DIAND has an important role to play in the promotion of circumpolar cooperation among the 8 Arctic countries through the implementation of the new Northern Dimension of Canada's Foreign Policy, including the engagement in Arctic Council and international work.

More specifically DIAND provides policy and organizational support to Canada's Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs; co-ordination of Canada's official positions on political and substantive issues before the Arctic Council; development of Canadian initiatives and project proposals to be tabled at the Arctic Council for approval and action. DIAND also provides Canadian information to international programs, such as Arctic Monitoring and Assessment (AMAP), Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), Emergency Preparedness, Prevention and Response (EPPR)and Protection of the Marine Environment (PAME). DIAND implements Canadian initiatives under the Council's Sustainable Development Program, including promoting a more strategic approach to Arctic sustainable development; implementing the Canadian led Children and Youth initiative; integrating capacity building into the activities of the Arctic Council; and lending an Arctic voice to the Rio+10 process within the United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development.

DIAND is engaged in Bilateral co-operation agreements with Russia which centre on:

1) the coordination of activities under the Canada Russia Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) concerning Northern Development and Aboriginal Issues. Key activities under the MOU include: a project to foster northern commercial linkages and strengthening capacity of Chambers of Commerce; northern municipal partnerships; capacity building to promote Northern and Aboriginal Women entrepreneurship; sharing Canadian experience in mediation to enhance relations between Aboriginal Communities and resource development companies in the oil and gas sector; and the marketing of northern products, especially reindeer;

2) the coordination of activities under the Institute Building for Russian Indigenous Peoples Project (INRIPP), in partnership with the Inuit Circumpolar conference (ICC); and

3) the coordination of northern stakeholder participation in the Institution Building for Aboriginal Peoples Project (INRIPP), a project in partnership with the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) and funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

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