Develop a Global Partnership for Development (MDG 8)

Overview

The United Nations Millennium Declaration represents a global agreement: developing countries will do more to ensure their own development, and developed countries will support them through aid, debt relief, and better opportunities for trade. Virtually nothing in the sphere of international development happens without effective partnerships. The challenge of reducing poverty around the world is simply too big for any single government or organization to tackle alone.

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Canada's Contribution

Canada recognizes that the governments and people of developing countries, who often lead and run programs, are vital to success. In addition, CIDA works with a variety of trusted partners, including aid agencies from other donor countries, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations in Canada and abroad.

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Contributions from the Canadian International Development Agency and its Partners

Increased aid volumes and effectiveness: Canada will double international assistance by 2010-2011 from 2001-2002 levels and bring Canada's total international assistance to $5 billion by 2010-2011. Canada has met its commitment to double aid to Africa by 2008-2009 from 2003-2004 levels. In April 2008, Canada untied 100 percent of Canadian food aid, and in September 2008, the Government announced its plan to fully untie Canada's development assistance by 2012-2013.

Greater debt relief: From 2000-2001 to 2007-2008, the combined debt savings to heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) amounted to approximately $965.2 million, under the Canadian Debt Initiative and the terms of the Paris Club and through contributions to the HIPC Trust Fund.

Building trade capacity: Canada's Aid for Trade (AFT) expenditures in calendar year 2008 were US$316 million, up from US$182 million in 2005. Canada pledged funding of $19.2 million over five years (2008-2013) to the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-related Technical Assistance for the least developed countries.

Providing access to affordable essential drugs: The Government of Canada is a leader in improving access to essential medicines in developing and least-developed countries. For example:

• In 2007, Canada introduced a tax incentive for donations of essential medicines to eligible Canadian charities for use in the developing world.
• In 2005, Canada's Access to Medicines Regime came into effect, providing a framework for eligible countries to import less expensive generic versions of patented drugs and medical devices from Canadian pharmaceutical companies.
• Canada is also a leader in child immunization and supports the development of new vaccines through initiatives such as the Pneumococcal Advanced Market Commitment.
• Canada is a recognized leader in the global fight against tuberculosis (TB) and is committed to eliminating TB as a significant global health problem. For instance, Canada served as founding chair of the STOP TB Partnership, established in 2000.
• Canada established, and is the leading donor to, the Global Drug Facility, a STOP TB Parnership project that improves access to quality anti-TB drugs in resource-poor countries.

Improving the availability of new technologies: Budget 2008 provided an initial $50 million over two years for a new development innovation fund. The fund will support the best minds in the world as they search for breakthroughs in global health and other areas having the potential to bring about enduring changes in the lives of millions of individuals in poor countries.

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