Grants and Contributions

This project maintains Canada’s full membership in the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights Association (VPA) and supports its work of gender-sensitive implementation of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPs). The VPs are guidelines for public and private security forces and natural resource companies to ensure their operations do not have a negative impact on human rights for all, including women and marginalized groups. The project works to approach security and human rights risks with a gender lens, identifying the particular barriers that women, human rights defenders and vulnerable groups face when interacting with private and public security forces around natural resource sites. The VPA is a multi-stakeholder non-profit association made up of natural resource companies, governments and civil society that promotes outreach and implementation of the principles. Canada endorses the Voluntary Principles and is an active member of the VPA.

The VPA uses these funds, along with other donors’ funding, to enhance personal security, safety and human dignity for all around industrial natural resource sites in developing countries. Project activities include: (1) establishing gender-sensitive and gender-inclusive policies within work streams of the Voluntary Principles Initiative (VPI); (2) completing toolkit(s) designed to respond to human rights threats specific to women, human rights defenders and vulnerable groups, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV); and (3) providing support to the VPA and in-country working groups on gender-sensitive policy and programming support.

P008909001: March 2020 - This grant represents Canada's support to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in eight countries, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, Venezuela and Yemen. IOM provides humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, migrants, and host communities. IOM provides assistance in multiple sectors, including protection, shelter, emergency non-food items, water, sanitation and hygiene services, livelihoods, and camp coordination and management.

With the support of GAC and other donors, IOM is facilitating access to essential relief items and adequate living conditions for crisis-affected populations, including IDPs, refugees, migrants, returnees and host communities.

Project activities include: (1) providing emergency shelter kits, non-food items and multi-purpose cash; (2) coordinating camp management for IDPs in United Nations bases; (3) deploying mobile teams to remote locations where affected populations lack water, sanitation and hygiene services; (4) providing emergency water, sanitation and hygiene; (5) supporting humanitarian organizations by: establishing lightweight camps in deep field locations, heavy base camps and national NGO support centres, and providing cargo transport services; (6) data collection that includes mapping of vulnerable populations at points of entry and at the district and community level for enhanced targeting and delivery of assistance; and (7) protection and gender mainstreaming across humanitarian response activities for extremely vulnerable individuals, including unaccompanied migrant children and single women and adolescent girls.

P008909002: March 2020 - This grant represents Canada's support to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in eight countries, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, Venezuela and Yemen. IOM provides humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, migrants, and host communities. IOM provides assistance in multiple sectors, including protection, shelter, emergency non-food items, water, sanitation and hygiene services, livelihoods, and camp coordination and management.

With the support of GAC and other donors, IOM is facilitating access to essential relief items and adequate living conditions for crisis-affected populations, including IDPs, refugees, migrants, returnees and host communities.

Project activities include: (1) providing emergency shelter kits, non-food items and multi-purpose cash; (2) coordinating camp management for IDPs in United Nations bases; (3) deploying mobile teams to remote locations where affected populations lack water, sanitation and hygiene services; (4) providing emergency water, sanitation and hygiene; (5) supporting humanitarian organizations by: establishing lightweight camps in deep field locations, heavy base camps and national NGO support centres, and providing cargo transport services; (6) data collection that includes mapping of vulnerable populations at points of entry and at the district and community level for enhanced targeting and delivery of assistance; and (7) protection and gender mainstreaming across humanitarian response activities for extremely vulnerable individuals, including unaccompanied migrant children and single women and adolescent girls.

March 2020 – Following the outbreak of violence in Northern Rakhine State in August 2017, more than 700,000 Rohingya people crossed from Myanmar into Bangladesh over a period of several months. Currently, there are approximately 855,000 Rohingya refugees living in 34 highly congested settlements in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The speed and scale of the influx has resulted in significant humanitarian needs.

With GAC’s support, Action Against Hunger (ACF) is providing comprehensive gender-responsive nutrition, health, protection, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programming to address lifesaving needs and reduce vulnerability. Project activities include: (1) treating acutely malnourished children, and pregnant and lactating women; (2) providing mental health, psychosocial support and protection information, programs and services; (3) upgrading sanitation facilities with solar lighting, locks and gender-specific signage; (4) providing training and support to women leaders to promote the advancement and protection of women and girls; and (5) conducting information sessions with men and boys on the prevention of gender-based violence and child marriage.

P008912001: The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ (OCHA) primary mandate is to oversee the coordination of international humanitarian responses, in partnership with national and international actors, in order to achieve more coherent and effective humanitarian action. This grant represents Canada's regional support to OCHA in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and to the High-level Panel on Internal Displacement.

With the support of Canada and other donors, OCHA fulfills its mandate by: (1) strengthening humanitarian leadership; (2) establishing and overseeing coordination systems; (3) monitoring and reporting on humanitarian situations; (4) advocating on behalf of affected people; (5) supporting the assessment and prioritization of humanitarian needs and strategic planning; (6) promoting emergency preparedness; and (7) mobilizing funding for humanitarian assistance.

P008912002: The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ (OCHA) primary mandate is to oversee the coordination of international humanitarian responses, in partnership with national and international actors, in order to achieve more coherent and effective humanitarian action. This grant represents Canada's regional support to OCHA in the Middle East and North Africa.

