 18% of Canadians have family ties to the region and 60% of the international students coming to Canada hail from the Indo-Pacific.

The region’s governance landscape is diverse and contested, marked by geopolitical flashpoints such as the Taiwan Strait, North Korea, and the East and South China Seas, along with major border disputes and challenges to the rules-based international order. The Indo-Pacific also remains home to two-thirds of the world's poor, with an estimated 1.7 billion people living on less than $2 a day. Persistent challenges, including energy and food insecurity, infrastructure gaps, democratic governance, inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation, are compounded by natural disasters, forced migration, and the lingering impacts of COVID-19. These risks highlight the fragility of development gains, particularly for women, children, ethnic minorities, and marginalized groups amidst a wider policy context deeply influenced by geopolitical developments.

Considerations

The Government of Canada’s international development assistance has supported the region through bilateral and regional development programs, focused on challenges such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, global health issues, skills development, biodiversity, gender equality, and human rights. Through Global Affairs Canada, the government delivers bilateral programs in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, along with three regional programs covering the Association of South-East Nations (ASEAN), Pan-Asia, and the Pacific Islands. The Government of Canada’s approach to the region has been anchored in the Indo-Pacific Strategy which continues to evolve in response to emerging trade opportunities, security concerns, and geopolitical realignments, including implications from shifting U.S. policy and strategic competition.

Through the framework of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, the government has been strengthening partnerships and expanding international development assistance, with a particular focus on Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and the Pacific Islands.

New development initiatives under the Indo-Pacific Strategy have focused on three main goals: connecting people, promoting sustainability, and strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. This has included expanding scholarships, increased aid in Southeast Asia, and support for development efforts in the Pacific Islands.

Notably, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has expanded its modest programming in the Pacific Islands region by establishing its first dedicated international development assistance program there. The first High Commissioner of Canada to Fiji is scheduled to arrive in 2025, with a new mission in Suva co-located with the United Kingdom planned to open in early 2026.

Additionally, the Government of Canada supported a disaster risk and resilience program ($50 million), in addition to Canada’s bilateral Development Finance Institution, FinDev, to expand its operations to the region ($750 million).

Recent Developments

The recent executive orders of the U.S. administration on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid have implications for the sustainability of international projects’ development assistance efforts across Indo-Pacific countries, funded through multi-donor arrangements with USAID. Projects in areas such as polio eradication, civil engagement, and basic needs services, are likely to experience disruptions or funding gaps due to the U.S. funding pause.

Canada’s bilateral polio eradication projects, with the World Health Organization and UNICEF, supports the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which is being jointly funded with other donors, including USAID. While bilateral funding remains unaffected, U.S. decisions may negatively impact the Government of Canada's polio eradication efforts in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Much remains unclear about the forward-looking U.S. strategy.

Annex A: Regional Footprint

Source: Mission Network Map

2. Americas

Issue

• After a significant decline in poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), it now has one of the lowest poverty rates among developing regions. However, it remains one of the most unequal regions in the world.
• Irregular migration and violence in the region remain high. The new U.S. administration is strongly focused on LAC and addressing these two issues.
• Canada’s international development assistance in the region has focused on addressing the government’s foreign policy priorities in the region, including irregular migration, climate change, inclusive growth, the protection and promotion of democracy and human rights, advancing gender equality, and promoting peace and security.

Background

The LAC region has made significant progress in reducing poverty over the last few decades, and recorded its lowest poverty rate ever in 2022, with 25% of the population living in poverty. Compared to other developing regions, this poverty rate is slightly better than in the East Asia and Pacific region (27%), but well above the poverty rate in Europe and Central Asia (8.2%). Despite this progress, the region remains the second most unequal in the world, and countries in LAC exhibit higher income inequality than those in other regions with similar development levels. Food security is also a significant concern. According to the United Nations, nearly a third of the LAC population (187.6 million people) experienced food insecurity in 2023.

Natural disasters continue to be a significant threat in the region, with LAC being the second-most exposed region in the world to extreme weather events. Central America’s Dry Corridor is highly vulnerable to extended drought and flooding. Forest fires in the Amazon region burned twice as much forest in 2024 compared to 20 years ago. Caribbean states face unique vulnerabilities such as rising sea levels, coastal erosion, extreme climate events, and declining ocean health.

