Canadian Government Foreign Aid Programs Help To Alleviate Poverty
Canadian Government Foreign Aid Programs Help To Alleviate Poverty
Foreign aid refers to the assistance that more developed or industrialized countries extend to poorer or developing countries. This idea came about after the establishment of the Marshall plan that was meant to help the then destroyed Europe to come back to its initial situation after the effects of World War II. After restructuring of Europe through this plan, there rose a need to also consider other countries like Asia and African countries to help assist them in their development. It is at this moment that Canada also came up with strategies on ways to assist the then poor and developing countries. In 1995 it entered the Colombo plan which was directed to help the Asian countries in advancing in development. In the next twenty years its aid was felt through the Asian and African countries which are so up to date. The plight for poverty alleviation in the world is an ethical stand. The developing countries are undergoing various problems which finally lead to poverty and some are as a result of poverty. Some of the problems are HIV and AIDS spread, drought, illiteracy, food shortage among others. It is then the plight of the foreign body to meet these needs. Canadian government has also played a role in helping the poor and developing countries. (Chipnik, 2009).
Canada's role in alleviation of poverty
Just like other developed nations, Canada has also played a role in the alleviation of poverty among the developing countries ever since it went into the Common wealth programs in the 1950's (CIDA, 2004-2005). As reported by the standing senate committee of foreign affairs, it has not been able to effectively achieve its objectives. This was reported after its dissatisfaction on the role of Canada in sub-Saharan Africa in 2007. Such agencies as CIDA were criticized as having failed to achieve its goals (Chapnick, 2009). This does not rule out the fact that though it did not fulfill its role fully, it managed to help a bit.
There have been various debates whether the Canadian government has achieved its goals of alleviating poverty in the developing countries. Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) as the aid directed to these countries is termed has been one of the big projects by various international bodies like UNDP, UNCHR, and other international financial bodies (CIDA, 2004-2005). Canada also channels some of its aid through ODA.
The Canadian government joined hands with other nations to bring up the economic and the security welfare of the affected nations after the Second World War. One of its strategies was the establishment of CIDA, which denotes Canadian international aid agency. Its establishment in 1968 had such objectives as promoting sustainable development so as to curb poverty and promote the establishment of a prosperous world. As Koffi Annan puts it that the world should move on towards the establishment of security and development, this is one of the objectives of CIDA (CIDA, 2004-2005). The Canadian government has been frequently represented in the UN meetings where free education, better health, security and alleviation of poverty have been the biggest topics (Stokke, 2009). All the governments of the Canadian territory agreed to put aside 0.7% of their gross domestic product to cater for the assistance of the developing countries though channeled through ODA (CIDA, 2004-2005). This target has been their goal for along time though with the passage of time, they have never achieved it. It is estimated that the far that their governments have stretched is 0.5%. The government has also faced several challenges leading to cutting down of its aid to the international bodies.
In 2005, the government came up with three D's policies. These policies were advocating for diplomacy, defense and which finally leads to development. After this establishment, the foreign aid in the country has at least gone up a bit (CIDA, 2004-2005).
Canadians agree with the policy put across in 2005 by the liberals who argued that Canada should be ranked as one of the best in their aid to bring about global development. (Chapnick, 2009). As a result of this argument by the liberals, the conservatives had their part to argue too. They attributed the task of Canada in the reduction of global poverty and promotion of international peace to themselves. In addition, they argued that it is through their efforts and expenditure of their resources that they were able to establish their role in the foreign aid sector (Chapkin, 2009).Canadian government aid addresses such issues as the violation of rights, wars, and health problems and gives measures to be taken for the same in the poor countries. It acknowledges the fact that its failure to establish stabilities in these countries will eventually affect them also. Your Guide to Finding the Best Possible Health Insurance Plan Finding the Best Health Insurance through A Broker Protecting Yourself when Finding Health Insurance Online Things You Should Know About Health Insurance Scams Is It Possible to Get Health Insurance for Business At A Low Cost? Selecting the Right Health Insurance for Business Health Insurance Coverage for Small Businesses How Visitor Health Insurance Can Protect You Abroad Doctor Who Locations Tour UK Bone Cancer Treatments Move and Hear From A Tooth Doctor First Prior To The Process Full Mouth Restoration Critical Illness Insurance Within The Great Britain Be Up To Happen In reality Widespread And Varied In Its Divergent Formats Before you buy a business health insurance policy - some thoughts