October 2006

Through the Matching Fund program, individuals and organizations worked hand in hand to collect funds to provide assistance to the affected communities, including these children in Siraan Stalkot Resident Camp, Pakistan.

In October 2005, the Government of Canada established a matching fund program to encourage charitable giving for the survivors of the October 8, 2005 earthquake that struck South Asia. Through the South Asia Matching Fund, the Government of Canada matched dollar-for-dollar all donations by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charitable organizations.

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is administering the Matching Fund.

The overall size of the Fund was determined by the amount of money donated between October 8 and October 26, 2005 by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charitable organizations for the South Asia earthquake. To be taken into account, funds had to comply with the donation criteria.

The matched funds were placed in reserve, and Canadian humanitarian and development organizations had the ability to access the Fund by submitting proposals for projects related to relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts in the earthquake-affected areas.

Project proposals submitted by Canadian organizations were assessed by CIDA on a competitive basis and were subject to approval by Pakistan’s Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA).

The Matching Fund is no longer accepting proposals from Canadian organizations.

Fore more details on allocations related to the Matching Fund program up to now, please consult the section ”Funds Allocated by CIDA” on the Earthquake in South Asia introduction webpage.