There are over 23 million forcibly displaced people, including refugees and asylum seekers in Latin American and the Caribbean, not counting the millions of economic and other migrants who have left their homes for other reasons. Many countries in the region are simultaneously origin, host, and transit countries for migrants. Host and transit countries face capacity and resource pressures, especially on housing, education, health and social services. The LAC region remains one of the most violent regions in the world. Organized crime is the primary source of this violence, and its activities, including the illicit transnational flows of people, drugs and weapons, are a serious concern. Gender-based violence and political violence targeting human rights defenders, environmental activists, politicians, and journalists is also frequent.

Canada’s Engagement in LAC

The Government of Canada’s total international assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean, including Mexico, amounted to $1.3 billion in fiscal year 2023 to 2024, or 10% of the government’s overall international assistance. This included Official Development Assistance (ODA), which targets poverty alleviation in developing countries, and non-ODA assistance, which focuses on security, financial and general support. Among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, Canada is the sixth largest donor to the region after Germany, the United States, France, Japan and Spain. Global Affairs Canada’s bilateral and regional assistance to LAC (including Mexico) was $955 million in fiscal year 2023 to 2024.

Global Affairs Canada’s international assistance to the region is delivered through three regional programs: Central America, Caribbean and the Inter-American regional program, as well as bilateral programming in Haiti, Cuba, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela. Programming has focused on addressing the government’s foreign policy priorities in the region, including irregular migration, climate change, inclusive growth, the protection and promotion of democracy and human rights, advancing gender equality, and promoting peace and security. The government’s partners have included local and Canadian civil society, development banks, United Nations agencies, and regional organizations such as the Pan American Health Organization, and the Organization of American States.

Global Affairs Canada’s Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program has been a key tool to address organized crime in the region, providing approximately $334 million since 2015 to support efforts to strengthen the capacity of Latin America and Caribbean states to prevent and respond to threats posed by transnational criminal activity. The program is currently active in 35 countries of the region.

Considerations

Opportunities for Engagement

Many LAC countries are vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change but often lack access to traditional ODA and concessional financing. Caribbean countries in particular have been advocating for ODA eligibility criteria to take into account multi-dimensional vulnerability considerations.

China remains a key investor in the region and provides funding to countries that do not benefit from ODA. Chinese investment in the region is not contingent on the respect of democratic principles, human rights, or transparency. Growing Chinese economic engagement in LAC, and the potential political leverage that comes with it, has been a key concern for the Canadian and U.S. governments. Canadian international development assistance and economic investments in the region could potentially provide alternatives to Chinese investment.

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Suspension of Activities

In 2023, the United States was the second largest global donor to Latin America and the Caribbean behind Germany. The U.S. executive order freezing international aid is disrupting USAID-funded projects across multiple regions with 83% of USAID programming canceled. In Latin America and the Caribbean specifically, USAID-funded migrant reception centers are closing, straining local institutions managing returnees and in-transit migrants. In addition, U.S. funding cuts have meant a reduction in support for initiatives targeting democracy, rule of law, and human rights; cuts to programs addressing HIV/AIDS and malaria; and funding gaps affecting programming with LGBTQI+ organizations, Indigenous Peoples, and on media freedom. Given the size of previous U.S. foreign aid to the region, it will not be possible for other donors to make up for the lost funding.

Annex A: Regional Footprint

Source: Mission Network Map 

Annex B: International Assistance

Source: CFO Stats DevData Dashboard (for 2023-24, from all sources) 

Annex C

Source: CFO-STATS 2023-2024 

3. Middle East

Issue

• The conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, and the protracted crisis in Yemen have increased international development needs in the Middle East.
• Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt host large refugee populations, straining limited resources, and threatening regional stability.
• Major human development needs continue to exist across the region (Lebanon, West Bank, Egypt, and Iraq).

