Canadian International Development Professionals Work Towards SDGs Success
This article showcases 6 Canadian organizations from the international development community working towards the 17 SDGs. The organizations below are all members of the Canadian Association of International Development Professionals (CAIDP).
CowaterSogema International
CowaterSogema International Inc. is Canada’s largest and leading international development management consulting company with over 30 years of experience implementing government modernization and capacity building projects around the world, having completed more than 800 development projects in more than 80 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
In Burkina Faso, CowaterSogema is increasing access to sustainable and reliable water supply for over 83,000 people through the Global Affairs Canada-funded Water and Sustainable Economic Growth in the Sahel Project (2015-2019). The project addresses a critical need for water in this arid drought-prone region, a situation which greatly limits the socio-economic development of the local population, especially women. Specifically, CowaterSogema is improving water supply and sanitation coverage through the construction of a drinking water treatment plant and increasing access to sanitation infrastructure for over 6000 households, directly contributing to SDG 6- access to water and sanitation, and SDG 3- good health and wellbeing of people. In addition, project activities are reinforcing local governance to better support water and sanitation service delivery, and promote women’s decision-making in water management committees, contributing to SDG 1- no poverty, SDG 5- gender equality, and SDG 16: peace, justice and strong institutions.
In Zambia, CowaterSogema is currently assisting Lusaka City Council (LCC) and Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) in expanding access to, and improving the reliability of, water supply, sanitation and drainage services in select urban and peri-urban areas of the city of Lusaka, benefitting 1.2 million residents. Specifically, CowaterSogema is providing technical assistance to LWSC and LCC to strengthen and institutionalise their ability to develop and implement gender responsive and pro-poor policies and systems for improving the affordability of services for the poor, and effectively mainstream gender equality and social inclusion in service delivery and operational processes. As a direct result of the project, LWSC and LCC launched Social Inclusion and Gender Mainstreaming Policies in May and June 2018, crystalizing the city’s commitment to social inclusion and gender equality, ensuring that the delivery of water and sanitation services are responsive to the needs and priorities of its client base regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, religion and other factors. CowaterSogema International’s ongoing work in Zambia demonstrates their commitment to advancing progress against SDG-6 and strengthening institutions to achieve progress in SDG 5- gender equality, SDG 10- reducing inequalities, and SDG 11- sustainable cities and communities. Read more here
Expert Consulting on Governance
CAIDP member, Expert Consulting on Governance (ECG), engages in forging partnerships and fostering policy dialogue on innovation and investment for achieving the SDGs. Focusing on the critical role that SDG 8 “decent work and economic growth” and SDG 16 “peace, justice and strong institutions”, play in accelerating progress towards fulfilling the commitment of 2030 Agenda of “leaving no one behind”, ECG is sponsoring and leading a two-day Business Forum in Dubai, UAE on Oct 2-3, 2018, on “Driving Innovation for Sustainable Development Goals”. Bringing together business leaders, international organizations, decision makers, academic institutions and civil society organizations, to share ideas, insights and exchanges on how the nexus of innovation and investment support social change and economic inclusiveness to achieve sustainable development, in very challenging times, that Region is witnessing. Read more here
Agriteam Canada
For over 30 years Agriteam Canada has been implementing development projects around the world in education, health care, gender equality and human rights, environment and climate change, food security, sanitation and hygiene, peace and security, democratic governance, and economic growth. As a member of the UN Global Compact, Agriteam has pledged to operate its business responsibly in alignment with the Ten Global Compact Principles.
In Peru the Strengthening of Regional Governments for Social and Economic Development in Northern Peru (SRGSED) project funded by Global Affairs Canada (2011-2018), strengthened public administration and planning by supporting more efficient, transparent and inclusive delivery of public services (contributing to SDG 1 – No poverty and SDG 11 – Sustainable cities and communities). SRGSED has directly benefited 10,934 people (4,430 women, 6,504 men) and tens of thousands of citizens have benefited indirectly from improved government transparency and service delivery in health, education, transportation, communications and open data. SRGSED supported SDGs 13 (life on land) by working with the Ministry of Environment on activities such as Economic Ecological Zoning and integrating an environmental focus in government planning. Agriteam also worked with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to complete national obligations for Gender Equality (GE) as well as integrating GE in national budgets, education practices, and incorporating GE indicators into the national evaluation matrix (SDG 5 – Gender equality).
