Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
VSO Canada is very grateful for the support it receives from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Growing support from CIDA over the past 8 years has enabled us to increase our existing work, develop innovative programs and strategies and diversify the types of volunteering that VSO Canada carries out.
CIDA’s aim is to reduce poverty, promote human rights, and support sustainable development. CIDA’s current priority sectors are Governance, Basic Education, Health (including HIV and AIDS), Private Sector Development and Environmental Sustainability, with Gender Equality as a cross cutting theme. CIDA carries out its mandate through different programs and projects around the world. Through its Canadian Partnership programs, CIDA supports organizations in Canada’s voluntary and private sectors, who work in partnership with organizations in developing countries. They also initiate activities to raise public awareness and get people involved in Canada.
VSO Canada’s funding history with CIDA started in 1999 with a one-year contribution agreement of $135 000 CDN for the Special Needs Education project in Kenya. In April 2004, CIDA Canadian Partnership Branch and VSO Canada signed a long-term contribution agreement of $1,325,000 CDN for a program which involved sending 55 Canadian volunteers to work in Africa and Asia in the areas of Education and HIV and AIDS for the period of 2004-2009. In close consultation with CIDA, over the past two years VSO Canada has grown this long-term agreement with one-off initiatives, in the areas of HIV and AIDS, National Volunteering and Diaspora Volunteering, to a total value of $3,461,719 CDN.