Background  

International assistance in the Middle East is complicated by several interconnected challenges. First, ongoing conflicts, such as in Gaza and Yemen (and up to recently Lebanon and Syria), create volatile environments where aid distribution is often impeded by violence, insecurity, terrorism threats and logistical hurdles. Humanitarian organizations struggle to access populations in need due to blockades, fighting, and restrictions imposed by both state and non-state actors.

Political instability and fragmentation also pose significant challenges. The presence of multiple foreign powers with differing interests, as well as complex local political dynamics, often leads to conflicting priorities and complicates coordination efforts. Corruption and weak governance in some countries further exacerbate the situation, as funds meant for international development assistance may be used ineffectively if provided directly to governments.

Additionally, cultural, religious, and ethnic diversity across the Middle East means that international development assistance programs must be tailored to local contexts. Finally, the sustainability of aid efforts remains a concern, as donor fatigue and shifting global priorities can reduce long-term funding for vital projects.

Middle East Strategy

Since 2016, as part of its Middle East Strategy, Canada has invested over $4.7 billion to combat Daesh in Iraq and Syria and support countries like Jordan and Lebanon impacted by the Syrian refugee crisis. As part of the Strategy, the government supports regional security through the Global Coalition Against Daesh and NATO Mission to Iraq, allocating over $1.7 billion to Operation IMPACT since 2016.¹ The Strategy has sunset on March 31, 2025.

Outside the scope of the Strategy, since October 7th, 2023, Canada has committed $315 million in humanitarian assistance to respond to needs in Gaza and the West Bank. Canada has also responded to increased humanitarian needs in Lebanon, providing more than $43.7 million in 2025.

Canada’s International Assistance in the Middle East

International Development Assistance 

The Government of Canada implements development programming in Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, West Bank/Gaza and Egypt. Canadian assistance addresses: education and skills development; health services; economic development through livelihood support and enterprise growth; women's rights and empowerment; good governance; environmental protection and water management; food security and agriculture; and early recovery support.

Humanitarian assistance

Canada has consistently been a leading provider of funding support to the UN, Red Cross and NGO partners to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance in the West Bank and Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq. This includes life-saving support in key sectors such as food, protection, shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene and health. The Government of Canada has consistently been among the largest bilateral contributors to humanitarian response efforts in the Middle East.

Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs) 

PSOPs is funding stabilisation and peacebuilding programming in Iraq, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, working with a range of implementing partners from local civil society to international and multilateral organisations. Program priorities are tailored to each context and responsive to developments. Additional detail on each file can be provided.

Weapons Threat Reduction Program (WTRP)

Canada’s contribution to the G7-led Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, has provided over $36 million since 2013 to destroy Syria’s declared chemical weapons stockpile, and to investigate and attribute responsibility for chemical weapons attacks. Through the Program, Canada is one of the largest national contributors to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s efforts to monitor and verify Iran’s implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Counter Terrorism Capacity Building Program (CTCBP) 

CTCBP provides capacity-building support to prevent the flow of foreign terrorist fighters, disrupt terrorist financing, counter violent extremist narratives, and enhance the capabilities of law enforcement and security agencies through the provision of non-lethal equipment, infrastructure, and training. The Program’s initiatives also support the meaningful integration and participation of women in operational roles within the Jordanian and Lebanese security sectors.

Considerations

Recent developments, such as a ceasefire in Lebanon and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, provide some hope, but the region’s instability persists. The conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and the collapse of the Assad regime have led to exacerbated crises in these areas, leading to severe humanitarian crises, with regional needs far exceeding available resources. [REDACTED].

Annex A: Regional Footprint

Annex B: International Assistance

Annex C

Notes: Canada’s International Assistance to Middle East totaled $448.69 million in 2023-2024.

Source: CFO-STATS 2023-2024

4. Ukraine

Issue

• Recovery and reconstruction cost to rebuild Ukraine is estimated at a staggering US$524 billion.
• In Charlevoix on March 14, 2025, G7 Foreign Ministers committed to continued economic and humanitarian support to promote early recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.
• The United States is looking to rapidly negotiate an end to the war. In light of Secretary of State Rubio's March 2025 announcement of the cancellation of 83% of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs, implications for Canada’s international development assistance programming and any future potential partnership opportunities will to an extent depend on outcomes of the current phase of the U.S. review on future foreign aid priorities.

