News release
February 5, 2025 - Ottawa, Canada - Global Affairs Canada
Climate change is one of today’s greatest challenges. Developing countries are often the hardest hit by climate change, and many have limited capacity to adapt to its impacts. As part of its efforts to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, Canada is committed to doing its part to strengthen climate action and economies in vulnerable regions of the world so that we can all benefit from a healthy environment that is rich in biodiversity.
Today, during International Development Week, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced more than $87 million in new development assistance funding to help ensure a sustainable future for all by empowering and equipping marginalized people whose livelihoods, supply chains and communities are greatly impacted by climate change.
This funding will support the following initiatives implemented by the following Canadian organizations and Canadian chapters of international organizations:
- Alinea International, Enhancing Community Climate Options for Adaptation and Resilience in Mongolia
- Calgary Zoo Foundation (operating as the Wilder Institute), Enhanced Sustainability of Biodiversity and Livelihoods in Ghana
- Cowater International, Socio-economic Empowerment of Women in Oasis and Argan Grove Areas in Morocco
- Desjardins International Development
- Economic Empowerment of Women Cooperative Members in Morocco
- Strengthening Agropastoral Women’s Adaptation to Climate Change in Chad
- Reduced Vulnerability to Climate Change and Food Security for Women in the Cassava Sector in Côte d’Ivoire
- Hope Story, The Makueni Women’s Empowerment Project in Kenya
- International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Community-Based Conservation of Coastal-Marine Biodiversity in Honduras
- Salasan Consulting Inc. with the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources, Climate Leadership and Action for Indigenous Women in Nepal
- Société de Coopération Pour le Développement International [international development cooperation company] SOCODEVI, STRONG’HER (Support to Women-Led Agricultural Businesses in Climate Change Adaptation in Ethiopia)
- World Vision Canada, Access Sri Lanka (enhancing adaptation to climate change in agri-food systems in Sri Lanka’s Dry Zone)
Canada will continue to work with its domestic and international partners to address climate change while contributing to sustainable, resilient and inclusive global economic development.
Quotes
“Our collective future depends on the action we take to protect the environment and equip regions of the world that are disproportionately affected by climate change. Our global efforts, together with partners, lead to a sustainable future for all, a future that includes greater security, prosperity and well-being for Canadians and people around the world alike.”
- Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development
Quick facts
- This year, Canada marks the 35th anniversary of its International Development Week, a week designated to highlight how Canadians are helping eradicate poverty around the world and working to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
- International development supports the global economy, improves supply chains, strengthens security, prevents the spread of infectious diseases and protects ecosystems and biodiversity.
- Canada is fully committed to its climate action obligations under the Paris Agreement and to achieving net zero by 2050.
- Canada has doubled its climate finance commitment to developing countries to $5.3 billion (2021 to 2026).
- Additionally, Canada committed $350 million (2023 to 2026) to support developing countries in advancing biodiversity efforts and the implementation of the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework through collaboration and partnership, including with women and Indigenous Peoples.
Related products
Backgrounder
Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced $87.34 million in development assistance funding for the following projects.
Project: Support to Women-Led Agricultural Businesses in Climate Change Adaptation in Ethiopia (STRONG’HER)
Partner: Société de Coopération Pour le Développement International [international development cooperation company] (SOCODEVI)
Funding: $20.15 million (fiscal years 2023 to 2024 through 2029 to 2030)
STRONG’HER aims to bolster the resilience and capacity of women working in agriculture by increasing their access to, and adoption of, new and improved agricultural technologies, equipment and inputs, as well as innovative agricultural practices. This project will enhance the climate change adaptation skills of 4,000 women entrepreneurs in Addis Ababa and 2,000 rural families (of which 1,050 are headed by women), in the major legume- and teff-producing regions of Amhara and Oromia.
Project: Community-Based Conservation of Coastal-Marine Biodiversity in Honduras
Partner: International Union for the Conservation of Nature Funding: $13.35 million (fiscal years 2024 to 2025 through 2029 to 2030)
This project aims to improve biodiversity and key ecosystem health along Honduras’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts using nature-based solutions. It responds directly to Canada’s commitment to the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework, whose goal is to safeguard and restore biodiversity. The project will reach 5,000 people who are dependent on these ecosystems, particularly women, youths and Indigenous and Afro-descendant people, whose livelihoods are threatened by climate change, habitat loss and ecosystem degradation.
Project: Enhancing Community Climate Options for Adaptation and Resilience in Mongolia (ECCO-FARM)
Partner: Alinea International
Funding: $10 million (fiscal years 2023 to 24 through 2027 to 2028)
This project works with rural Mongolian communities to adopt climate-smart agriculture, nature-based solutions and biodiversity protection strategies that support sustainable production, agricultural growth, food security and climate change adaptation. ECCO-FARM works with 29,000 people (herders, community members, government officials) across Mongolia to adopt approaches to livestock production, grazing management and marketing that can reduce grazing pressure and soil degradation while contributing to livelihood resilience, particularly for women and other marginalized groups.
