Backgrounder: Canada’s funding responds to crisis caused by drought in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia

Canada has announced that it is providing over $63.75 million in new funding for humanitarian assistance to help address the life-saving needs of crisis-affected people in the Horn of Africa. This funding will bring Canada’s total humanitarian assistance for the region to $84.45 million to date in 2022.

In addition, Canada has announced $9.8 million in new development assistance funding to complement humanitarian efforts and help build resilience for people affected by crisis in Ethiopia.

This new funding of $73.55 million is being distributed as follows.

Ethiopia: $37.5 million in humanitarian funding and $9.8 million in complementary development funding

In Ethiopia, humanitarian assistance will help to provide access to food, treatment for acute malnutrition and other critical health care, safe water and sanitation, emergency shelter and protection services, as well as to help build resilience for people affected by crisis.

Complementary development assistance totalling $9.8 million for five humanitarian initiatives will  contribute to a longer-term impact, particularly in the areas of resilience and the empowerment of women and girls. This assistance  will prioritize activities in the WASH (water, sanitation hygiene), protection, women’s economic development and empowerment, education, climate action, and livelihoods sectors. This Nexus approach aims to better address the complementary needs of beneficiaries, mitigate vulnerabilities, and support a sustainable impact towards peace. These initiatives will be delivered by Care Canada, Save the Children Canada, World Vision Canada, Canadian Lutheran World Relief and Oxfam Canada.

Kenya: $2.2 million

In Kenya, this humanitarian assistance will help to provide access to food, treatment for acute malnutrition and other critical health care, safe water and sanitation, emergency shelter and protection services to those in need.