Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) Annual Conference

IICA Canada was represented at the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) annual conference in September – a 2 day event hosted in partnership with the Canadian Association for the Study of International Development (CASID) and the Aga Khan Foundation Canada.  The event brought together over 270 participants stakeholders from international development and humanitarian civil society organizations (CSOs), academics and researchers, government officials, and policy makers.  The conference focussed on how Canadian civil society organizations should seize new policy opportunities and tackle corresponding challenges. 

For IICA Canada, the sessions elaborating on the Government of Canada’s new feminist international assistance policy were most illuminating.  The program began with an address from the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau announcing Canada’s Policy for Civil Society Partnerships for International Assistance.  The CEO of the World Bank, Kristalina Georgieva, provided the keynote speech.  In addition to presentations on the feminist policy, a panel discussion on collaborations with academia was of interest, as well as a session on multi-stakeholder partnerships. 

This event provided an opportunity to connect with Canada’s civil society organizations, many of which share a mandate with IICA to support agricultural development and sustainability in developing countries.  Conference organizers indicated that the world may be looking to Canada for leadership in international development and that by working together, we have the opportunity to stand out as a positive role model.

For more information:

Trudy Werry

Trudy.werry@iica.int