RETHINKING INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
October 30, 2024
Goal
A first-principles rethink of Canada’s development engagement: crafting a fresh, contemporary take on Canada’s international assistance that optimizes performance and resonates with both Canadian citizens and top decision-makers.
Please note that the event will follow the Chatham House rule. As such, participants are free to use the information received, but not to reveal the identity or aCiliation of the person providing the information. Participants are engaging in their private capacity. Any views are their own, rather than that of their organization.
Evening of October 29
18:30 to 20:30 Optional Reception and Cocktail Dinatoire University Club (1201-A Sherbrooke Street West)
An opportunity for participants to meet informally the evening before.
October 30 Centre Mont-Royal (2200 Mansfield Street)
8:00 Registration And Light Breakfast
8:45 Welcome And Land Acknowledgement
- Julia Anderson, CEO, Canadian Partnership for Women’s and Children’s Health (CanWaCH)
- Robert Greenhill, Executive Chair, Global Canada
9:00 The World Today: Present State, Future Trends
- David Morrison, Deputy Minister of Foreign ACairs
- John McArthur, Senior Fellow, Brookings
- Joanne Liu, Former International President, MSF
- Rachel Pulfer, President, Journalists for Human Rights (Chair)
The strategic context is critical for any discussion of development: - Geopolitics
- Developmental, humanitarian and environmental situation
- Financing challenges, in developing and advanced economies
9:45 Development 101: Approaches, Successes, Challenges
- Charles Kenney, Senior Fellow, Centre for Global Development
- Julie Delahanty, President, IDRC
- Rohinton Medhora, Distinguished Fellow, CIGI
- Baroness Minouche Shafik, External Chair of the International Development Review (FCDO, UK) (virtual)
- Christopher MacLennan, Deputy Minister for International Development (Chair)
International assistance has contributed to billions of people in dozens of countries graduating from extreme poverty. However, present approaches are increasingly being called into question.
- How development works (ODA + other forms of engagement) by stage of development
- The phases in international assistance (Marshall Plan to today)
- Canadian leadership over the years
- Successes and setbacks: today’s big debates
10:30 Break
10:45 The Rationale for International Assistance in 2024
- Bob Rae, Ambassador of Canada to the United Nations
- Denis Thompson, Major-General (retired), Fellow, Canadian Global ACairs Institute
- Béatrice Vaugrante, Executive Director, Oxfam-Quebec
- Khalil ShariC, CEO, Aga Khan Foundation of Canada
- Julia Anderson, CEO, Canadian Partnership for Women’s and Children’s Health (CanWaCH) (Chair)
Over the last 80 years, diCerent combinations of reasons have driven support for international assistance:
- Caring and a sense of solidarity
- Concerns about security and stability
- An appreciation of our interdependence, from infectious diseases to climate change
- Economic growth and shared prosperity
- Partnership responsibilities and our relationship with the US Which arguments are the most relevant to Canada, and to Canadians, today?
11:30 Brainstorming on the Contemporary Rationale for International Assistance
Each table will brainstorm on:
- What should Canada be trying to accomplish with international assistance?
- Why, for what reasons, whether moral, strategic or both?
- With what measures of success, what desired end-state if successful?
12:00 Report Backs
12:15 Lunch
1:15 Being Consequential in our International Assistance (Creativity Cluster Hall)
How could Canada have a distinct impact through its international assistance, in line with the distinct challenges and opportunities of our time?
The group will break into 5 Creativity Clusters, looking at the strategic rationale for international assistance through diCerent strategic lens:
- Caring and a sense of solidarity
- Concerns about security and stability
- An appreciation of our interdependency, from infectious diseases to climate change
- Economic growth and shared prosperity
- Partnership responsibilities and our relationship with the US
In each case, the group would address:
- Why/where is this important?
- What could Canada accomplish?
- How best to achieve?
- What would be diCerent, or the same, as what we do now?
1:55 Move back to Plenary Hall
2:00 Report Backs
2:30 Observations on The Strategic Rationales for International Assistance
Feedback on the rationales by key commentators and then the whole group.
- Nilima Gulrajani, Principal Research Fellow, Development and Public Finance, Interim Executive Director, Overseas Development Institute Global Washington
- Valerie Bellegarde, Strategist and Policy Advisor
- Inez Jabalpurwala, Global Director, VINEx (Chair)
3:00 Break
3:15 Optimizing our Impact: Improving the How (Creativity Cluster Hall)
Interviews surfaced several areas with opportunities for major improvements. However, in each case, there are challenges and trade- oCs. Creativity Cluster will brainstorm on concrete ways to improve in 5 areas which, while by no means the only opportunities, are indicative of the potential for enhanced excellence.
- Country-level coherence: In key geographies, focusing on the country/region as the unit of account and delivering in an innovative whole of government, whole of Canada way.
- State capacity: Rebalancing the desire for concrete deliverables with the critical need for enhanced governance and state capacity.
- Philanthropy: Creatively engaging the philanthropic sector in Canada and in developing countries.
- Enhanced private-sector investments: Enhancing the seamless move beyond aid through increased private sector investment in low and low-middle income countries.
- ECective outreach: Engaging with Canadians more eCectively on the rational and results of international assistance.
3:55 Move back to Plenary Hall
4:00 Report Backs
4:30 Reactions to the day
- Chris MacLennan, Deputy Minister for International Development
- Paul Samson, President of CIGI
- Kate Higgins, CEO Cooperation Canada (Chair)
5:00 Thanks, Next Steps and Closure
- Julia Anderson, CEO, Canadian Partnership for Women’s and Children’s Health (CanWaCH)
- Robert Greenhill, Executive Chair, Global Canada
5:30 End of Formal Proceedings
Reception On-site
6:30 End of Reception