Foreign Affairs committee  I cannot comment specifically on Pakistan, because it's a country that I have never visited. I know we have been doing programming there. The more fundamental point I think you're asking about, which is similar to the one that was asked earlier, is the continuity. That's where IDRC, because of its mandate, its status, and its way of operating, is a tool for the Canadian government to do things that could not be done in other circumstances.

Foreign Affairs committee  That's a big question. If I had an answer to capacity-building and resolution—again, from my experience at IDRC and the experience of my staff.... The importance of research is that the same time you're providing a research capacity, you are producing an outcome that will serve the development of the country.

Foreign Affairs committee  Mr. Saini, it's an excellent question and something I should bring to the forefront of the committee. First, IDRC is providing support to researchers and institutions primarily in the countries where the problems are taking place. We are not on the ground putting our hands in the dirt; they are.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you very much.

Foreign Affairs committee  I can talk to you about IDRC programming. I will not have the factual information from the Government of Canada. What I can tell you is that in our context, we are facing and have programming that covers topics like governance and justice. Let's take a situation like Guatemala, where we are in a post-conflict situation, and there have been repercussions on a numbers of groups, such as indigenous communities.

Foreign Affairs committee  That's a very interesting question. First of all, I think you have to know that for IDRC, having staff on the ground for over 46 years and being in contact with people is the first line of defence. Second, we do institutionally, as many other institutions do, a very firm and thorough internal review before engaging with a partner in a country about their capacity to manage the funds.

Foreign Affairs committee  Invest more in the IDRC. No, I'm just joking.

Foreign Affairs committee  It is important that we maintain continuity. That's definitive. However, if you we were to look at the history of IDRC over the last 46 years, there are four common threads: agriculture, health, economy, and science. If I look at the policy of the Canadian government over the last 15 years, food security and agriculture has been there and health in various forms has also been there.

Foreign Affairs committee  I can't really say if that can be made more achievable, but I can say that it has been done. Since I am before a Canadian audience, I spoke about relationships with the Canadian government, but the fact is that our work is also based on the development of research on south-south development work, as well as south-north projects.

Foreign Affairs committee  Development goals are evolving. I started working in the field of international development 25 years ago and we were talking about health for all and the decade of water. Then afterwards we went to the millennium development goals, and we are now talking about sustainable development goals.

Foreign Affairs committee  I don't know. I can tell you about IDRC experience. The experience has often been that at the end of the day, IDRC investment without any Canadian involvement has paid off for Canada. Let's take the example I gave to Mr. Aubin regarding our participation in South Africa's transition to a democratic regime.

Foreign Affairs committee  That is a very good question, Mr. Aubin. Thank you. I also want to thank you for what you said about the passion I feel for my work. Sometimes people tell me that I have a bit too much. After 30 years at IDRC, I still feel the same passion as I did when I arrived there. I think it is important.

Foreign Affairs committee  On the ground, our people stay in constant contact with the missions, whether it is a country of focus mission or not. Often, in the course of missions in non-priority countries, we are welcomed with open arms, because we offer an example of what Canada can do in these countries.

Foreign Affairs committee  That's not a question that I can easily answer. Your previous witness could provide a better answer. I think that when it comes to our approach, our decisions are made on what capacity is present, what is the fit of the requests with our thematic focus, and how the delivery of the research product will make a change in the country.

Foreign Affairs committee  I'll try to be short in my answer also, Mr. Levitt. In the type of programming area we have, agriculture and the environment, inclusive economies, and technology and innovation are all illustrations of the Canadian know-how that has been present for a number of years. For agriculture, we tend not to remember that Canada is a very strong agricultural country.