At the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, from September 22 to 25, 2024, Prime Minister Trudeau announced over $200 million for projects that will advance the comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls, strengthen action on gender equality and pay equity, fight climate change, support humanitarian response efforts and restore security and stability in Haiti, provide institutional support for the UN, and promote peace, security, and human rights globally.
Advancing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights
Project: EmpowHER: Ensuring Inclusive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Delivery for Women, Girls and Marginalized Communities
Partners: International Planned Parenthood Federation
Funding: $48 million over seven years
Countries: Burkina Faso, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mauritania, Pakistan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zambia
This project will help strengthen the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of marginalized and underserved groups around the world, including by providing training to health care workers and teachers, delivering comprehensive sexuality education to young people, providing access to person-centred safe and legal abortion care, including post-abortion care, and providing advocacy and capacity building to women and youth-led organizations.
Project: Advancing Comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights as Health Care
Partners: World Health Organization (WHO), Human Reproduction Programme (HRP)
Funding: $33 million over three years
Countries: Global
This project aims to address the critical gap in access to SRHR. It will strengthen competency-based education for health care workers, develop strategies to scale up sexual and reproductive health services in select countries, increase the availability of relevant policy data, and strengthen global, regional, and national level coordination toward realizing SRHR. With Canada’s support, HRP will catalyze and strengthen progress toward achieving universal access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services for all and advance gender equality and bodily autonomy.
Project: Addressing Neglected Areas of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Sub-Saharan Africa (ANeSA)
Partners: International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR
Funding: $17.5 million over seven years
Countries: Sub-Saharan Africa
There is a need for greater use of data and evidence to strengthen advocacy and interventions for SRHR, especially among underserved populations – including women and girls in all their diversity – and the organizations that serve them. Through its funding, Canada will support projects that aim to generate, build, and use evidence that is centred on the lives and experiences of those impacted, and strengthen the ability of civil society organizations, communities, and local researchers to advance SRHR. To achieve this, the project will support implementation research with African research organizations, civil society organizations, and health policy organizations, in partnership with Canadian researchers. In addition to Global Affairs Canada’s contribution of $17.5 million, the CIHR and the IDRC will also contribute $12.4 million toward this project.
Project: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Research and Capacity Building
Partners: Guttmacher Institute
Funding: $6 million over three years
Countries: Rwanda, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Sub-Saharan Africa
Canada is supporting the Guttmacher Institute’s work to advance new research that will lay the groundwork for evidence-driven, equitable SRHR policies and programs around the world. This project will work with local researchers to help produce and publish a series of new research studies and advocacy material that support SRHR advocacy and reform efforts. It will inform safe abortion policies by increasing understanding among countries and stakeholders of the need to invest in safe abortion services, as part of a comprehensive and person-centred approach to SRHR.
Project: Changing the Law, Changing Lives
Partners: Center for Reproductive Rights
Funding: $6 million over two years
Countries: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia
This project supports local civil society and legal counsel organizations that help women and adolescents in 13 countries exercise their rights to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and lives. By supporting this project, Canada is working to ensure that reproductive rights are protected by law as fundamental human rights.
Project: Increasing Sexual and Reproductive Autonomy
Partners: Ipas
Funding: Top-up of $2 million over two years
Countries: Bolivia, Indonesia, Nigeria
This funding builds on an existing $10 million investment made by the Government of Canada to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services and supports in Bolivia, Indonesia, and Nigeria, while also promoting self-efficacy. This additional funding will support Ipas in expanding its evidence-based and African-led initiatives to combat growing opposition and misinformation surrounding SRHR in sub-Saharan Africa, including access to safe abortion and post-abortion care. This project will advance global efforts to ensure that a woman’s right to choose remains protected and accessible.
Addressing unpaid and paid care work
Project: United for Care-sensitive Approaches to Rights and Empowerment
Partners: Alinea International
Funding: $9.5 million over five years
Countries: Ghana
This project aims to improve the rights and opportunities of women and girls in Ghana by increasing their participation in the labour market, health care, education, leisure, and civic life. It will help reduce the gender gap in both unpaid and paid care work and facilitate the provision of gender-sensitive public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies. This project will support municipal governments and district assemblies in three regions of northern Ghana by improving data collection and analysis on unpaid care work and providing capacity building to design gender-sensitive policies and programs that recognize, reduce, and redistribute unpaid care work. It will also change social norms and attitudes about care work through a family outreach program and support for advocacy at the community level. This project is part of Canada’s $100 million commitment to addressing inequalities in unpaid and paid care work in low- and middle-income countries.
