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Partnering to Save Lives

UNICEF and Canada have a long history of partnering to improve the health and wellbeing of children around the world. In 2019, Canada was amongst UNICEF’s top 15 donors contributing US$12 million to UNICEF’s regular resources, and US$119 million to UNICEF’s development and emergency responses.

Canada is funding projects that address some of the most urgent needs of women and children in the areas of healthcare and immunization, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and protection from violence and harm.

Global Affairs Canada leads Canada’s international efforts to reduce poverty in developing countries and provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people in crisis.

For an up-to-date list of current projects, visit Global Affairs Canada’s International Development Project Browser.

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Saving Children’s Lives

Canada is a world leader in empowering women and girls in international development, including reducing maternal and child mortality. With the support of the Government of Canada and the 25th Team, UNICEF and partners are strengthening local health systems, improving nutrition, and preventing and treating deadly disease. Together, UNICEF and Canada are empowering women and saving lives in Cambodia, Ethiopia, Haiti, Indonesia, Namibia and Peru.

UNdaunted: Educating Girls with Disabilities in Somalia

As part of UNICEF’s UNdaunted Campaign, the Government of Canada and UNICEF partners are improving learning outcomes for girls in Somalia, including girls with disabilities, by increasing their equitable access to safe, quality, inclusive education within an education system that addresses their unique needs. UNICEF is working with key stakeholders and using innovative and sustainable programs, such as distributing emergency school cash grants, as well as providing access to flexible alternative education programs to educate and empower rural and nomadic girls.

UNICEF’s UNdaunted Campaign is tackling the barriers (poverty, harmful traditional practices and attitudes, early marriage and adolescent pregnancy) to education and empowering girls and women in communities across sub-Saharan Africa.

Education and COVID-19 in Burkina Faso, the DRC and Mali

Together, the Government of Canada and UNICEF are using innovative approaches to address social, cultural, and physical barriers that are preventing girls in Burkina Faso, the DRC and Mali from exercising their right to an education – adapting interventions to the context of COVID-19. Education officials will have an increased ability to deliver education curriculum in a variety of modalities and advocate for the inclusion of refugee and displaced girls within the formal education system. Teachers and social workers will be empowered to provide gender-responsive quality learning materials to support remote learning and create safe spaces for girls when schools re-open. Increasing gender equality and promoting the empowerment of refugee and displaced girls is key to building back better.