Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for seeking CIDA's perspectives on this important topic today.
In my statement, I will briefly discuss the nature of the international environment, CIDA's engagement in fragile and conflict-affected states, and the comprehensive, whole-of-government approach we are adopting.
The first area is the international environment, and quite a bit has already been said on that, so I will be very brief. The current international environment can be characterized by a set of frequent, complex, and interdependent challenges generating humanitarian crises with multiple dimensions. Contributing factors include the lingering impacts of the food, energy, and economic crises, the effects of climate change and the effects of environmental degradation, and the persistence of civil conflict undermining security and the rule of law.
The interplay of factors makes achievement of the millennium development goals, which is a major international framework for development issues, by 2015 a real challenge.
We have a list of the millennium development goals available to the committee as part of this statement.
As a development agency, we work with a wide range of governments and non-governmental organizations. These partnerships are central to our operations. Today's responses to complex humanitarian emergencies, often in the context of peace and stability operations, involve more partnerships with diverse organizations. This set of key humanitarian partners continues to seek the preservation of neutral “humanitarian space“ within peace operations.
The second point is CIDA's engagement.
CIDA engages in a limited number of fragile and conflict-affected states. In the fiscal year 2008-09, CIDA's assistance to Afghanistan, Haiti, Sudan, and the West Bank Gaza totalled over $545 million, about one quarter of which, or $135 million, was emergency humanitarian assistance.
CIDA's humanitarian assistance saves lives and alleviates suffering. It is provided on the basis of identified needs, and these efforts are guided by the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. Canada is a consistent, generous, and reliable contributor to humanitarian appeals and to the related coordinating bodies, including the UN Central Emergency Response Fund.
With the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, CIDA has contributed to the evolution of international principles and norms that guide all of our operations in fragile and conflicted states, including those of the military. We'd like to draw the attention of the committee to the OECD principles and good practice of humanitarian donorship and other norms that we are providing here today.
In the aftermath of the January earthquake in Haiti, Canada quickly organized a ministerial preparatory conference in Montreal where participants agreed on the principles of ownership, coordination, sustainability, effectiveness, inclusiveness and accountability in alignment with the OECD and other international norms. Recognizing the Government of Haiti's leadership in setting the strategic direction for reconstruction and longer-term development, Canada is now working to align its programming with the action plan for national recovery and development for Haiti. This plan proposes actions to be taken over the next 18 months to rebuild Haiti but also to create the conditions to tackle the structural causes of Haiti's under-development.
The third point is a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach.
In terms of the origin of the whole-of-government approach, CIDA views our engagement in the humanitarian and political crisis of the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s as very significant. We learned a great deal about the critical importance of accountable and competent national government institutions that guarantee citizens safety and foster social, political, and economic development.
In Afghanistan, CIDA works with the Government of Canada task force that integrates Canada's response on the largest development and humanitarian assistance program we have ever undertaken. We are learning that helping to create a viable state requires sophisticated levels of international coordination and unwavering commitment to reinforce the connection between government and citizens. We are learning that hope for a better future requires broad-based, tangible, and visible results on the ground.
At the operational level, similar machinery exists to coordinate our programs in other fragile and conflict-affected countries.
In Sudan, CIDA support focuses on food security, children and youth, and governance, which contributes to Canada's whole-of-government effort to reduce vulnerability, save lives, and build longer-term stability. The comprehensive approach is delivering a more coordinated and strategic response to a rapidly changing context in Sudan.
In the West Bank and Gaza, CIDA is concentrating its programming on justice sector reform, private sector development and humanitarian assistance. There we have learned the importance of placing state-building at the centre of the development agenda and forming synergies between Government of Canada departments.
Reflecting on these experiences and drawing upon lessons learned through recent studies by the UN, the OECD, and other international organizations, we are focusing on strategic results that improve local capacity for basic services delivery: increased legitimate and private sector activity, handling grievances through political dialogue and negotiation, and reinforcing core government functions. Also, the importance of gender equality considerations are being integrated throughout as fundamental.
In closing, I would like to highlight the importance of ongoing civil-military planning coordination as well as shared analysis and assessment of the local context for future integrated peacekeeping and peace support operations. To improve interoperability, these capabilities of departments in joint missions need to be better understood and integrated, perhaps through cross-training and career paths that increase exposure to several departments in such operations.
Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.