Background

Damage and needs assessment

The Government of Ukraine, the World Bank Group, the European Commission, and the United Nations released the fourth Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment on February 25, 2025. It estimates the total cost of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine to be US$524 billion over the next decade, which is approximately 2.8 times the estimated nominal GDP of Ukraine for 2024. Ukraine has sustained US$176 billion in direct damage, with the housing, transport, energy, commerce and industry, and education sectors being most severely affected. Thirteen percent of the total housing stock has been damaged or destroyed, affecting more than 2.5 million households. In the energy sector, the regions closest to the frontline have sustained about 72% of the total damage. Mass aerial attacks on energy infrastructure across Ukraine have increased significantly in last six months.

The government’s assistance to Ukraine

According to tracking by the Kiel Institute of Economics, Canada’s total bilateral commitment (including financial, humanitarian, and military support) ranks 11th. Since 2022, the government has committed almost $20 billion in financial, military, humanitarian, development, security and stabilization and immigration assistance.

The government has committed over $12.4 billion in financial assistance to Ukraine, including loans of $6.75 billion through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Administered Account for Ukraine. Canada has also provided a loan guarantee through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a Ukraine Sovereignty Bond, and remission of tariff revenues collected on imports from Russia and Belarus.

The government has committed nearly $585 million in international assistance funding towards the energy sector in Ukraine, local infrastructure reconstruction, and technical assistance for inclusive governance reforms to promote new decentralized models. The funding was also extended to smallholder farmers and restoration of agricultural livelihoods and mental health to veterans. The government has contributed $70 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.

Since January 2022, the government has allocated $372.2 million in humanitarian assistance to address the immediate and ongoing impacts of Russia’s invasion. In 2024, $28.2 million was allocated to UN organizations, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and non-governmental organizations, to provide emergency health interventions, protection services, and other urgent assistance such as shelter, water, sanitation, and food.

The government has committed nearly $225 million in security and stabilization assistance.

Ukraine Donor Platform

The Ukraine Donor Platform was established in December 2022 to coordinate donor support for Ukraine’s immediate financing needs and future economic recovery and reconstruction, to advance Ukraine’s reforms, and to promote private sector engagement.

It has expanded beyond the G7 and now comprises 23 members and observer countries, and 7 participants including International Financial Institutions and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). A Business Advisory Council was launched in June 2024 with a mandate to provide strategic advice to the Platform on engagement with the private sector in Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. Roman Dubzcak, Deputy Chair of Capital Markets at CIBC, is Canada’s private sector representative on the Council. The Platform also engages with Ukrainian civil society and works in collaboration with in-country coordination mechanisms.

Considerations

Direct conversations between the United States and Russia have led to increased discussions of a ceasefire agreement and settlement to Russia’s war against Ukraine. [REDACTED] 

5. Africa

Issue

• Poverty, weak governance, climate insecurity, infrastructure gaps, and peace and security challenges often overshadow the economic and human potential of the African continent.
• Africa’s 54 countries are the focus of growing geopolitical competition over political influence and natural resources.
• International development assistance programming aims to address Africa’s challenges, while advancing Canada’s political, economic and security interests.

Background

Africa is a dynamic, geo-strategically important continent with a rapidly growing workforce and young population. By 2050, more than 25% of the world’s population will live in Africa, representing a huge potential labour-force. Africa is endowed with significant natural resources – 30% of the world’s critical minerals, 60% of its solar energy potential, and 25% of global biodiversity – which, if managed well, has the potential to contribute to more resilient and sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. Large and middle powers, including the United States, China and Russia, are actively engaged in Africa. The United States has been focused on counterterrorism, democratic governance and global health. China invests in infrastructure, including through its Belt and Road Initiative. Russia strives to expand its geopolitical and military influence.

Poverty levels in Africa are significant -- with nearly 60% of the population living in poverty, more than 85% experiencing severe or moderate food insecurity, over 600 million lacking access to energy, and more than 25% of youth facing unemployment. Africa faces ongoing peace and security challenges – with conflict hotspots in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and the Sahel. State fragility associated with these conflicts contributes to and is the result of geopolitical tensions and growing authoritarianism, which is undermining respect for human rights. Due to the protracted nature, scale and impact of conflicts in Africa, a significant proportion (41%) of Canada’s humanitarian assistance in fiscal year 2023 to 2024 was allocated to Africa.

