Grants and Contributions

The project will facilitate continued support to T/PCCs and the UN, in support of the Canadian-led Elsie Initiative for Women in UN Peace Operations. The EIF was established by Canada in 2019, following the launch of the Elsie Initiative in 2017 at the Vancouver UN peacekeeping ministerial. This contribution is the last planned Canadian contribution to the EIF at this time (funding post-2027 is not yet determined) and is sourced from dedicated funding for the Elsie Initiative from the TB Submission on UN peace operations and peacebuilding (2022-2027). EIF-funded interventions have helped identify and address the various barriers faced by uniformed women in deploying to UN peacekeeping missions. EIF-funded interventions include Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peacekeeping (MOWIP) barrier assessments; construction of gender-sensitive accommodations, training, and daycare facilities; financial premiums for GSU (gender-strong unit) deployments; development of gender policies, strategies and action plans; and training and capacity building. The EIF is the only dedicated trust fund to support and incentivize the meaningful participation of women in peacekeeping. Funding is an important factor enabling Member States to advance the participation of women in UN peace operations and supports recent efforts by the Elsie Initiative and the EIF to incentivize quality as well as volume of Member State Peacekeeping contributions. Initiatives under the EIF go beyond numerical targets to ensure that women are represented across all ranks and functions, in non-traditional roles and positions of leadership, and in enabling environments that offer parity for deployment conditions.

This project aims to support the Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund’s Sudan appeal which aims to support local women’s organizations’ leadership in responding to the outbreak of violence. Project activities include: (1) channeling grants to local and grassroots women’s organizations working to sustain their critical operations on the front lines. This includes the provision of safety net protection grants for women human rights defenders; (2) providing safe spaces, training for frontline responders on responding to violence, psychosocial support for young girls, managing conflict-related sexual violence cases and supporting referral pathways; and (3) building women’s leadership skills on crisis response and enhancing their safety, security and mental health.

This project aims to enhance the safety, resilience and socio-economic recovery of conflict-affected communities in Ukraine through effective mine action and reduced explosive ordnance threats. Project activities include: (1) establishing a mechanism to strengthen non-technical survey data management; (2) training non-technical survey officers in best practices and methodologies for conducting gender-sensitive surveys; (3) procuring equipment for the national police explosive ordnance unit; (4) providing small grants for gender-sensitive community-driven mine action projects; and (5) promoting coordination and international mine action standards in Ukraine.

This project supports the United Nations (UN) Climate Security Mechanism (CSM), which is a joint initiative that includes the Department for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs , the United Nations Development Programme, and the United Nations Environment Programme). It aims to strengthen the capacity of the UN system to analyze and address the adverse impacts of climate change on peace and security. The CSM seeks to reduce the risk of climate change and environmental degradation adversely impacting peace globally. Project activities include: (1) leading and supporting integrated risk assessments and developing risk management strategies and plans to be implemented in locations highly affected by climate-related security risks; (2) advocating, developing partnerships, and convening to increase collaboration between global, regional and national decision-makers and stakeholders to harmonize climate action, peace and security policies; (3) generating a stronger evidence base and tools to enable UN entities to analyze and report on climate-related security risks and related response strategies; and (4) strengthening the capacity of policymakers and practitioners to develop policies and programmes addressing interlinkages between climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and security.

Through this project, Canada provides a contribution to the Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Prevention Multi-Partner Trust Fund (CRSV-MPTF) that help create the implementation of the Framework of Cooperation signed between the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and the Government of Ukraine. It aims to enhance Ukrainian’s capacity to actively prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).

This project continues and builds on past support to the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and seeks to address urgent peacebuilding needs in fragile and conflict-affected states through locally-led, gender and youth-responsive, catalytic investments. Project activities include: (1) supporting fast and flexible initiatives that address gender and youth inclusion; (2) facilitating United Nations transitions from peacekeeping to local level peacebuilding; and (3) supporting cross-border and regional programs.

Canada's support of the United Nations Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) aims to increase women’s participation in, and implementation of, peace processes and peace agreements. The WPHF's Rapid Response Window (RRW) is a critical funding mechanism that addresses urgent funding gaps with rapid, short-term support. This project supports to the WPHF's work in Haiti, to provide rapid funding to local women's organizations responding to the crisis and the needs of women and girls. Project activities include: (1) undertaking advocacy and technical support; (2) building capacity for women to meaningfully participate by promoting favourable attitudes towards their participation in conflict prevention; (3) addressing barriers to women’s representation and participation in peace negotiations; and (4) ensuring women’s and girls’ safety, health and security are assured, and their human rights respected through measures that prevent acts of violence, facilitate access to services for survivors, and strengthen accountability.

P010184001 & P010184002 : 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 support to the UN Country-Based Pooled Funds, managed by OCHA with support from the Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (UNDP), in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.

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.

P009500001: This project supports the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), which was established in 2016 and is an innovative global partnership of the United Nations, governments and civil society organizations (CSOs). The WFPH works to empower women in precarious environments around the world, to be a force in crisis situations and to foster sustainable peace. The WPHF is active in 20 countries and has been supporting over 130 CSOs since its launch. This project works to strengthen CSOs in prevention, mediation and peacebuilding initiatives. The project also supports the creation of a new Rapid Response, which contributes to increasing women’s representation and formal leadership, and informal peace negotiations.

P009500002: This project works to provide funding to local CSOs in fragile and conflict-affected states, who are actively engaged in delivering key resources and services to address the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. COVID-19 outbreaks have had significant, negative impacts in many countries. These impacts have been amplified in fragile and conflict-affected contexts where conflict drivers are further exacerbated. Local CSOs around the world are playing key roles in supporting efforts to respond to, and stem the spread of COVID-19. Project activities include: (1) persuading populations to follow public health directives; (2) advocating for specific needs for women and girls in response to COVID-19; and (3) supporting women who constitute 70% of the workers and care givers in the health and social sector globally, and are on the frontlines of the response.

March 2020 - The impact of three decades of conflict and insecurity, exacerbated by chronic drought and other natural disasters, has left Somalia facing widespread food insecurity, acute malnutrition, and population displacement. In 2020, 5.3 million people in Somalia (an estimated 42% of the population) are expected to require humanitarian assistance. At least 1.4 million Somalis, primarily women and children, are facing acute malnutrition and 2.6 million are now internally displaced. While the political situation in Somalia has been gradually improving, households continue to face deeply entrenched needs and remain vulnerable to sudden shocks.

With the support of GAC and other donors to the Somalia Humanitarian Fund, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is providing funding to United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations to respond to newly emerging crises and shifting/deteriorating humanitarian situations. Project activities include: (1) supporting life-saving activities, such as shelter, healthcare and protection, by filling critical funding gaps; (2) promoting needs-based assistance in accordance with humanitarian principles; (3) strengthening the coordination of humanitarian assistance; (4) improving the relevance and coherence of humanitarian response by strategically funding priorities as identified under the Humanitarian Response Plan; and (5) expanding the delivery of humanitarian assistance in hard-to-reach areas of the country by partnering with local and international non-governmental organizations.