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June 2002 Canada
Canada offers Support to Developing Countries to prepare for World Summit on Sustainable Development

Ottawa — Susan Whelan, Minister for International Cooperation, today announced that Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), has contributed $3 million over two years to help developing countries prepare for and participate in the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). Sustainable development is about balancing human, economic, and environmental priorities, an approach that brings about a higher quality of life and better access to life's necessities for more individuals and communities all over the planet.

"It is essential that developing countries are involved fully in this Summit – that their voices are heard," Minister Whelan said. "Canada's support has helped to ensure that developing countries were at the negotiating table from day 1 in the preparatory process and that they have a strong voice at the Summit."

The funds announced today have been helping developing country officials, civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) prepare for and participate in the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Activities supported include: participating in preparatory meetings; building partnerships between civil society, local and international NGOs, and governments; sharing knowledge and expertise; and, supporting a series of sustainable development initiatives in South Africa related to WSSD.

"The participation of civil society, NGOs, youth, the private sector, and governments – all of society's stakeholders – is central to making the Summit inclusive and representative and ultimately successful," Minister Whelan said. "WSSD is a promising opportunity to address common global issues surrounding sustainable development and to build stronger, lasting bridges between different members of the global community."

Minister Whelan will travel to Johannesburg to participate in the Summit as part of the Canadian delegation from September 2 to 4, 2002.

Funding for initiatives such as these was provided for in the December 2001 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.


Canada supports Developing Countries participation
in World Summit on Sustainable Development

The funding announced today has been disbursed in the following manner:
  • Support to developing country officials:
      • $1 million to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs' Voluntary Fund to support developing country officials' preparation and participation in the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and related preparatory meetings.
      • $50,000 through the International Development Research Centre for the meeting of Health and Environment Minister of Africa to be held in February, 2003.

  • Support to developing country non-governmental organizations (NGOs):
      • $450,000 to the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service to support the participation of developing country NGOs in preparatory meetings for WSSD and in the Summit itself.
      • $100,000 to the Réseau International des ONG Désertification – Southern African Section – to support civil society in Southern Africa in their efforts to implement the desertification convention and other environmental agreements and to highlight their importance in preparation for and at WSSD.
      • $50,000 through the African Development Bank to the Africa Civil Society Steering Committee for WSSD to organize a meeting with key civil society organizations and donor country representatives.

  • Support to international NGOs:
      • $140,000 to the Earth Council to conduct an assessment of local, national and regional of the Earth Summit Agreements as critical input to WSSD.
      • $150,000 to the International Council for Local Environment Initiatives to ensure the full participation of local governments in the WSSD process and build their capacity to serve as leaders in the global strategy for sustainable development.

      • $60,000 to the World Conservation Union to provide an ecosystem and biodiversity perspective at the Summit by building knowledge in developing countries in the areas of natural resource management, environment and conservation.

  • Support to South Africa:
      • $500,000 in budgetary support to help cover the costs of hosting the Summit.

      • $250,000 to the World Summit Civil Society Company to strengthen South Africa's civil society preparations at the national and provincial levels, leading up to the WSSD civil society forum, as well as facilitating their participation in the policy and preparatory processes leading up to the Summit by organizing workshops.
      • $150,000 to CIDA's Canada Fund in South Africa to fund a series of local projects that support the WSSD themes.
  • Support to Indonesia:
      • $100,000 through the United Nations Development Programme to help cover Indonesia's costs of hosting the fourth meeting of the Preparatory Committee for WSSD, held in Bali, Indonesia from May 24 to June 7, 2002.
Source : News release Prime Minister Press Office