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The Office for Democratic Governance was created on October 30, 2006, with a specialized mandate to promote freedom and democracy, human rights, the rule of law and open and accountable public institutions in developing countries. The Office has absorbed the work of the Canada Corps. It aims to enhance aid effectiveness by leveraging Canada’s comparative advantage and establishing partnerships with key Canadian experts, organizations, institutions and other government departments whose work focuses on democratic governance.
The new Office will:
- develop and promote innovative and effective democratic governance programming across the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA);
- be the hub for a community of Canadian and international partners and experts active in democratic governance;
- expand the base of knowledge and good practice in Canada and link it with international knowledge;
- be an international leader in elections programming; and
- be of service to the whole of government and to Canadians involved in democratic governance programming.
Democratic Governance
CIDA considers democratic governance essential for poverty reduction and long-term sustainable development. The Agency’s work in this area aims to make states more effective in tackling poverty by enhancing the degree to which all people, particularly the poor and the marginalized, can influence policy and improve their livelihoods.
CIDA policy and programming in democratic governance is broadly divided into four elements: freedom and democracy, human rights, rule of law, and accountable public institutions.
- Programming in freedom and democracy includes building open and accountable political systems as well as initiatives to create democratic environments.
- In the area of human rights, CIDA seeks to strengthen formal human rights institutions and mechanisms; supports civil society, education, and accountability roles; and realizes the human rights of women, children, and marginalized groups.
- Rule of Law programs promote predictable, impartial, accessible, timely, and effective legal systems; independent and non-discriminatory judicial systems; advance public legal education and engagement; as well as support informal legal practices that respect human rights.
- Building accountable public institutions involves improving financial and economic management; strengthening audit, statistical capacity, and human resource management; promoting greater policy coordination; enhancing transparency and anti-corruption measures; as well as improving service delivery in sectors including health, energy, and basic needs.
Coordination and Knowledge Sharing
To maximize the sharing of ideas and long-term effectiveness of Canada’s work in democratic governance, the Office will engage a wide variety of experts and provide a strong coordination function among the various actors working in each element of democratic governance programming. It will encourage and facilitate the sharing of good practices and lessons learned among these actors.
Elements of Democratic Governance
Human Rights
- Strengthen formal human rights institutions and mechanisms
- Support civil society, education and accountability roles
- Realize human rights of women, children, and marginalized groups
Accountable Public Institutions
- Improve financial and economic management
- Strengthen audit, statistical capacity, and human resource management
- Promote policy coordination
- Enhance transparency and anti-corruption
- Improve service delivery, e.g. health, energy, basic needs
Freedom & Democracy
- Build open and accountable political systems: electoral and legislative assistance, decentralization, federalism, and local government, political parties, and competition
- Create a democratic environment: independent media and transparency, development of civil society, education for democratic culture, building inclusive societies
Rule of Law
- Promote predictable, impartial, accessible, timely, and effective legal systems
- Support independent and non-discriminatory judicial systems
- Advance public legal education and engagement
- Support informal legal practices that respect human rights
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