(2005-36) News Release
Port-au-Prince - The Honourable
Aileen Carroll, Minister of International Cooperation, today announced
a series of measures funded by the Canadian International Development Agency
(CIDA) to support Haiti's efforts toward sustainable development. Minister
Carroll is currently in Haiti, where she is meeting with Haitian officials
and visiting CIDA projects, particularly those in the micro-credit and
energy sectors.
"I am here today to reinforce Canada's strong and valued relationship with the Haitian Government," Minister Carroll said. "Today's announcement is part of Canada's $180-million commitment to respond to the needs and priorities of the people of Haiti."
The funds announced today will be provided as follows:
- $15 million over ten years to support
more than 60 Haitian savings and credit cooperatives, in cooperation with
Développement International Desjardins. This will help establish a judicial
and regulatory framework and ensure good management practices;
- $10 million over seven years to contribute
to the rehabilitation of the Artibonite River Watershed along the border
between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the first phase being the development
of a binational watershed management plan, directed by Oxfam-Quebec and
CRC Sogema;
- More than $6 million over five years
for the second phase of an Oxfam-Quebec initiative to provide training
to design, promote and implement agroforestry production models, with an
emphasis on gender equality;
- $5 million over four years for the Haitian
Development and Employment Fund (FODEM), an initiative to support activities
toward the rehabilitation and construction of basic and economic infrastructures
to generate employment, and;
- over $3.6 million over five years to support local governance including efforts to sustain and regenerate the north-east region's fragile ecosystem, through a United Nations Development Programme initiative partially funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund.
Funding for these initiatives were provided for in the February 2005 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
Information
France Bureau, Press Secretary, 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