Minister Oda Announces Initiatives to Increase the Benefits of Natural Resource Management for People in Africa and South America
(firmenpresse) - TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 09/29/11 -- In a keynote address at the Devonshire Initiative CEO Summit, the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, today announced four new projects that will help developing countries in Africa and South America manage their natural resources to ensure they are a source of long-term sustainable benefits to their people.
"The Canadian extractive industries - in particular mining - are the largest in the world, working in many developing countries that have an abundance of natural resources. Working in partnership with the private sector, these resources can contribute to poverty reduction in many of these countries and improve the standard of living for their populations," said Minister Oda. "CIDA is supporting Canada's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy for the Canadian International Extractive Sector with initiatives that will contribute to sustainable economic growth, job creation and long-term poverty reduction."
Today's announcement includes three pilot projects in collaboration with Canadian partners to reduce poverty in Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Ghana, and Burkina Faso.
In Ghana, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is supporting the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), () to provide direct skills training to 400 young people to help diversify the local economy within mining communities. This investment will also strengthen the local government's ability to provide quality education and access to clean, safe, water for 134,000 residents. WUSC's partner for this project is Rio Tinto Alcan.
"Canada should be commended for their support to this pilot initiative which will strengthen the relationship between the local government and mining firms," stated Chris Eaton, Executive Director of World University Service of Canada (WUSC). "This will ensure that communities secure sustainable benefits from the presence of mining operations in their district."
In Burkina Faso, CIDA is supporting , () and its partner IAMGOLD, in implementing a job skills training project in 13 communities to meet labour market demands in the mining sector and its sub-sectors.
"We welcome the Canadian Government's commitment to sustaining the economic growth of developing countries, like Burkina Faso, and to strengthening the practice of corporate social responsibility," said Rosemary McCarney, President and CEO of Plan Canada. "Plan's first commitment is to the best interests of children and the communities in which we work and CIDA's contribution to this project will help to create smart, appropriate, and safe training and employment opportunities for local youth."
In Peru, CIDA is supporting , () in a project that will increase the income and standard of living of 1,000 families affected by mining operations. For this project, World Vision Canada is working with Barrick Gold.
"World Vision is grateful for the generous support of the Government of Canada is offering for this project," said Dave Toycen, President and CEO of World Vision Canada. "It will help residents of Quirulvilca, Peru, especially women, youth, and people with disabilities, become more involved and influential in their own community planning. In addition to providing loans for people to start small businesses, there will be capacity-building for local leaders to ensure Quirulvilca follows a path of sustainable development in the long-term."
CIDA's announcement also includes the implementation of the Andean Regional Initiative for Promoting Effective Corporate Social Responsibility. This initiative in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia will strengthen the capacity of local governments and communities to implement sustainable development projects for the well-being of people living near extractive operations, and will improve dialogue between communities and the private sector.
"In developing countries, sustainable economic growth and long-term development strategies are key components for ensuring that men and women have opportunities for a future out of poverty," Minister Oda said. "As more and more developing countries see foreign investment as the means to economic growth and as our Canadian extractive sector represents a major part in that growth, CIDA can play an important role to help countries achieve their aspirations. Encouraging partnerships with the private sector and civil society organizations provides an opportunity for our government to help companies fulfill their corporate social responsibility and benefit those in need."
The announcement today represents a total contribution by CIDA of $26.7 million.
The pilot projects and the Andrean Regional Initiative are implemented as part of CIDA's Sustainable Economic Growth Strategy () and as part of Canada's CSR Strategy for the Canadian International Extractive Sector, () launched in March 2009. Under the strategy, CIDA's role is to support initiatives that enhance the capacities of developing countries to manage the development of their natural resources to reduce poverty.
Backgrounder
CIDA'S NATURAL RESOURCE PROJECTS IN AFRICA AND SOUTH AMERICA
CIDA has announced three pilot projects, as well as one regional initiative in the Andean region to be implemented within () and as part of Canada's Corporate Social Responsibility (SR) Strategy. ()
CIDA's role in implementing Canada's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy
Contacts:
Justin Broekema
Press Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation
819-953-6238
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
819-953-6534
Themen in dieser Pressemitteilung:
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 29.09.2011 - 15:22 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 1041078
Anzahl Zeichen: 0
contact information:
Contact person:
Town:
TORONTO, ONTARIO
Phone:
Kategorie:
Government & Administration
Anmerkungen:
Diese Pressemitteilung wurde bisher 108 mal aufgerufen.
Die Pressemitteilung mit dem Titel:
"Minister Oda Announces Initiatives to Increase the Benefits of Natural Resource Management for People in Africa and South America
"
steht unter der journalistisch-redaktionellen Verantwortung von
CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY - CIDA (Nachricht senden)
Beachten Sie bitte die weiteren Informationen zum Haftungsauschluß (gemäß TMG - TeleMedianGesetz) und dem Datenschutz (gemäß der DSGVO).
