Description:
The Project is a province-wide initiative implemented over five years (2026–2031) by the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation (ACGC) as part of the broader Engage: Global Citizens, Global Impact program. Building on ACGC’s longstanding role in mobilizing Albertans, the Project strengthens inclusive public engagement in international cooperation and contributes to Canada’s international assistance efforts. It focuses on increasing awareness, building capacity, and expanding opportunities for action, while ensuring alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and advancing gender equality.
The Project enhances understanding of global issues through a combination of youth leadership initiatives, educator programming, community engagement, and civil society capacity-building. It places particular emphasis on reaching underrepresented groups, including youth, newcomers, educators, and small and medium-sized organizations, while expanding access across urban, rural, and newcomer communities. These groups are the primary beneficiaries of the Project’s activities, which are designed to foster inclusive participation and amplify diverse perspectives in international cooperation.
In Alberta, ACGC serves as a key convener and hub for global citizenship education and international cooperation, working in partnership with civil society, educational institutions, and community organizations. The Project activities include: (1) strengthening public awareness of global issues through storytelling, campaigns, and International Development Week activities; (2) building capacity through training, learning platforms, and youth leadership initiatives; and (3) expanding access to engagement through community-led dialogues, global exchanges, and support for collaborative initiatives that foster meaningful participation in Canada’s international cooperation efforts.
Expected Results:
The ultimate outcome of the Project is to strengthen support for Canada’s international development assistance, including gender equality and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), among people across Alberta as engaged global citizens, with a particular emphasis on youth, newcomers, educators, and underrepresented communities. The Project achieves this outcome through inclusive public engagement and capacity-building programming delivered both in-person and digitally, reaching an estimated 675,945 direct beneficiaries over five years, as well as more than 1.5 million indirect beneficiaries through communications and outreach efforts.
The expected outcomes of this Project include: (1) increased awareness and engagement of Albertans in global issues and international development, particularly among underrepresented populations; (2) enhanced capacity of individuals, educators, and civil society organizations to participate in and deliver inclusive global citizenship initiatives; and (3) strengthened networks and collaboration across Alberta and within national platforms such as the Inter-Council Network, contributing to more coordinated and effective public engagement efforts in support of international development and gender equality.