Grants and Contributions

This project supports inclusive and sustainable economic growth by strengthening the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those led by women and under-represented groups, to access Canadian and international markets. It aims to strengthen trade support institutions (TSIs) in 16 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America to deliver inclusive, gender-responsive, and sustainable services to SMEs. The project also seeks to improve the ability of TSIs to integrate gender equality and social inclusion into their operations and to enhance the export readiness of SMEs. Project activities include: (1) training TSIs to deliver export-readiness and climate-resilient services to SMEs; (2) developing gender action plans and tools to support inclusive service delivery; and (3) coaching SMEs to improve their export offerings and connect with international buyers.

This project aims to reduce poverty by increasing the economic well-being of women-managed or owned Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) located in poorer, rural, and more remote areas outside of capital cities in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. COMPETE seeks to build the capacity of local Trade Support institutions to deliver gender-responsive services and support and women-owned or led SMEs to expand trade relationships with established Canadian buyers. Project activities include: (1) facilitating “Train the trainer” workshops on exporting to Canada, including information on consumer demands and export readiness; (2) conducting local market research on selected sectors to support women-owned or led SMEs participation to enter the Canadian market; (3) providing training to women-owned or led SMEs on export financing; (4) coordinating knowledge-sharing opportunities to connect SMEs with experience in export finance with SMEs beneficiaries; and (5) providing coaching to export-ready women owned or l

Through the application of national and local priorities, the CSJ program seeks to provide youth, particularly those who face barriers to employment with access to work opportunities. Funded employers must demonstrate that they are providing quality work experiences for youth that provide opportunities to develop and improve their skills.

Through the application of national and local priorities, the CSJ program seeks to provide youth, particularly those who face barriers to employment with access to work opportunities. Funded employers must demonstrate that they are providing quality work experiences for youth that provide opportunities to develop and improve their skills.

Through the application of national and local priorities, the CSJ program seeks to provide youth, particularly those who face barriers to employment with access to work opportunities. Funded employers must demonstrate that they are providing quality work experiences for youth that provide opportunities to develop and improve their skills.

The project aims to increase the number of women from developing countries involved in international trade as exporters, and aims to increase the share of exports generated by women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The project seeks to address the main constraints faced by women exporters including limited skills, resources and networks to be able to access global trade markets, and low levels of involvement as members and leaders of trade support institutions. The project aims to focus on particular sectors, including fresh fruits and vegetables, processed foods, and niche market artisan products and services, as there are favourable opportunities for employment creation for women in these sectors.

The project works in 24 developing countries, of which 50% is in Sub-Saharan Africa. As well, 50% of project resources aim to be allocated to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Project activities include: (1) mentoring programs put in place for women-led SMEs on becoming exporters; (2) implementing capacity building for Trade Support Institutions to gain the knowledge, skills and resources they need to export to Canada and other international markets, including information on consumer demand, buyers and buyer behaviour, regulations and pricing; and (3) linking women entrepreneurs with women business/export promotion networks to increase their market knowledge and develop their business contacts.

The project aims to directly benefit 13,150 SMEs, of which 6,650 are women-owned/led, and 30 are Trade Support Institutions.

The project aims to improve the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs working in the areas of apparel, textile, fashion accessories and home décor in Lesotho, Uganda, Madagascar and Ethiopia.

The project works to provide training and technical assistance so women-led enterprises can increase their exports to Canada and other foreign markets.

The project also aims to assist local trade support institutions (TSIs) to provide gender responsive market access services, and ensure women-owned enterprises are accessing those services and implementing export plans for Canadian and other foreign markets.

Project activities include: (1) providing training and technical assistance on market access services to women-led enterprises; (2) providing training and technical assistance to local TSIs on sustainable business plans, which include new revenue generating services and funding opportunities from local and international funders; and (3) providing training and technical assistance to women-led enterprises to increase their access to the financial and human resources necessary to implement their export plans.

The project aims to directly benefit 240 women-owned/led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that work to access gender responsive market services to access Canadian and other foreign markets, and 60 local TSI staff to receive training and technical assistance on self-sustaining governance structures that promote women leadership and gender responsive market access services to women led/owned SMEs in the targeted countries.

This project aims to develop the ability of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and related trade-support institutions in developing countries to pursue export opportunities in Canada. Components of the project specifically targets developing countries with which Canada has negotiated, or is negotiating, free trade agreements in order to help them to benefit from these new agreements. Through SME-led job creation, this project also contributes to reducing poverty in developing countries.
Project activities include: (1) providing Canadian market trade information and online Services by producing information papers, website content with import/export product offers, market entry studies, e-bulletin; (2) providing Canadian market access services and Trade Support Institution capacity building in 25 priority countries through sector specific training on market access to Canada; and (3) providing Canadian market access services for up to 8 of the Least Developed Countries in the garment sector and to trade agreement developing country partners to Canada.