Backgrounder – Minister Hussen announces $26.4 million in development funding for justice, climate change and economic inclusion

The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced $26.4 million in Canadian funding for development programming during his domestic travel to Vancouver, British Columbia, Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario and Windsor, Ontario. Details of the project funding follow.

Judicial Strengthening Program for CVB in the Eastern Caribbean
$4.6 million (2023 to 2028)
(previously announced by Prime Minister Trudeau)
Justice Education Society of British Columbia

This program aims to help protect the rights of women, youth, and children in the Eastern Caribbean by increasing the capacity of vulnerable populations to know and exercise their rights through judicial processes and by increasing the capacity of Eastern Caribbean judges, prosecutors, and public defenders to deliver fair and transparent criminal justice, particularly in cases of sexual and gender-based violence. This program will be implemented in Saint Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. 

Opportunities for Circular and Inclusive Diversification in Agriculture (OCIDA) in Honduras
$11.9 million (2023 to 2030)
Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA)

This project aims to address poverty, climate risks, and gender inequalities by diversifying and improving agricultural production in coffee, cacao, fruits, honey, poultry, vegetables, and tubers. It will promote circular business models, combat gender discrimination, and strengthen producer-business connections, benefiting women, youth, associations, municipalities, women’s rights organizations, environmental experts, financial intermediaries and enterprises. This project is being implemented in Honduras.

Training and Workplace Advancement Solutions for Opportunities in the Labour Force (TAWASOL)
$9.9 million (2023 to 2028)

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and Canadian Leaders in International Consulting

This project will address youth unemployment by strengthening the alignment between tin-demand skills in the private sector and training provided by vocational training centres and technical universities in Iraq. The project is funded through Canada’s Middle East engagement strategy and will result in enhanced gender-responsive and inclusive employment environments enabling youth, especially female youth, to make the transition from training to employment in target communities in Iraq.