ISA-Africa : Canada Helps Build New Partnership

"In the spirit of both the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and the G8 Africa Action Plan, Canada’s efforts will focus on those countries that demonstrate a commitment to democracy, good governance and human rights," the Prime Minister said. "We will match the efforts of African leaders with our own actions to help foster innovation and economic growth, strengthen African institutions that encourage responsible and accountable governance, and improve the well-being of future generations of Africans."

The new initiatives will bring together governments, the private sector and civil society to promote African innovation, human development and critical infrastructure services. They will include public participation and capacity building to develop African solutions to its challenges. Highlights include:

In the Area of fostering Economic Growth:

opening Canada’s markets to African imports by eliminating tariffs and quotas on most imports from 48 Least Developed Countries (LDCs), of which 34 are in Africa, effective January 1, 2003;
$100 million to encourage private sector investment by creating an African investment fund that will leverage private sector resources for investment projects, including infrastructure, such as roads, water supply and pipeline construction;
$20 million for three initiatives to increase Africa’s trade capacity by working to promote exports within and outside Africa and to strengthen the role of African countries and institutions in multilateral trade negotiations;
trade mission to sub-Saharan Africa during the coming year to foster partnerships between African and Canadian companies;
$35 million for three initiatives to help bridge the digital divide by supporting African initiatives that expand the use and benefits of new information and communications technologies;

In the Area of strengthening Institutions and Governance:

$28 million to support skills and expertise development in the public sector in countries committed to improving governance, including financial accountability and economic policy;
$9 million to strengthen the role of the parliamentary system in countries committed to political reform, including parliamentary oversight and reinforcing the role of women in government. This will be complemented by an active role for African and Canadian parliamentarians;
$6 million to help improve local governance by working with African partners to develop new approaches to providing basic community needs, such as access to water, sanitation and health;
$3 million to continue to support NEPAD outreach activities that promote awareness and public discourse in Africa on the NEPAD;
$4 million to reinforce Pan-African conflict prevention and resolution by helping the new African Union (formerly the Organization for African Unity) to strengthen links with sub-regional organizations that develop and implement peace and security programs;
$15 million to strengthen regional security through targeted efforts in West Africa to help build safer communities

In the Area of investing in the People and Future of Africa:

a doubling of Canada’s investment in basic education in Africa to $100 million per year by 2005 (This initiative will be financed through new and existing resources that are additional to the Canada Fund for Africa);
$50 million towards the development of an HIV vaccine for Africa and other Africa-based HIV/AIDS health research;
$50 million to support polio eradication by collaborating with UNICEF and the World Health Organization and by challenging our public and private partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to eliminate the disease by 2005;
a doubling of Canada’s support by investing an additional $40 million for Africa-specific research on agricultural productivity through the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, which will concentrate on the needs of small-scale farmers and women producers;
$50 million to improve water management and access to water and sanitation through the Global Water Partnership; and,
$10 million to collaborate with the African Development Bank to support a Project Preparation Facility to help develop financially viable water and energy infrastructure projects.
up to $1.5 million over three years to support work with Olympic Aid, an athlete-driven organization to promote healthy child development in Africa through sport and play program for kids and youth because every child has the right to play.

Canada is committed to increasing, untying and improving the effectiveness of its aid. This includes:

Just over $420 million of the Canada Fund for Africa will be allocated toward today’s new initiatives. Funding for all of the initiatives is provided for in the December 2001 budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.