The Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages attended the Eleventh Francophone Summit
Meetings and events
The Canadian International Development Agency and La Francophonie
Information Technologies in Education—Theme of the 11th Francophone Summit
The Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages, the Honourable Josée Verner, attended the 11th Francophone Summit (in French only), held in Bucharest, Romania, on September 28 and 29, 2006.
 Meetings and events
The minister accompanied Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the 11th Summit of Heads of State and Government of Countries Using French as a Common Language, held on September 28 and 29.<br><br>
During the Summit, Canada and Quebec had the opportunity to invite La Francophonie’s 63 member countries and governments to attend the Twelfth Francophone Summit, to be held in Quebec in 2008.
The Canadian International Development Agency and La Francophonie
Minister Verner met with Jacques Édouard Alexis, the
Prime Minister of Haiti (centre) and Haiti's Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Jean Renald Clérismé (left)
at one of the bilateral meetings held during
the Eleventh Francophone Summit.
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Canada was one of the first countries to promote La Francophonie by actively helping to create and develop its many institutions. Canada is La Francophonie’s second largest donor, with a yearly budget of over $40 million.
CIDA is well positioned to support La Francophonie, which pursues development cooperation objectives. Nearly three quarters of La Francophonie’s member and associate member countries (40 out of 53) are eligible for official development assistance.
It is important for Canada that La Francophonie’s institutions continue their reform efforts and build their capacities. This will enable Canada to strengthen aid effectiveness and better support the efforts of La Francophonie’s member countries.
To find out more…
Information Technologies in Education—Theme of the 11th Francophone Summit
The theme of the Francophone Summit is “Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in Education”.
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CIDA supports the involvement of Canadian partners in executing development projects.
CIDA, Industry Canada, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and international partners continue to cooperate in initiatives that meet the needs of developing countries to build an inclusive information society.
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Canada’s priority in international assistance is to reduce poverty while ensuring aid effectiveness. To achieve this, Canada must act on several fronts, especially basic education. Canada also recognizes the importance of wider access to ICT for remote rural communities, through innovative partnerships with the private and voluntary sectors.
For over 25 years, CIDA has encouraged the use of ICT as a development tool. ICT will help to achieve development goals in the education, health, HIV/AIDS, local capacity building, knowledge sharing, and networking sectors.
As reflected by CIDA’s priorities, education is one of the best investments a country can make to further its development. Education has positive impacts on health, income, and community involvement. The education of women and girls has especially significant social and economic benefits. Canada seeks to ensure basic education for all and to eliminate gender gaps at all levels of the education system.
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