Canada’s long-standing engagement with Africa is characterized by a commitment to fostering mutual prosperity, peace and development. Canada has a diplomatic footprint in the region that includes 27 missions (e.g. embassies or high commissions) in 24 countries. Canada’s Permanent Observer Mission to the African Union is embedded in the Embassy of Canada to Ethiopia. The diplomatic, development and trade assets in these missions support efforts to expand Canada-Africa co-operation and advance mutual priorities.

Canada’s international assistance to Africa contributes to poverty reduction through programming with bilateral, multilateral and Canadian organizations in sectors such as health care, climate change, food security, skills training, trade and development. The Government of Canada provided $4.1 billion in bilateral development assistance to Africa in fiscal year 2022 to 2023, and $3.2 billion in fiscal year 2023 to 2024, representing 44.7% of Canada’s bilateral development assistance. The top five African

recipients of Government of Canada funding in fiscal year 2023 to 2024 were Ethiopia, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, and Tanzania. In addition, Canada is the fourth largest non-regional shareholder of the African Development Bank, and a contributor to the African Development Bank’s concessional financing window (the African Development Fund).

The African Union, based in Ethiopia, is the principal multilateral African organization. The African Union’s Agenda 2063 outlines a shared vision for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa. The Government of Canada and the African Union Commission have held two High Level Dialogues (2022 and 2024) to advance shared objectives related to trade, development, peace and security. The Government of Canada and the African Union Commission also held a Development Policy Dialogue in 2024 and signed a Memorandum of Understanding to institutionalize the relationship.

Considerations

Refocused Engagement with Africa

In March 2025, the Government of Canada announced its intention to refocus its engagement with Africa towards greater economic cooperation, strengthened partnerships to protect shared security interests, better engagement of African diaspora communities in Canada, and international development assistance that supports economic development and youth employment. “Canada’s Africa Strategy: A Partnership for Shared Prosperity and Security”, which supports these objectives, was launched by the government on March 6, 2025.

South Africa’s 2025 G20 Presidency

The African Union (AU) and South Africa are members of the G20. South Africa is hosting the G20 this year (2025) for the first time and is focused on disaster resilience, debt sustainability, and a just energy transition. The AU is engaging the G20 on issues related to the reform of international financial institutions, and climate and development financing, and Canada, as the G7 President, is coordinating closely with South Africa.

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) suspension of activities

In 2023, the United States was the largest global donor, channelling approximately 40% of its development assistance to Africa – particularly in the health sector, including HIV/AIDS. [REDACTED]. This is made more challenging given that a number of donor countries (e.g. the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and France) are also reducing their aid budgets and/or altering their strategic priorities with implications for Africa.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) 

The African Continental Free Trade Area provides a framework to boost intra-African trade, promote industrialization, and drive inclusive and sustainable development. The African Continental Free Trade

Area is expected to create a free trade area of 1.3 billion people, with a potential Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$3.4 trillion. As such, the African Continental Free Trade Area has the potential to facilitate greater global trade with Africa, which is particularly important in the wake of U.S. tariffs.

La Francophonie

Half of the world's French-speaking population lives in Africa, and most of the full member states of the International Organisation of La Francophonie are African. Canada’s engagement in La Francophonie reflects a commitment to promoting the French language and culture, to strengthening diplomatic relations, and to building connections with Africa.

Annex A: Regional Footprint

Source: Mission Network Map 

Annex B: International Assistance

Source: CFO Stats DevData Dashboard (for 2023-24, from all sources)

Annex C

Source: CFO-STATS 2023-2024 

6. Multilateral engagement in international development

Issue

• The Government of Canada works with multilateral and global organizations to address challenges that cannot easily be solved by any one nation alone. Multilateral investments expand the reach of Canada’s international development investments and play a role in protecting Canadians from global security and public health threats, the impacts of climate change and the repercussions of crisis-driven migration, among other issues.
• The Government of Canada leverages the convening power of multilateral organizations to advance foreign affairs, trade, security and international development priorities and expand the reach of its international development assistance through coordinated programming that mobilizes funding from multiple stakeholders. 
• A downward global trend in spending coupled with significant changes in U.S. government funding and policy on international development assistance are pushing multilateral organizations and their funders to fundamentally re-evaluate their strategic plans and funding structures.

