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Global Affairs Canada leads the country’s international development and humanitarian assistance, manages Canada’s diplomatic and consular relations, and promotes Canadian international trade.
In its 2024–2025 Departmental Plan, Canada aims to strengthen the rules-based international system; advance democratic principles, human rights, and gender equality; and promote biodiversity and climate action. Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy focuses on eradicating global poverty, advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and dismantling discriminatory practices and structural barriers. The development assistance will support the poorest and most marginalized people, particularly women and girls in vulnerable situations, by promoting women’s equality, preventing sexual and gender-based violence, and defending sexual and reproductive health and rights. Canada will also address global food and nutrition needs, invest in climate change mitigation and adaptation, and prevent biodiversity loss in developing countries.
Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, released in November 2022, focuses on five interconnected objectives: (i) promoting peace, resilience, and security; (ii) expanding trade, investment, and supply chain resilience; (iii) investing in and connecting people; (iv) building a sustainable and green future; and (v) positioning Canada as an active and engaged partner in the Indo-Pacific. The strategy begins with an investment of almost Can$2.3 billion over the next 5 years.
In March 2024, Canada committed Can$360 million (approximately $267 million) to the Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for Private Sector in Asia (CANPA), a single-donor trust fund established in 2024. CANPA will support private sector projects in Asia and the Pacific focused on climate and nature-based solutions while accelerating gender equity.
Canada is a founding member of ADB and has contributed $2.2 billion to ADB special funds since 1966. Of this commitment, $2.1 billion is for the Asian Development Fund (ADF). The ADF provides grants to ADB’s low-income developing member countries to help reduce poverty and improve quality of life.
26 September 2024
ADB signed an agreement with the International Finance Facility for Education that will enable at least $500 million in new concessional education funding for lower middle-income countries in Asia and the Pacific.
17 June 2024
The Government of Canada and ADB announced a partnership to create a new Can$360 million trust fund (about $255 million). The Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for Private Sector in Asia will support private sector projects in Asia and the Pacific focused on climate and nature-based solutions while accelerating gender equity.
3 May 2024
Donors and ADB have agreed to a replenishment of $5 billion for ADB’s Asian Development Fund 14 and Technical Assistance Special Fund 8. The commitment was made during ADB’s 57th Annual Meeting.
ADB, Austria, Canada, and Japan are providing the Bank of Maldives with a financing package for the recovery of small businesses and investments in sustainable blue economy projects.
A concessional loan from the Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia is helping women from low-income groups in India to access affordable homes.
Viet Nam’s Da Nhim-Ham Thuan-Da Mi Hydro Power Joint Stock Company installed floating solar panels over the reservoir of a hydropower plant to address the country’s increasing demand for electricity. A unique financing package from ADB, Canada, and Japan supported the project.
Cities in Bangladesh ravaged by floods brought by Cyclone Sidr are rising up to become livable once more through improved infrastructure adhering to cyclone-resistant and flood protection design standards.
Financial resource mobilization by the Malaria Trust Fund has helped eradicate malaria and build strong foundations for health systems in the Greater Mekong Subregion.
Bangladesh’s Primary Education Development Program introduced innovative approaches that changed the face of basic education in the country, helping increase primary school enrollment and completion rates over the last 20 years.
ADB and Canada collaborated on several knowledge products and/or events including the following:
ADB undertakes Business Opportunities Seminars for its members to improve the interest and ability of eligible suppliers to locate ADB business opportunities, prepare high-quality and responsive bids, and understand ADB’s procurement and anticorruption procedures.
This presentation discussed the lessons learned from the case study from Banff National Park (Alberta, Canada) and Terai Arc Landscape (Nepal).
Active trust funds are those a) with ongoing projects; or b) with no active projects but have remaining funds.
*ADB’s regular assistance to Afghanistan has been on hold since 15 August 2021, but the bank has supported the basic needs of the Afghan people since 2022 through a special arrangement with United Nations agencies.
Canada contributes to ADB’s development initiatives through two key avenues: Cofinancing and Special Funds.
Nonsovereign Cofinancing. The Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP) supported over 240 transactions valued at $686.8 million with banks domiciled in Canada from 2009 to 2024. During the same period, the TSCFP supported over 240 Canadian exports and/or imports valued at $110.2 million. In 2024 alone, the TSCFP supported 17 transactions valued at $9.4 million with banks domiciled in Canada and supported 23 Canadian exports and/or imports valued at $3.3 million. Exports and/or imports were mainly to/from Bangladesh, Viet Nam, and Indonesia. Underlying goods involved mostly raw and non-energy commodities, food and agriculture-related goods, as well as consumer goods.