Project: Time to CARE – Honduras
Partners: CARE Canada
Funding: $5.9 million over five years
Countries: Honduras
This project aims to support paid work for women domestic care providers in Honduras, particularly among hotel workers, rural, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQI+ women. The project works with local women’s networks to influence local governments and improve gender-responsive policies, laws, and regulations related to unpaid work for domestic care providers. This project is part of Canada’s $100 million commitment to addressing inequalities in unpaid and paid care work in low- and middle-income countries.
Project: Lhaissa: Advancing Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality in Childcare Work
Partners: Save the Children Canada
Funding: $5.9 million over five years
Countries: Mozambique
This project aims to support the empowerment of women child care workers in Mozambique’s early childhood development sector. It will focus on early child care workers, particularly among women, to protect and promote their rights and professional needs. It will also pilot compensation schemes in targeted early childhood development centres as a means of providing dignified work for early child care workers. This project is part of Canada’s $100 million commitment to addressing inequalities in unpaid and paid care work in low- and middle-income countries.
Project: Care Connect: Action for Care Workers
Partners: Oxfam Canada
Funding: $5.9 million over five years
Countries: Indonesia, Philippines
This project aims to enhance empowerment, social economic well-being, and enjoyment of rights for women and girls in Indonesia and the Philippines. The project will focus on domestic care workers and their right to decent work and living free from violence. It also seeks to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations, particularly women’s rights organizations, duty-bearers, and the private sector, to implement gender-transformative initiatives. This project is part of Canada’s $100 million commitment to addressing inequalities in unpaid and paid care work in low- and middle-income countries.
Project: Strengthening Organization, Agency & Rights of Women Early Childhood Development Workers
Partners: Plan International Canada
Funding: $5.9 million over five years
Countries: Ecuador, Paraguay
This project aims to support women paid care workers’ rights and needs in Ecuador and Paraguay. The project will strengthen women early childhood development workers’ knowledge of gender equality, promote access to learning platforms, and provide professional skills training. This project is part of Canada’s $100 million commitment to addressing inequalities in unpaid and paid care work in low- and middle-income countries.
Project: TRASOL: Care Workers in Solidarity and Organized in Coops for our Rights
Partners: Société de coopération pour le développement international
Funding: $5.9 million over five years
Countries: Guatemala, Honduras
This project supports work to improve the socio-economic empowerment of women and girls involved in paid care work in Guatemala and Honduras. Notably, the project aims to develop and enhance the performance of co-operatives and collective care enterprises – which act as intermediaries between employers and employees – in their work to support the economic empowerment of women domestic workers. This project is part of Canada’s $100 million commitment to addressing inequalities in unpaid and paid care work in low- and middle-income countries.
Project: Action for paid Childcare sector Transformation
Partners: World University Service of Canada
Funding: $5.9 million over five years
Countries: Kenya, Malawi
This project aims to support paid care workers’ rights and needs and promote gender equality in the paid care work economy in Kenya and Malawi. It seeks to improve the representation and voices of women child care providers and strengthen governments’ capacity to implement child care policy and regulatory reforms. The project also aims to improve economic conditions for women-led child care enterprises by equipping finance and business service providers with the tools they need to better meet their needs. This project is part of Canada’s $100 million commitment to addressing inequalities in unpaid and paid care work in low- and middle-income countries.
Project: MujerES: Unpaid and Paid Care Work in El Salvador
Partners: Plan International Canada
Funding: $4.2 million over five years
Countries: El Salvador
This project will help address deep-rooted inequalities among women in El Salvador, particularly around unpaid care work. It will reduce barriers to the knowledge, skills, and conditions necessary for marginalized, rural, and peri-urban women to participate in secure, rewarding, and dignified economic opportunities – namely in agribusiness and green enterprises. This project will improve women’s capacity to make decisions regarding their economic empowerment and strengthen recognition of their social and economic rights. It will also work to improve awareness and recognition of women’s social rights, including equality in paid and unpaid care work. This project is part of Canada’s $100 million commitment to addressing inequalities in unpaid and paid care work in low- and middle-income countries.
Project: Addressing Unpaid Care Work in Sri Lanka
Partners: The Asia Foundation
Funding: $3.5 million over five years
Countries: Sri Lanka
This project will help recognize, respond to, and reduce unpaid care work responsibilities on women and girls in Sri Lanka, and redistribute care work more evenly within their families and communities. It will increase their representation in decision-making, helping to reduce disproportionate care responsibilities, uphold rights, and meet strategic needs regarding unpaid care work in Sri Lanka. Canada’s support on this project will help advance its priorities under Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. This project is part of Canada’s $100 million commitment to addressing inequalities in unpaid and paid care work in low- and middle-income countries.
