The government of Canada recently announced it will fund four projects under its program titled Women and Youth Empowerment, Entrepreneurship and Employment in the West Bank & Gaza. More specifically, Global Affairs Canada, the government’s international development and diplomatic relations department, has budgeted a total of CAD 38 million (USD 29 million) over four years for the following initiatives:
(1) The Women and Youth Entrepreneurs Leading Change Project: The Canadian member of Switzerland-based Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) International will receive CAD 10 million (USD 7.7 million) to support Palestinian women and youth to “successfully start-up, sustain, manage and grow environmentally conscious and sustainable businesses.”
(2) The Technology-enabled Careers Harnessing Untapped Potential Project: US-based NGO Mercy Corps will receive CAD 10 million (USD 7.7 million) to support Palestinian women and youth in gaining employment in the technology sector. This is to include linking individuals with virtual job opportunities and supporting technology-focused startups in the region.
(3) The Generating Revenue Opportunities for Women and Youth Project: Canadian consultancy CowaterSogema International will get CAD 9 million (USD 6.9 million) to support women in Palestine’s agricultural sector. Although details are limited to date, this may include skills development training and capacity-building for organizations and government entities that advocate for women’s rights.
(4) The Empowering Female Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Project: The Canadian member of UK-based Save the Children International will receive CAD 8 million (USD 6.1 million) to reduce the “gender-based barriers” that young women in the region face as they build businesses.
Of the total for the four projects, CAD 700,000 (USD 536,000) is budgeted for monitoring and evaluating program performance.
CARE International was started in the 1940s to aid in getting food to survivors of the Second World War. As of 2018, CARE International is active in 94 countries and reaches 80 million people through its efforts to reduce poverty. For the year ending June 2017, CARE Canada reported revenue of CAD 175 million (USD 134 million).
Established in 1979, Mercy Corps provides disaster-relief, health and other services intended to enable social and economic development in 38 countries. For the 12 months ending June 2017, it reported revenue of USD 464 million.
CowaterSogema was formed in 2017 by the merger of the two Canadian international development consultancies, Cowater International and CRC Sogema. The organization provides services related to project management, research and capacity building in agriculture, education, energy infrastructure, financial services, health, public administration and water & sanitation. The firm has experience in 80 countries.
Save the Children International comprises 30 nonprofit organizations that coordinate projects in 120 countries relating to defending the rights of children to food, water, education, emergency relief and healthcare. For 2017, Save the Children Canada reported an annual revenue of CAD 54 million (USD 43 million).
By Nicholas Galimberti, Research Associate
Sources and Additional Resources
Global Affairs Canada press release
https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2018/07/backgrounder–new-support-from-canada-for-palestinians.html
Women and Youth Empowerment, Entrepreneurship and Employment in the West Bank & Gaza proposal request
http://international.gc.ca/world-monde/funding-financement/wbg-cbg-2017.aspx?lang=eng
CARE Canada background
https://care.ca/about-us
CARE Canada annual report
https://care.ca/sites/default/files/files/publications/CARE-AnnualReport-EN%20FINAL-lower%20res.pdf
Mercy Corps background
https://www.mercycorps.org/about-us
Mercy Corps financials
https://www.mercycorps.org/sites/default/files/2017MercyCorpsAuditedFS.PDF
Cowater Sogema background
https://cowatersogema.com/about/
Save the Children Canada background
https://www.savethechildren.ca/who-we-are/about-us/
Save the Children Canada annual report
https://www.savethechildren.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ENG-Annual-Report-Canada-4WEB.pdf
MicroCapital Brief; March 15, 2010; MasterCard Foundation, CARE Canada, Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) to Extend Microfinance Services in Tajikistan and Rwanda
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-mastercard-foundation-care-canada-aga-khan-foundation-canada-akfc-to-extend-microfinance-services-in-tajikistan-and-rwanda/
MicroCapital Brief; April 30, 2011; Mercy Corps Announces Partnership With Philippine BPI Globe BanKO to Extend Mobile Banking to 1m Microfinance Clients
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-mercy-corps-announces-partnership-with-philippine-bpi-globe-banko-to-extend-mobile-banking-to-1m-microfinance-clients/
Do you know that MicroCapital publishes the MicroCapital Monitor newspaper each month? Find out more at http://www.microcapital.org/products-page/.
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