Foreign Affairs committee  I would start by saying that we have to take a holistic approach. While nutrition is obviously a very important issue, it cannot be done in isolation. If you have children who survive to the age of five but don't have access to school, then we're not helping them break the cycle of poverty.

Foreign Affairs committee  If we focus on too large a number of countries, then yes, it's very difficult to have a sustainable impact. This is why we're suggesting keeping the current 20-to-25 country approach. That being said, though, under the framework of the SDGs, it's not only a country approach but really a focus on the populations that are most vulnerable.

Foreign Affairs committee  In terms of where we specifically work, right now we are doing a global review to understand where Plan International should focus, based on the changing nature of our globe. In the past, I think we've seen Canada's bilateral assistance focus on 80-plus countries. It's focused on between 20 to 25.

Foreign Affairs committee  Correct.

Foreign Affairs committee  I think I would go back to what the evidence says. The evidence says there remain extremely vulnerable groups, which continue to be women and girls. As a consequence, some of the most effective investments would be things like ensuring that girls have a right to education. Currently, almost 65 million girls are still not allowed to go to school.

Foreign Affairs committee  Let me start by saying that I think it's obviously important that we focus on a number of countries, but we can't spread the funding too thin. In the past we've had more than 80 focus countries. I think right now between 20 and 25 would likely be a strategic investment, because that number would allow us to have impact and to take a transformative approach to have a lasting impact and to achieve lasting results.

Foreign Affairs committee  I think the research and evidence have shown that while it's true that millions of people have been lifted out of poverty, there still remain a number of very vulnerable groups. I think that if there were ever a critique of the MDGs, it would be that they helped those who were relatively better off move to the middle class.

Foreign Affairs committee  Good afternoon everyone. My name is Caroline Riseboro, and I'm the president and CEO of Plan International Canada. Honourable members of the standing committee, thank you for inviting us to testify today on Canada's countries of focus for bilateral development assistance, an important matter to examine to maximize Canada's impact on global poverty reduction.