Canada is deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel and is committed to minimizing its impact on people in the region, as well as responding to the increasing needs of the most vulnerable.
Today, during a virtual ministerial round table on the humanitarian situation in the Central Sahel, the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of International Development, pledged to increase Canada's international assistance in the region, including plans to establish bilateral development assistance programs with Chad and Niger.
The Minister also announced 4 new projects in Burkina Faso to address critical gaps in sexual and reproductive health and rights, food security and agricultural resilience to climate change in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Together, these commitments, along with ongoing programming, will help address security, development and humanitarian needs to serve the most vulnerable and at-risk people in the Sahel, including those most affected by both the COVID-19 pandemic and the impacts of climate change.
Quotes
"We must respond to the crisis caused by COVID-19. We remain engaged, alongside development partners, to address the needs of vulnerable populations and strengthen protections for people in the Sahel, including women and girls."
- Karina Gould, Minister of International Development
Quick facts
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To date in 2020, Canada has provided $20.6 million for humanitarian assistance in the Central Sahel region.
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In 2018 to 2019, Canada's development assistance to the G5 Sahel countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger) totalled $281.1 million.
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In June 2020, Canada announced that it would join the International Coalition for the Sahel to help advance the group's priorities for peace and security, economic and social development, inclusive government, gender equality and climate change.
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The International Coalition for the Sahel is a group that aims to facilitate coordination and interaction between the various dimensions of international action to support the G5 Sahel countries.