Background

Multilateral engagement in international development assistance, including through United Nations organizations, international financial institutions and global funds, enables the Government of Canada to advance its interests and values on the world stage. These partnerships influence global policies and leverage funding from other stakeholders like the private sector, while reducing transaction costs, risks and administrative burden for Canada, as well as reducing duplication of efforts among donors.

Multilateral partnerships allow the government to respond quickly to humanitarian crises and to address pressing global development challenges using well-established channels. Over the past 50 years, the Government of Canada has achieved concrete results through multilateral investments in areas such as global health, food security, education, environment, peace and security, and gender equality. Multilateral partnerships have also enabled Canada to maintain a footprint and visibility in countries where we do not otherwise have a diplomatic presence, including in fragile and conflict-affected countries.

Currently, Canada has leadership roles in several multilateral fora, including the G7. Canada also participates in the G20, which will be hosted by South Africa in 2025. As a member of the G7 and G20, Canada collaborates with other countries to address pressing global issues, including those related to sustainable development. The G20, which includes both advanced and emerging economies, provides a broader platform to advance priorities for sustainable development. Canada also exercises its influence through participation in the governance structures of global and multilateral institutions, helping to shape their work, identify future priorities, and ensure that issues of importance to Canada are integrated into operations.

Examples of Canadian leadership in multilateral fora include:

• Canada is currently a member of the World Health Organization’s Executive Board (2022-2025) and is President of both the World Food Programme Executive Board and the UN Economic and Social Council (2024-2025).
• Canada holds shares in seven multilateral development banks, for which Canada’s Minister of International Development is a Governor for four regional development banks (the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank). Canada purchases shares, contributes to concessional funds, and supports projects and trust funds with multilateral development banks.
• Canada is also a founding member of several global partnerships that work to ensure best and common practices among donors including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC) and the Multilateral Organization Performance Assessment Network. Canada is also the founding member of several global funds, including the Global Financing Facility, for which Canada remains the second largest funder (fiscal year 2023 to 2024).

Fiscal Year 2023 to 2024 Global Affairs Canada Funding

In fiscal year 2023 to 2024, Global Affairs Canada provided $3.6 billion to global and multilateral organizations (65% of Global Affairs Canada’s international assistance funding overall). Canada’s funding for multilateral organizations has increased over the last decade in response to global challenges in health (including COVID-19), climate finance, and humanitarian assistance. Multilateral development banks make up a significant proportion of the department’s funding through multilateral institutions, particularly given the role they play in infrastructure, private sector development and economic growth.

Figure 1 - Sub-types of Multilateral Partnerships 

Considerations

Donors are faced with a growing demand for multilateral funding to address increasingly complex and protracted global challenges, which coupled with the financial reductions under the new U.S. administration to specific multilateral organizations, has resulted in an unprecedented liquidity crisis for many organizations.

The United States has historically been the largest single provider of Official Development Assistance (ODA). In 2023, the United States contributed approximately US$13 billion or 19% of UN system revenue and US$64.7 billion or 28% of total ODA from OECD-DAC countries. In the face of these significant funding cuts to the multilateral system writ large, it will be important for Canada to focus on addressing key reforms needed in the international development system architecture, particularly in sectors of strategic interest for Canada, such as global health.

Over the past two years, the UN has prioritized reforms to enhance efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness, including the UN80 Initiative and UN 2.0, aimed at modernizing its structures and operations. Additionally, the humanitarian system “reset” has emphasized shifting power to local leaders, simplifying coordination structures, and prioritizing life-saving actions amid funding cuts.

The department continues to track and assess the consequences of recent and ongoing funding and policy shifts affecting UN and other multilateral organizations.

