The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, has concluded a trip to Ethiopia and Tanzania that focused on advancing development initiatives within each of the 2 countries, as well as strengthening our relationships across Africa and with the African Union (AU). During his trip, he announced Canada's commitment to provide $194 million toward impactful development programming.
In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Minister Hussen participated in the first Canada-African Union Commission Development Policy Dialogue, where he engaged in high-level meetings to advance peace and security and trade and development objectives in the region. During these sessions, Minister Hussen announced $20 million in support of AU priorities in sustainable development, peace and security, and education. He also co-chaired a round table on education, emphasizing Canada's commitment to supporting technical and vocational education and training. An additional $35.4 million will be provided for education programming across Africa and globally.
During his time in Addis Ababa, Minister Hussen visited a health project at the Kirkos Health Center where Nutrition International provides critical support to the most vulnerable. He also met with Taye Atske Selassie, Ethiopia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ahmed Shide, Ethiopia's Minister of Finance, to discuss Canada's decades of partnership with Ethiopia, and its consistent international assistance support. The discussions emphasized the importance of peace and security as the foundation for inclusive and sustainable development.
Minister Hussen then travelled to the Tigray region, in northern Ethiopia, where he visited a shelter for ex-combatants who fought in the 2020-2022 Tigray armed conflict. The Minister took the opportunity to announce Canadian funding of $14M to a multi-donor basket fund managed by the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) to provide direct support to more than 370,000 ex-combatants across Ethiopia for their demobilization and reintegration into their communities. He also met with Getachew Reda, President of the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray, to discuss Canada's ongoing support for the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement as the region takes steps toward comprehensive and lasting peace.
While in Tigray, Minister Hussen met with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence to learn about their hopes for the future and the support they are receiving from Canada's funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). He also announced $65M in new funding to UNFPA for programming to prevent and address sexual and gender-based violence across Ethiopia. He then travelled to a camp that hosts internally displaced people to learn about the severe food insecurity in several regions of Ethiopia and to hear from camp residents about the obstacles to their safe return home and the support they receive from Canadian funded humanitarian partners.
In Tanzania, Minister Hussen visited several Canadian-funded development projects. Along with CARE Canada, the Minister announced a new $20.5-million project-Her Resilience, Our Planet-that will focus on improving gender-responsive and climate-resilient agricultural practices. He also visited a project run by World Vision that focuses on helping teenagers access sexual and reproductive health services while also helping young people become more financially independent.
The Minister met with Vice President Philip Mpango and discussed broadening the Canada Tanzania Bilateral relationship particularly in trade and investment. He also met with Ummy Mwalimu, Tanzania's Minister of Health. Minister Hussen highlighted Canada's role as the largest bilateral donor in various health-related areas, such as health systems, family planning, gender equality, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
In his meeting with Mbarouk Nassor Mbarouk, Tanzania's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister Hussen discussed climate change, regional stability, conflict resolution, food security and the promotion of gender equality. He also met with Carolyn Nombo, Permanent Secretary of Education, Science and Technology, where he emphasized Canada's commitment to supporting equal education for girls in Tanzania.
Finally, Minister Hussen engaged with Canadian partners in a round-table discussion on human capital development that focused on Tanzania's growing population. He later met with ACELI Africa to announce Canada's $25-million support to the Agri-SME Catalytic Financing Mechanism project, aimed at bolstering agricultural entrepreneurship.
During the trip, the Minister announced a total of $194.9 million in new development projects:
- The United Nations Population Fund will implement Protecting the Dignity and Rights of Women and Girls in Ethiopia, a $65-million project that will increase the availability and accessibility of services for family planning and prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence
- The International Finance Facility for Education will provide $30 million toward a new financing mechanism for global education. It will enable governments in lower-middle income countries to have more funds to invest in quality education and skills development
- ACELI Africa will implement the Agri-SME Catalytic Financing Mechanism, a $25-million project aimed at funding high-impact agri-SMEs in 5 African countries, incentivizing the process of lending to promote economic growth and food security
- The African Union will receive $20 million to help with the implementation of its 2063 agenda and strategic plan to advance continental priorities for sustainable and inclusive development
- CARE Canada will implement the Her Resilience, Our Planet project, valued at $20.5 million. This initiative promotes climate-resilient agriculture and supports livelihoods in Tanzania through collaborative efforts, empowering women to address climate change risks effectively by increasing leadership skills and technical support
- The United Nations Development Programme will implement a $14-million demobilization and reintegration project in Ethiopia. The project is aimed at peacefully reintegrating up to 370,000 ex-combatants into society in an inclusive and gender-sensitive manner to support peace and stability in Ethiopia. The project will also contribute to the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, which ended the conflict in Tigray
- UNICEF will implement the Improving Adolescent SRHR in Tanzania initiative, a $15-million project that will work to enhance access to rights-based, gender-responsive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information and services for adolescents, especially girls. It will empower them to claim their SRHR rights and foster an enabling environment for adolescent SRHR at all levels
- UNESCO will implement 2 educational projects, valued at $3.9 million, that aim to identify education issues and guide decision makers with policy changes
- UNICEF will implement a $1.5-million project that aims to achieve equitable, quality education outcomes for girls and boys in the most vulnerable and developing countries
