Canada and Africa - Results that make a difference

Delivering on G8 commitments

In March 2009, Canada met its G8 commitment to double aid to Africa relative to 2003-2004 levels.

Doubling assistance to Africa in 2008−2009 from 2003−2004 levels



The Government of Canada is achieving development goals in Africa by working closely with national, regional and international partners. CIDA has been strongly engaged in education, health, food security and agriculture.

Almost half of Canada's bilateral development assistance has gone to Africa in recent years.  Programming is focused on Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Senegal, Sudan and Tanzania and guided by Canada's five thematic priorities for development assistance.  The five priorities include:  increasing food security; stimulating sustainable economic growth; securing the future of children and youth; advancing democracy; and ensuring security and stability.  A focused approach helps ensure that Canadian aid is more effective, focused and accountable in Africa. 

Other African countries also receive Canadian aid in various ways as part of Canada's bilateral and regional programming and through Canadian partners, humanitarian and other multilateral programs.

In 2008-09, Africa received a significant portion of Canada's international assistance:

• 67 percent of total food aid
• 60 percent of total agricultural support
• 45 percent of total multilateral support
• 47 percent of total bilateral aid

Canada's work in Africa is producing results:

• In Ghana, programming has contributed to an average agriculture sector growth rate of about 4.3 percent over recent years.
  
  
• In Mozambique, over 46,000 pregnant women received treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV in 2008, compared to 8,244 in 2005.
  
  
• Primary school enrolments of girls and boys increased significantly in all Canadian-supported countries in Africa.
  
  
  • For example, primary school enrolment increased to 97.6 percent in 2009 from 59 percent in 2000 in Tanzania and from 82.5 percent in 2007 to 90.1 percent in 2008 in Senegal.
  
  
• In Senegal, 8,000 producers and 150 micro and small enterprises saw their revenue increase from between 30 percent and 65 percent in 2008.
  
  
• With support from Canada, training and technical assistance have been provided to over 30,000 public service employees in 40 African countries, so they are better able to manage resources to meet citizens' needs and demonstrate accountability.

Canada provided significant emergency humanitarian assistance to African countries in 2008-2009.  This included:

• $200 million, including more than $61 million to help feed more than eight million people in the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia);
  
  
• support to 5.5 million people affected by the conflict in Sudan, and Sudanese refugees in Chad, with $52 million in humanitarian assistance; and
  
  
• support to people affected by crises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Zimbabwe.

For information on specific projects, search CIDA's Project Browser