7. International financial institutions

Issue

• International Financial Institutions (IFIs), including Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), deliver large-scale development results, based on the scope of their operations, expertise, convening role and influence.
• [REDACTED]

Background

IFIs are international organizations that provide financing to low- and middle-income countries in support of their economic and social development. IFIs consist of the Bretton Woods Institutions (International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank Group (WBG)); regional development banks (RDBs); and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The IMF promotes global macroeconomic and financial stability and provides policy advice and capacity development support to help countries maintain strong economies. The WBG and regional development banks, collectively known as MDBs, provide a range of financial and technical support to developing countries, including loans and grants to middle- and low-income countries. This serves as a primary source of financing for these countries’ economic and social development, including private sector development, infrastructure, productive sectors (e.g., agriculture) and social sectors (e.g., education). In addition to the general capitalization of MDBs, the government also supports their “concessional” funds, through which the poorest and most vulnerable countries can access funding on more favourable terms such as grants and very low-interest loans. MDBs’ unique model allows them to invest funding from donor governments, generating returns that are then used for additional lending. For example, every dollar Canada contributes to the WBG’s concessional window results in up to four dollars of lending for developing countries. MDBs are also amongst the few institutions able to accept repayable loans (in addition to grants) from donor countries.

Canada is a shareholder in eight IFIs; the proportion of shares held ranges from 2-9%, generally ranking Canada within the top ten shareholders. This means that Canada has a seat on the governance board of each institution. Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and Finance Canada co-manage the government’s relationship with IFIs. The Minister of International Development is Governor to four RDBs: African Development Bank (AfDB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) while the Minister of Finance is responsible for the WBG, IMF, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (for which all government-led activity was halted in June 2023). Global Affairs Canada’s Assistant Deputy Minister of International Assistance Partnerships and Programming is the Governor for IFAD (which, as a specialized agency of the United Nations, has member states rather than shareholders).

In fiscal year 2023 to 2024, GAC provided $888.4 million in institutional support (RDB replenishments) and initiative-specific programming to the WBG and RDBs. In addition, Finance Canada contributed over $2.5 billion to the WBG and IMF, including $486.9 million as part of Canada’s replenishment to the WBG's concessional fund and $2 billion in loan resources through the IMF's Administered Account for Ukraine.

Considerations

In recent years, criticism of MDBs’ ability to adequately respond to the needs of developing countries has resulted in reforms aiming to identify additional resources for lending, to better respond to global challenges, and to develop new financial instruments. Reforms are ongoing. Notably, MDBs have announced that they will be able to increase the financing available to countries by up to US$400 billion over ten years, without any new funding from member states. The government has been supportive of these reforms [REDACTED].

The United States is the largest shareholder in most MDBs of which it is a member, often by a considerable margin. Shareholding ranges from 6.5% (AfDB) to 30% (IDB); the United States is not a member of the CDB. The executive order issued by the new U.S. administration to review U.S. support to all international organizations may include IFIs. [REDACTED].

The African Development Bank will be holding its annual meeting in May 2025, during which a new President will be elected, and Canada will need to vote as member state.

Periodically, member states have an opportunity to purchase additional shares at banks, to maintain or increase their relative ownership of the bank. For example, the African Development Bank is in the process of increasing its volume of capital and Canada has the option to subscribe to new shares.

8. The Canadian international development sector

Issue

• The Government of Canada funds Canadian organizations to advance Canada’s international development assistance priorities.
• Programming through Canadian organizations, including civil society, private sector and other government departments, represented approximately 20% of the International Assistance Envelope in fiscal year 2023 to 2024.
• Rooted in communities across the country, Canadian organizations provide Canadian technical expertise, resources and innovations for international development assistance priorities, and play an important role in leveraging financial and in-kind contributions for international development assistance initiatives that deepen cooperation on issues that matter to Canadians.

Background

Global Affairs Canada provides funding to Canadian organizations to:

1. deliver international development assistance programming;
2. inform, inspire and involve people in and from Canada about the government’s policy priorities and its international development assistance work.

Canadian partners contribute to strengthening alliances and forging a favourable reputation for Canada in the world, that can be leveraged to advance diplomatic and economic relations, particularly in countries where Canada does not have a strong bilateral (country to country) presence.