With the support of Canada and other donors, OCHA fulfills its mandate by: (1) strengthening humanitarian leadership; (2) establishing and overseeing coordination systems; (3) monitoring and reporting on humanitarian situations; (4) advocating on behalf of affected people; (5) supporting the assessment and prioritization of humanitarian needs and strategic planning; (6) promoting emergency preparedness; and (7) mobilizing funding for humanitarian assistance.

This project works to engage young Senegalese leaders and stakeholders in research and policy dialogue to help improve adolescent girls’ access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services. The project aims to examine the link between gender-based violence (GBV) and broader gender inequalities, and address policy shortcomings related to adolescent girls’ health and rights.

Project activities include: (1) researching the links that exist between adolescent girls’ vulnerability to GBV and SRHR; (2) translating findings into products and tools, and applying these findings to address negative gender norms and practices; (3) raising awareness and engagement of community organizations that work against the root causes of GBV; and (4) supporting the development of collaborative and transformative youth leadership skills for adolescent girls to overcome social barriers.

The project expects to involve up to 400,000 adolescent girls and 100,000 adolescent boys between the ages of 10 and 16 in its research, dissemination of findings, and engagement activities. The project also works to provide training to over 100 young community leaders to mentor 2,000 adolescent girls to effectively exercise their sexual and reproductive and health rights. The project aims to establish strategic partnerships with 40 local and 10 national policy-makers, in addition to at least 200 practitioners/service providers and 15 civil society organizations.

The project aims to improve access to quality health services adapted to the needs of adolescent girls and women in Mali, in the regions of Bamako, Kayes, Koulikoro, Segou and Sikasso.

Project activities include: (1) rehabilitating and providing equipment in public school institutions to address clinical training needs in primary health care/SRHR and environmental standards; (2) providing training and coaching teachers and supervisors on development programs in primary health care/sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender equality and environment; (3) implementing safe pilot facilities for pregnant women and survivors of gender based violence; and (4) developing and implementing comprehensive sexual education campaigns for adolescents and on positive masculinity for men and boys.

The project aims to improve access to inclusive, quality and gender-responsive health system for 500,000 people, mainly women and girls. The project also aims to provide training to 2,800 health professionals.

P008946001: February 2020 - The crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is characterized by inter-ethnic conflict and widespread human rights abuses, including sexual violence. In 2020, 15.6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the DRC, a 22% increase from 2019, and 2020 expects additional population movement, creating significant needs in protection, livelihoods, and food security. Currently, the DRC is home to the second largest food crisis, with almost 16 million people severely food insecure. In addition, it is home to the largest internally-displaced persons (IDPs) population in Africa with 5.01 million displaced people. These needs are exacerbated by the ongoing Ebola outbreak, increased violence, and the forced return of hundreds of thousands Congolese refugees.

With GAC’s support, Action Against Hunger (ACF) is providing assistance to address the urgent needs of up to 68,337 conflict-affected people in the Mweso Health Zone in the DRC. This project focuses on improving water, sanitation and hygiene conditions, preventing and treating malnutrition, and providing access to basic health and sexual and reproductive health and rights services to conflict-affected people.

Project activities include: (1) rehabilitating 65 water points; (2) constructing 500 latrines; (3) providing training to up to 18,870 people in acute and several malnutrition prevention; and (4) providing training to up to 50 community health workers.

P008946002: February 2020 - The crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is characterized by inter-ethnic conflict and widespread human rights abuses, including sexual violence. In 2020, 15.6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the DRC, a 22% increase from 2019, and 2020 expects additional population movement, creating significant needs in protection, livelihoods, and food security. Currently, the DRC is home to the second largest food crisis, with almost 16 million people severely food insecure. In addition, it is home to the largest internally-displaced persons (IDPs) population in Africa with 5.01 million displaced people. These needs are exacerbated by the ongoing Ebola outbreak, increased violence, and the forced return of hundreds of thousands Congolese refugees.

With GAC’s support, Action Against Hunger (ACF) is providing assistance to address the urgent needs of up to 68,337 conflict-affected people in the Mweso Health Zone in the DRC. This project focuses on improving water, sanitation and hygiene conditions, preventing and treating malnutrition, and providing access to basic health and sexual and reproductive health and rights services to conflict-affected people.

Project activities include: (1) rehabilitating 65 water points; (2) constructing 500 latrines; (3) providing training to up to 18,870 people in acute and several malnutrition prevention; and (4) providing training to up to 50 community health workers.

This project allows Yukon College to begin planning and consulting with other Canadian universities and colleges belonging to UArctic, on their strategy to re-engage with UArctic in its international network over the next five years. Project activities include: (1) building research frameworks for sharing information with Indigenous organizations internationally on best practices; and (2) building a plan to develop an Indigenous presence on the UArctic website.

This Project supports the Canadian community’s efforts to attract, retain and expand foreign direct investment (FDI) and is ultimately designed to strengthen the economy at the community level.

The project works to strengthen the evidence base in order to improve the design and implementation of gender-responsive climate change policies in sub-Saharan Africa, and to contribute to the empowerment of women and girls as beneficiaries and leaders in national climate strategies.

Project activities include: (1) running a call for proposals for teams of researchers and policy officials to conduct research on gender-responsive climate change policy options; (2) providing mentorship to selected teams in advanced research methods to analyze the economics of gender equality and climate change; and (3) providing training support to researchers and policy officials to understand, communicate, and use the results of this analysis to influence more effective climate change policies and programs.