Project: Advancing Women’s Economic Empowerment for Vietnam
Partners: CARE Canada
Funding: Top-up of $2.1 million over three years
Countries: Vietnam
Building on an initial contribution of $4.4 million, Canada is renewing its support to CARE Canada on this project, which seeks to improve the economic well-being of poor rural women, particularly ethnic minorities, in Vietnam by increasing their participation in paid economic activities. The project also aims to challenge discriminatory gender norms by addressing the root causes of the unequal distribution of care work placed on women in Vietnam. This project is part of Canada’s $100 million commitment to addressing inequalities in unpaid and paid care work in low- and middle-income countries.
Project: Caring Societies: Sharing Care Responsibilities to Advance Gender Equality
Partners: UN Women
Funding: Top-up of $1.4 million over five years
Countries: Colombia
Building on an initial contribution of $6 million, Canada is renewing its support to UN Women on this project, which seeks to advance gender equality in Colombia. This project is delivering technical assistance to national and municipal governments, including eight local governments across the country, to build fair and inclusive local care systems and to pilot care solutions, in alliance with women’s and civil society organizations and the private sector. This project is part of Canada’s $100 million commitment to addressing inequalities in unpaid and paid care work in low- and middle-income countries.
Project: Opening Doors: More and Better Decent Work Opportunities for Domestic Workers in Peru
Partners: International Labour Organization (ILO)
Funding: Top-up of $2 million over two years
Countries: Peru
Building on an initial contribution of $5 million, Canada is renewing its support to the ILO for this project, which aims to improve the socio-economic conditions of women domestic workers in Peru. It will help strengthen the implementation of gender-responsive national policies and regulatory frameworks within Peru’s National Care System, and empower women domestic workers to claim and defend their rights as professionals in Peruvian society. This project is part of Canada’s $100 million commitment to addressing inequalities in unpaid and paid care work in low- and middle-income countries.
Strengthening the fight against climate change
Project: Global Forest Leadership Program
Funding: $3.9 million over three years
Countries: Global
Through its Global Forest Leadership Program, Canada will further its international leadership in sustainable forest management. This includes expanding international engagement, fostering collaboration and partnerships, and providing Canadian expertise on forestry management. This funding will support projects that contribute to advancing the international forest policy agenda, including on climate, biodiversity, sustainable forest management, bioeconomy, and wildland fire management, while strengthening partnerships with like-minded organizations and countries on sustainable forest management.
Supporting the humanitarian response and the restoration of security and stability in Haiti
Project: Observatory on Violence and Resilience in Haiti
Partners: Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime
Funding: $4 million over three years
Countries: Haiti
This project aims to strengthen the capacity and resilience of civil society organizations, expert analysts, and decision-makers in Haiti. It will facilitate the provision of Haitian expertise and help bridge local civil society and international engagement to support Haitian-led solutions. Canada’s funding will help create the Observatory on Violence and Resilience in Haiti, which will serve as a fundamental forum for research and analysis and civil society empowerment. It will also provide crucial support to local leaders in establishing and coordinating a Haiti Resilience Fund Hub, support the creation of a Haiti Network of Experts, and bridge ground-level activities and international and multilateral engagement. $715,000 of funding for this project is part of Canada’s $100 million investment to support the Haitian National Police.
Project: Humanitarian food assistance
Partners: The World Food Programme
Funding: $2.5 million for this year
Countries: Haiti
This project helps reduce acute malnutrition and emergency food insecurity in Haiti, including for vulnerable women and girls. Project activities include distributing food and cash assistance, providing supplementary feeding for children under the age of five years old, providing logistical support, and enabling access to the most remote and challenging locations.
Project: Soutien et renforcement des nouvelles autorités de transition en Haïti
Partners: UN Development Program
Funding: $2 million over two years
Countries: Haiti
This project will support the transition process in Haiti and the mandates of the interim government and the Transitional Presidential Council. It will contribute to the delivery of concrete actions toward economic recovery, access to social services for the Haitian people, reconstruction of essential infrastructure, and organization of free and fair elections. It also aims to increase the participation of women, and other traditionally marginalized civil society groups, in the decision-making process of key government programs for the future of Haiti.
Project: Life-Saving Protection intervention in Haiti
Partners: Plan Canada
Funding: $2 million over two years
Countries: Haiti
This project provides life-saving protection, sexual and gender-based violence services, along with water and sanitation services, to targeted populations in Haiti. It helps train local service providers on key child protection topics and establishes child protection services, such as safe spaces. It also aims to raise awareness on sexual and gender-based violence, and prevention and response practices within communities.
