Toronto, Ontario -- (Marketwire) -- 11/20/09 -- The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, today unveiled the Canadian International Development Agency's Children and Youth Strategy, one of CIDA's three thematic priorities.
"Focusing on Children and Youth, our government will help the children living in poverty today become resourceful, engaged and productive adults, ready to carry on the work of building a better future for themselves," said Minister Oda. "Children and youth living in poverty will shoulder some of the world's most pressing challenges. With a more effective approach to CIDA's development programming, we can make a difference in the lives of the world's most vulnerable, particularly young girls."
Under the Government's commitment to more focus, efficiency and accountability, CIDA's Children and Youth Strategy will target three key paths: Increasing child survival, including maternal health; Improving the quality of education; and Helping to ensure the safety and security of children and youth.
Building on CIDA's long history of working to help children, the Agency will increase programming in areas where it has already achieved considerable success with proven interventions such as basic education, child survival and maternal health. It will also continue to explore ways to help partner countries protect the rights of children and youth and ensure their safety and security. In her speech, Minister Oda also announced funding for three projects that are perfect illustrations of efficient and accountable programs that will be supported under the Children and Youth Strategy:
Working to ensure infant and maternal health, CIDA will contribute up to $2.4 million to a 3-year program with The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, (SickKids) and SickKids Foundation to help train paediatric nurses in Ghana, ultimately leading to the improved quality of healthcare provided to children in this country The program will also include specialized pediatric training for health care workers in two other African countries.
"SickKids International is delighted to partner with CIDA and SickKids Foundation on our Global Child Health Program," says Cathy Seguin, Vice President, SickKids International Affairs. "By providing innovative and sustainable paediatric health care education programs, by promoting leadership in child health and by strengthening the capacity of health systems, we can measurably improve child health outcomes in Ghana, Ethiopia and Tanzania."
Micronutrients, such as vitamin A and iodine plays a critical role in childhood survival and good health. It is one of the most efficient development investments that can be made to reduce the burden of illness, disease and childhood deaths. Minister Oda further announced a $150 million contribution to the Micronutrient Initiative. This investment has the potential to save millions of lives.
"Through its support of the Micronutrient Initiative, Canada has helped to save and enhance millions of children's lives in developing countries," says Venkatesh Mannar, President, the Micronutrient Initiative. "This renewed commitment to vitamin and mineral programs positions Canada as the world's leader in nutrition security."
To support the path of improving the quality of education, Minister Oda announced that CIDA will contribute $60 million to the Education for All - Fast Track Initiative, a global partnership between donor and developing countries To date, this initiative has achieved effective results with 20 million more children now in school in sub-Saharan Africa since its inception in 2002. The Canadian contribution will help developing countries further increase enrollment and the quality of their education.
"With Canada's support to the Education for All - Fast Track Initiative, more children in developing countries will be able to attend school and learn something meaningful," said Robert Prouty, Acting Head of the EFA-FTI Secretariat. "We are very pleased that Canada is demonstrating continued leadership in this tremendously important field."
The Children and Youth Strategy complements CIDA's other thematic priority themes of Food Security and Economic Growth and maximizes Canadian leadership toward increased aid effectiveness.
Last Modified: January 03, 2012