Agriteam has currently four projects in Ethiopia that contribute to SDG 2 – zero hunger. With funding from the World Bank, Canada and the Netherlands, the work is from the national level down to the homes of small-holder farmers to improve food security, increase sustainable food production, and reduce instances of malnutrition among its population.
Agriteam also recently began work on National Languages Equality Advancement Project (NLEAP) in Sri Lanka. This five-year project aims to contribute to SDG 1 – No poverty, and SDG 8 – Decent work and economic growth, by improving economic and social equality of Tamil and Sinhala speaking women and men throughout Sri Lanka. Read more here
Over the course of its 38 years of international development experience, Universalia has worked to promote organizational learning and performance across hundreds of projects that touch on all areas of sustainable development.
Universalia
Externally, Universalia identified two capacity gaps in stakeholders’ abilities to respond to the SDGs and is working to generate and disseminate new approaches tothese challenges. The first area regards the need to build “SDG-ready” national Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems which empower countries to monitor disparities, gain feedback, and serve (all) their citizens. Unlike the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), SDG follow-up and review is voluntary, country-led, and applies to all countries – not just developing ones. To accompany these efforts, Universalia in 2017 developed a guidance note for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on building country-led M&E systems in the SDG era, including a tool to assess national “SDG-readiness.” Based on this research, it recently delivered an “M&E for the SDGs” workshop to 27 participants of the Executive Education series of McGill University’s Institute for the Study of International Development. Universalia also continues to develop SDG monitoring tools with various organizations, such as an M&E system for the Disability Rights Fund and the International Disability Alliance to enable national and regional, disability-sensitive SDG monitoring, and an M&E system for the Ottawa-based Forum of Federations which integrates global indicators for SDGs 16 & 17. Read more here
Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel)
Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel), a firm dedicated to consulting and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) advisory services in the international development realm, has been contributing to sustainable development since 1989.
Baastel, has worked with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Division of Sustainable Development to develop an adapted version of RBM, a widely used performance management approach, that allows governments to better promote integration and inclusion, two of the core principles of the 2030 Agenda. The capacity building solutions that Baastel developed were adapted into online curricula hosted and promoted by the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the UN System Staff College (UNSSC). Baastel has also trained officials from a number of countries, including Belize, Colombia, Ethiopia, Honduras, Togo, Turkey and Uganda, in planning, management, and monitoring approaches that can better promote the core principles of inclusion and integration in policy-making and performance management. Thus, Baastel has developed and provided tools, resources, and skills to help national governments better define, mainstream, and advance their national sustainable development strategies and plans. As another example, Baastel is currently working with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to identify emerging practices in both monitoring and evaluation of the 2030 Agenda in the Asia Pacific Region. Read more here
R.J. Burnside International (Burnside)
CAIDP corporate member, R.J. Burnside International Limited (Burnside), has been working in areas that contribute to the achievement of the SDGs since long before the SDGs were even developed. Of note is a current assignment in Ethiopia which is contributing to the achievement of SDGs 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) primarily.
In Ethiopia, Burnside is working for UNICEF on several assignments related to water supply system installations. This includes the design and construction supervision of 5 Multi-Village water supply schemes in remote areas of the Afar and Somali Regions, as well as design and construction supervision of water supply systems for the Gambella Itang-Kule-Tierkidi refugee camp.
Burnside has also worked on water supply projects in dozens of First Nation communities in Canada which has a positive impact on Canada addressing the universal nature of the SDGs. For more information on Burnside’s activities contact norman.looker@rjburnside.com .
About the Canadian Association of International Development Professionals (CAIDP)
The Canadian Association of International Development Professionals (CAIDP) is a non–profit corporation, federally registered in February 1993. A voluntary organization, CAIDP is run for and by development professionals, to:
- Foster excellence in international development
- Promote the collective professional interests of the international development community
- Provide a forum for members to exchange professional information and engage in professional development
CAIDP is comprised of some 150 members including individuals and for-profit, non-profit and academic organizations whose common bond is a dedication to development work. At home and abroad our members have committed themselves to helping to build a better world.