Project: Rebuilding the Future for Haiti’s Minors and Women Offenders at Risk of Reoffending
Partners: Terre des Hommes Italie
Funding: $1.9 million over two years
Countries: Haiti
Canada is committed to supporting vulnerable youth and women that are affected by the deficiencies in Haiti’s justice and prison system and to promote their successful reintegration into society. This project supports efforts to reduce the risk of juvenile delinquency, increase access to justice for women and youth detainees, and encourage their reintegration into society through the provision of legal assistance and training for at-risk youth. Canada’s support complements the work of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti to carry out their mandate to improve prison conditions for inmates.
Project: Humanitarian Sexual and Reproductive Assistance in Haiti
Partners: UN Population Fund
Funding: $1.5 million over two years
Countries: Haiti
In response to the alarming rise of sexual violence reports in Haiti, this project will support the delivery of life-saving sexual and reproductive health assistance, obstetric and newborn care, contraception, menstrual hygiene management, and clinical and psychosocial care for survivors of sexual violence.
Project: Nutrition intervention for children and pregnant and lactating people in Haiti
Partners: UN Children’s Fund
Funding: $1.5 million for this year
Countries: Haiti
This project helps provide life-saving health and nutrition intervention for children and pregnant and lactating people in Haiti, including ready-to-use therapeutic food to treat severe malnutrition and child wasting, community-based health care services to identify and treat malnutrition, and complementary activities help improve nutritional outcomes.
Project: Support to people affected by violence in Haiti
Partners: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Funding: $550,000 for this year
Countries: Haiti
This project helps protect and assist people in Haiti affected by armed conflict and other forms of violence. Through this project, the ICRC is helping provide life-saving assistance and engaging in confidential bilateral dialogue with key stakeholders, including weapon bearers. It also serves as a neutral intermediary role in the negotiations for humanitarian access, particularly in gang-controlled areas.
Project: Support to a more coordinated and localized humanitarian response in Haiti
Partners: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Funding: $500,000 for this year
Countries: Haiti
The OCHA Country-based Pooled Fund (CBPF) aims to ensure that life-saving assistance reaches those who need it most in Haiti by delivering timely, flexible, and needs-based humanitarian support. This project supports local humanitarian organizations in Haiti to provide urgent assistance, including food, water and sanitation, and emergency health services to those affected by the crisis.
Project: Coordination of the Humanitarian Response in Haiti
Partners: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Funding: $100,000 for this year
Countries: Haiti
This project helps support a more coordinated and effective humanitarian response to the crisis in Haiti, including supporting the assessment and prioritization of humanitarian needs and strategic planning.
Promoting peace, security, and human rights
Project: Peace and Security Global Rapid Response
Partners: CANADEM
Funding: $1.9 million over two years
Countries: Global
This project supports efforts to address conflict and post-conflict situations through the rapid deployment of international experts to respond to short-term technical assistance from host governments, international non-governmental organizations, civil society, and UN agencies. The deployments will deliver specialized knowledge and skills essential for managing critical issues related to peace and security. This will enhance the capacity of host entities to effectively address conflict and post-conflict challenges effectively, while also fostering improved global partnerships and collaboration.
Project: Building Peace with Colombian Indigenous Communities
Partners: Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion
Funding: Top-up of $1.2 million for this year
Countries: Colombia
Building on Canada’s original contribution of $1.2 million, this project promotes the protection, safety, empowerment, and dignity of vulnerable Colombian Indigenous communities, particularly women, in thirteen municipalities across Colombia that are among the most affected by armed conflict. It helps respond to the needs of Indigenous women and empowers them to create and improve culturally and gender-appropriate protection mechanisms. Canada’s support for this project demonstrates its commitments, under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, to respect and implement the rights of Indigenous Peoples in an international setting.
Project: Peacebuilding in Sri Lanka through landmine clearance and the development of Mine Action Group’s workforce
Partners: Mines Advisory Group
Funding: $500,000 for this year
Countries: Sri Lanka
This project aims to support mine clearance and staff transition activities across eight operational districts in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. It involves deploying Mine Action Group teams to conduct landmine clearance operations and implementing tailored capacity-building programs. The expected outcomes include enhanced safety and security in the targeted regions and the empowerment of female deminers and operational staff with essential skills for future opportunities. This project will directly contribute to Sri Lanka’s transition to being landmine-free by 2027.
Providing institutional support for the United Nations
Project: Long-term institutional support for the UN Development Coordination Office and the Resident Coordinator system
Partners: UN Development Coordination Office (UN DCO)
Funding: $9 million over three years
Countries: Global
This project represents Canada’s multi-year institutional support for the UN DCO and its administration of the Resident Coordinator (RC) system, which is responsible for coordinating a coherent UN system-wide effort in development, humanitarian, and peace-building assistance in country. The funds are in line with Canada’s commitment to UN reform for a more effective, efficient, relevant, and accountable system better positioned to support the Sustainable Development Goals.