 |
|
Photo Courtesy: Abod |
|
News Release
Canadian
International Development Agency
February 9,
2007
Canada's New Government Funds Projects
Aimed at Improving Lives of Women
Ottawa — The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of
International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie
and Official Languages, today announced that Canada is
committing more than $9 million to fund two projects,
executed by Oxfam Canada and Oxfam Quebec respectively, to
empower women in developing countries.
“Canada's New Government is committed to supporting programs
and organizations that improve the lives of women around the
world,” Minister Verner said. “In Afghanistan, Vietnam,
Africa, or Latin America, equal participation of women and
men in the development of their societies and equal access
to development benefits are two prerequisites for
sustainable development.”
Through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA),
Canada will contribute $4.92 million over two years to Oxfam
Canada's Engendering Change project. Oxfam Canada will work
with civil-society organizations in nine developing
countries to advocate women's rights and interests, and to
promote women's participation in decision-making.
The second project announced will be executed by Oxfam
Quebec in Vietnam with CIDA funding of $4.5 million over
five years. This rural business development project will
promote the start-up and growth of rural businesses and
micro-businesses.
Today's announcement was made at an event on Parliament Hill
as part of International Development Week 2007.
The event was organized in partnership with the United
Nations Association of Canada. Several partners were
present, including Amjad Arbab, Director of the Microfinance
Investment Support Facility for Afghanistan (MISFA), and
Katrin Fakiri, the program manager in Parwaz. Both work on
projects funded by Canada that have a major impact on the
quality of life and living conditions of women in
Afghanistan.
For more information about the projects announced today,
please see the enclosed backgrounder.
Information:
Nicole Lascelle
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation
Telephone: 819-953-6238
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: 819-953-6534
E-mail:info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
|