Project: Economic Empowerment of Women Cooperative Members in Morocco
Partner: Desjardins International Development
Funding: $9.1 million (fiscal years 2024 to 2025 through 2029 to 2030)
This project proposes concrete and realistic solutions to 3 challenges facing women cooperative members in Morocco: their low level of participation in economic life, the lack of competitiveness of women’s cooperatives and their vulnerability to climate change. It aims to contribute to the economic empowerment of some 5,000 women, including members and non-members of 120 women’s and mixed cooperatives in supply chains with high potential for profitability and adaptation to climate change in the Marrakech-Safi, Drâa-Tafilalet and Guelmim-Oued Noun regions.
Project: Enhanced Sustainability of Biodiversity and Livelihoods in Ghana
Partner: Calgary Zoo Foundation (operating as the Wilder Institute)
Funding: $9 million (fiscal years 2024 to 2025 through 2029 to 2030)
The project aims to support the communities living in the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary and Avu Lagoon Community Protected Area with the management of natural resources, conservation of biodiversity and provision of critical ecosystem services. The Wilder Institute’s focus is on protecting endangered species by increasing the participation of women, youths and marginalized groups in decision-making forums, such as the Community Resource Management Area, and providing support to the communities to develop their members’ diverse skills in sectors such as ecotourism, shea production and wildlife protection.
Project: Socio-economic Empowerment of Women in Oasis and Argan Grove Areas in Morocco
Partner: Cowater International
Funding: $8.1 million (fiscal years 2025 to 2026 through 2029 to 2030)
This project aims to help women in Morocco’s oasis and argan grove communities overcome various social and economic disadvantages and improve their ability to adapt to climate change. It supports women’s entrepreneurship, enhances their competitiveness and access to markets, promote better representation of women in decision-making bodies and identifies best practices for preserving the environment.
Project: Access Sri Lanka
Partner: World Vision Canada
Funding: $5 million (fiscal years 2023 to 2024 through 2027 to 2028)
Access Sri Lanka works to enhance adaptation to climate change in agri-food systems among vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka’s Dry Zone. The project aims to:
strengthen land and watershed management mechanisms for climate-smart agriculture, particularly for women farmers
increase the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices by marginalized farmers, especially women
enhance women’s leadership and whole-of-community participation in reducing gender barriers to climate-smart agricultural practices
The project will directly benefit 23,000 people and indirectly benefit 84,000 people in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka (North Central Province and Uva Province).
Project: Strengthening Agropastoral Women’s Adaptation to Climate Change in Chad
Partner: Desjardins International Development
Funding: $4.99 million (fiscal years 2023 to 2024 through 2028 to 2029)
This project aims to increase agropastoral women’s adaptation to climate change and food security in Chad’s Guéra province. The project promotes the adoption of climate-smart agricultural solutions and food systems by women working in the millet, sorghum and poultry value chains. In addition, the project strengthens the effectiveness of microfinance institutions, women’s organizations and state structures in supporting green economic growth.
Project: Reduced Vulnerability to Climate Change and Food Security for Women in the Cassava Sector in Côte d’Ivoire
Partner: Desjardins International Development
Funding: $4.9 million (fiscal years 2023 to 2024 through 2028 to 2029)
This project aims to remove the main barriers that limit women working in the cassava sector in the Gbêkê region of Côte d'Ivoire from adapting to climate change. Project activities include providing women farmers with training in climate-adapted agricultural practices, leadership and entrepreneurship programs, as well as improved access to tools and resources.
Project: Climate Leadership and Action for Indigenous Women in Nepal
Partner: Salasan Consulting Inc. with the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources
Funding: $2 million (fiscal years 2024 to 2025 through 2026 to 2027)
This project seeks to enhance the climate rights of Indigenous women and girls in the Mid Hills region of Nepal. The project’s expected outcomes include increased agency of Indigenous women and girls in Nepal to advance gender-responsive and inclusive climate action and enhanced responsiveness of government policies and programs to the climate-related needs and rights of Indigenous women and girls. The project will benefit 4,000 Indigenous community members, particularly Tamang people.
Project: The Makueni Women’s Empowerment in Kenya Partner: Hope Story
Funding: $750,000 (fiscal years 2024 to 2025 through 2027 to 2028)
This project focuses on gender equality and the economic empowerment of women and girls in Makueni County, Kenya, through agricultural enterprise development. The project aims to:
promote economically viable enterprises and engage the wider community in advancing gender equality and human rights
strengthen empowerment opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the poultry sector
increase awareness and skills-building to organize and promote inclusive divisions of labour in enterprise development and household roles
develop community services and referral systems with responsibility holders and duty bearers so that women can access, take ownership of and benefit from them in their businesses and daily lives
The project will reach more than 11,000 responsibility holders and 768 duty bearers through various activities and awareness-raising campaigns.
Associated links
- Statement by the Prime Minister on International Development Week
- Statement by Minister Hussen on International Development Week
- International Development Week
- Canada’s climate finance for developing countries
- Canada and the Sustainable Development Goals
Contacts
Olivia Batten
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development
Olivia.Batten@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on X (Twitter): @CanadaDev
Like us on Facebook: Canada’s international development - Global Affairs Canada
Follow us on Instagram: @canadadev