The Canadian international development sector is composed of organizations of various sizes and types, including civil society organizations, the private sector, universities and research institutions, foundations, Indigenous organizations, other government departments and crown corporations such as the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The sector engages in project implementation, research, advocacy, and the deployment of experts and volunteers, across a range of thematic areas such as health, climate change, economic growth, democracy, food security, and security and stabilization. Canadian organizations are active around the world, including in areas with high rates of fragility, conflict and violence.

The sector reflects the diversity of Canadians. Many organizations have linkages to specific geographic regions or countries and share global knowledge, cultural and linguistic networks, which contribute to international development and business partnerships. Many Canadians support the sector through annual charitable donations.

In 2023-24, Global Affairs Canada provided funding to approximately 185 Canadian organizations, of which 37 were small and medium-sized organizations, with a total budget of $1.15 billion. Of note, Canadian non-governmental organizations are less involved in implementing peace and security programming, compared to development programming. Peace and security programming, which has a specialized mandate, is delivered mainly via multilaterals, international organizations, and other government departments, such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Department of National Defence.

Top 10 Canadian Partners (based on fiscal year 2023 to 2024 figures) 

• Nutrition International ($59M)
• Canadian Foodgrains Bank ($37M)
• Grand Challenges Canada ($50.5M)
• World Vision Canada ($34.3M)
• World University Service of Canada ($47.7M)
• Oxfam-Québec ($33M)
• Alinea International ($45.8M)
• Cowater International Inc. ($32.3M)
• Plan International Canada ($40.3M)
• CARE Canada ($31.4M)

Funding Trends for Canadian Partnerships (fiscal year 2004 to 2005 to fiscal year 2023 to 2024) 

Canadian organizations play a role in demonstrating that international development assistance strategically advances priorities that matter to and affect Canadians, such as humanitarian assistance, climate change, peace and security, health, and economic stability. Several networks represent a wide variety of Canadian organizations involved in this sector, including Cooperation Canada, the Inter-Council Network, the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health, and the Canadian Association of International Development Professionals. These umbrella organizations play a convening and advocacy role for the sector to advance policy and programming.

Global Affairs Canada maintains ongoing engagement with the sector through formal dialogue platforms, such as with the Civil Society Policy Advisory Group, working groups, and public events, including International Development Week. Through the Grants and Contributions Transformation Initiative, the department also seeks input from the sector to ensure that the future state of grants and contributions will be more effective with higher impact, faster, less burdensome and less expensive for partners to apply and administer and more responsive, transparent, predictable and accountable.

In addition to partnerships with larger organizations, the department also provides funding and capacity building to several small and medium Canadian organizations (SMOs), including Indigenous partners. SMOs usually maintain long-standing relationships with local organizations and foster deep roots within local communities both in Canada and in partner countries. Additionally, Global Affairs Canada works with philanthropic organizations and the private sector to leverage additional funding for common priorities towards the achievement of Canadian international development assistance priorities.

Considerations

With many donors cutting back on international development assistance (e.g. United States, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom), partners in the sector are concerned about the impact on Canadian organizations and their local partners and beneficiaries globally, which have yet to be fully measured.

In this context, Canadian organizations have issued statements advocating to protect and strengthen Canada’s international development assistance efforts, for instance: 

• In February, l’Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale urged the government, as President of the G7, to advocate for states to take action to support millions of people around the world who are living in precarious situations.
• In March, the Stephen Lewis Foundation sent a letter, signed by over 50 Canadian organizations, to Prime Minister Carney calling for Canada’s increased leadership on global health and human rights to mitigate the impacts of the U.S. foreign aid cuts.
• Cooperation Canada, representing approximately 100 Canadian organizations, issued an appeal to political leaders, claiming that Canada should continue to show leadership in times of crisis in areas such as humanitarian assistance, support to democracy and human rights and infectious disease prevention.
• In April, nearly 30 Canadian faith leaders, including heads of organizations such as the Canadian Council of Churches and The Salvation Army, issued a letter to the leaders of all political parties advocating that a “strong international development assistance program reflects our values and enhances our nation's reputation as a force for compassion and justice”.