Backgrounder: Minister Sajjan announces $157.6 million in development and humanitarian funding as he concludes visits to Bangladesh, the Philippines and Qatar

Funding: million Minister Sajjan also gave a keynote address at the 25th anniversary of the Marshall McLuhan Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism—a flagship program of the Embassy of Canada to the Philippines that promotes professional, responsible and courageous media. The Minister used the occasion to underscore Canada’s unwavering commitment to human rights, including media freedom, in the Philippines. This project establishes a unique, first-of-its-kind pooled fund supported by the Government of Canada for a localized development and humanitarian response in a protracted crisis. This fund, administered by BRAC, is being used for the benefit of the Rohingya refugees on Bhasan Char through the delivery of interventions by Bangladeshi non-governmental organizations. Now in its sixth year, the Rohingya refugee crisis highlights the need for more effective integration of humanitarian and development efforts, while building local capacity to deliver ongoing services. This project is expected to contribute to an increase in the national and global knowledge of nature-based solutions, as well as the capacity to scale them up. It will also provide technical support to construct climate-resilient and gender-responsive infrastructure through inclusive, multi-stakeholder approaches. In addition, the project will help public and private organizations access existing climate funds for adaptation. This project seeks to identify strategies to implement and expand livelihood activities for Rohingya refugees, particularly women, living on Bhasan Char. The aim is to strengthen the participants’ resilience and improve their living conditions now, while also sustaining hope for a future that includes their successful reintegration on their eventual return to Myanmar. The project’s activities on Bhasan Char are led by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and implemented by BRAC. This project aims to improve the conservation of ecosystems by increasing the ability of members of farmers’ organizations and cooperatives to effectively develop agroforestry value chains that respect biodiversity and are adapted to climate change. To ensure its results are sustainable in a context marked by conflict, the project will encourage local communities to commit to inclusive and equitable natural resource governance. This project will directly benefit over 10,000 people, of whom 8,000 are women in 12 communities; 12 farmer organizations; and 200 community leaders in Burkina Faso’s Sahel region. In Manila, they met with Martin Romualdez, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and other senior Filipino legislators to exchange views on opportunities for cooperation under the auspices of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. They also discussed the opportunities presented by the profound people-to-people ties that link Canada and the Philippines. Funding: .9 million Ecosystems Project: Pooled Fund for Localizing the Rohingya Response: Bhasan Char Funding: .5 million While in Bangladesh, Minister Sajjan met with Abul Kalam Abdul Momen, Minister of Foreign Affairs. In this meeting, he underlined Canada’s commitment to deepening its engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and to the long and successful development partnership between Canada and Bangladesh. They discussed our responses to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including its impact on food security, and the interlinked Rohingya refugee crisis and situation in Myanmar. Partner: Médecins Sans Frontières CanGIVE is partnering with UNICEF in 11 countries (total value of 0 million), including Bangladesh, to enhance COVID-19 vaccine delivery and strengthen health systems. Through this million allocation for Bangladesh, UNICEF aims to increase access to COVID-19 vaccination and reinforce essential health services for Rohingya refugees and high-risk populations in need of humanitarian assistance. UNICEF will also support gender-responsive maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services; mobile medical teams; and the prevention of infectious diseases. They also held meetings with Enrique Manalo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs; Arsenio Balisacan, Secretary of National Economic and Development Authority; and Masatsugu Asakawa, President of the Asian Development Bank, to discuss the advancement of shared priorities including food security, climate action, economic recovery, disaster preparedness and response, a rules-based international order, democracy, gender equality and human rights. They also held meetings with Enrique Manalo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs; Arsenio Balisacan, Secretary of National Economic and Development Authority; and Masatsugu Asakawa, President of the Asian Development Bank, to discuss the advancement of shared priorities including food security, climate action, economic recovery, disaster preparedness and response, a rules-based international order, democracy, gender equality and human rights. They also held meetings with Enrique Manalo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs; Arsenio Balisacan, Secretary of National Economic and Development Authority; and Masatsugu Asakawa, President of the Asian Development Bank, to discuss the advancement of shared priorities including food security, climate action, economic recovery, disaster preparedness and response, a rules-based international order, democracy, gender equality and human rights. Funding: million This project aims to reduce mortality in children under 5 years of age who are at high risk of vitamin A deficiency in 15 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa. VINA will support the more equitable, gender-responsive and efficient delivery of vitamin A supplementation, working in partnership with the ministries of health of the countries involved. UNICEF estimates that this project will reach approximately 41 million children under 5 years of age in 15 countries by 2026, with a focus on vulnerable and hard-to-reach groups.   This project aims to empower adolescents and youths, particularly girls, to exert greater control over their sexual and reproductive health, rights and decision making and address the factors that drive child, early and forced marriage with the support of their families and communities, including faith leaders. This project also empowers girls and young women to protect themselves from COVID-19 and its social and economic impacts through strengthening services and education. Funding: .5 million With this funding, the World Food Programme is distributing food vouchers to Rohingya refugees to support their nutritional needs, as well as providing therapeutic feeding interventions to pregnant and lactating people and to children under 5 years of age. Partner: UNICEF Funding: million Funding: million Humanitarian Assistance (Bangladesh) With this funding, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees is implementing and supporting a range of essential protection and assistance programming for Rohingya refugees, including medical services, community-based protection and mental health and psychological support services. Funding: million Partner: World Vision Canada Project: Scaling up Investments in Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience Development funding (Bangladesh) During his visits, Minister Sajjan announced 7.6 million in development and humanitarian assistance funding that is being distributed as follows: Partner: BRAC This project will enhance nurses’ performance and professional status in Bangladesh through investment in management and leadership training and the development of a comprehensive nursing career path. This project will also improve nursing training facilities and support the creation of a national nurse training institute and certificate program. Project: Women and Youth in Action for Sustainable Partner: UNICEF Funding: .1 million Partner: Health-Bridge Foundation of Canada Partner: International Labour Organization-United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees-BRAC With this funding, as part of an overall programmatic approach, Médecins Sans Frontières is providing emergency health care for refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health services. Funding: .4 million

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