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 Media Room - Summit of La Francophonie: Canada and France intensify their joint development effort
Summit of La Francophonie: Canada and France intensify their joint development effort
The Honourable Josée Verner and Brigitte Girardin,
French delegated Minister for Cooperation,
Development and La Francophonie, sign a
Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen
joint development initiatives.
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On September 27, 2006, on the eve of the Eleventh Summit of La Francophonie, the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages, and Brigitte Girardin, Minister for Cooperation, Development, and La Francophonie 2006, signed a memorandum of understanding designed to intensify their joint effort in the area of development cooperation.
The Memorandum of Understanding makes it possible to increase cooperation between Canada and France, in the field and at their respective headquarters, in seven major areas of development assistance:
- La Francophonie,
- Haiti,
- official development assistance,
- research,
- education,
- governance, and
- the environment.
Moreover, promotion of equality between women and men is another concern of both countries, and this is included in the MOU as a crosscutting theme.
The purpose of the MOU is to establish a road map for Canada-France cooperation, to which practical initiatives, consistent with the themes listed above, will be added. To ensure that the agreement is translated into concrete action, the MOU calls for meetings of experts and working groups to conduct more detailed analyses of opportunities for cooperative ventures involving Canada and France.
| “This memorandum is the result of a France-Canada policy dialogue that I had with Minister Girardin in March 2006,” noted Minister Verner. “I am confident we are heading toward concrete initiatives that will strengthen development aid effectiveness and its results.” |
Strengthening aid effectiveness
The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is very eager to strengthen cooperation with France in areas of common interest. The Memorandum of Understanding will intensify our relations and raise the level of cooperation between France and Canada, contributing to our common goal of strengthening our respective aid effectiveness. Achieving this through harmonization and coordination among donors is a priority for CIDA and for the Government of Canada.
To ensure aid effectiveness, the MOU calls for periodic evaluation of progress achieved in all areas of cooperation. The quality of international assistance is just as important as the quantity. In accordance with the Paris Declaration, Canada’s official development assistance program is based on the fundamental principles of aid effectiveness, local ownership, and the responsibility of all partners for achieving tangible results.
To learn more:
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