Support innovative, evidence-based approaches to development assistance.
What success looks like
More effective international assistance and more rigorous use of evidence-based practice and innovative solutions within decision-making processes.
Government's narrative on progress
Guided by the Feminist International Assistance Policy, Canada is providing more integrated and responsive assistance, supporting innovation and research, providing better reporting on results, developing more effective partnerships, and concentrating on those regions of the world where Canada can make the greatest difference in reducing poverty and inequality, particularly for women and girls. The government and its partners are measuring and reporting progress and results, conducting gender-based and human rights-based analyses of programs, and implementing new programming to support innovative partnerships. In 2017, the government collaborated with the Canadian Council for International Co-operation, the Canadian Association for the Study of International Development and the International Development Research Centre to enhance innovative multi-stakeholder approaches to global development research. This initiative included the launch of an online searchable tool of more than 500 Canadian international development researchers from universities, colleges, institutes, think-tanks, and civil society organizations. The government also launched its International Policy Ideas Challenge (IPIC), an annual program in which early career and graduate researchers in Canada are selected to conduct and present innovative research on foreign policy, international trade and international development issues. In the fall of 2017, the government launched the Small and Medium Organizations for Impact and Innovation initiative (SMO initiative), which aims to attract new and diverse partners and encourage innovation in international development. In May, 2018, the Partnership for Gender Equality was launched. It is an innovative $300 million initiative to catalyze new investments to support the advancement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in developing countries by the philanthropic community, the investing community, the private sector and civil society. The government is collecting data on a set of performance indicators that will be used to report to Canadians on progress achieved in each of the Feminist International Assistance Policy’s action areas. The government continues to engage with the International Development Innovation Alliance, the OECD Development Assistance Committee and Canadian civil society partners to learn about and share good practices on innovative evidence-based approaches in development assistance. To increase the transparency of Canada's international assistance, the government began publicly reporting the planned annual level of the International Assistance Envelope starting in 2018. To support innovation in Canada’s international assistance, the government will provide up to $1.5 billion over five years to the International Assistance Innovation Program and the Sovereign Loans Program. In April 2018, the government co-hosted a meeting in Washington D.C. with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Economic Forum and the UN on blended finance. At the 2018 G7 Summit, Leaders committed to the Charlevoix Commitment on Innovative Financing for Development to promote economic growth in developing economies and foster greater equality of opportunity within and between countries. G7 Development Ministers also agreed on the Whistler Principles to Accelerate Innovation for Development Impact.
Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.