CANADA'S PROGRESS 2004–10

Between 2004 and 2010, Canada increased its development assistance to sub-Saharan Africa by $779 million (CAD$802 million). In 2010, it delivered a total of $1.88 billion (CAD$1.94 billion) to the region, meeting 197% of its modest promised increases by 2010. Although Canada's 2004-2010 increases to sub-Saharan Africa were among the G7's lowest in volume terms, it directed the highest proportion (62%) of its global ODA increases to the region among the G7.

Canada has made significant investments in global health and food security over the past five years. It is one of seven countries to make a contribution to the GAFSP and, as host of the 2010 G8 Summit, it spearheaded the launch of the Muskoka Initiative on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, which secured commitments from more than 16 donors to deliver $7.3 billion in new funding.

Canada has also emerged as an early champion of donor accountability, leading the production of the G8's Muskoka Accountability Report in 2010 and chairing the UN Commission on Accountability and Transparency to monitor commitments to maternal, newborn and child health. Canada has also taken concrete steps to improve the effectiveness of its development assistance by introducing reforms to increase efficiency and impact and setting clear targets for untying aid, using developing country systems and increasing coordination with donors.

LOOKING AHEAD: 2010–15

In 2010, the Canadian government announced that it would be capping its International Assistance Envelope (which includes development assistance) at CAD$5 billion annually for an undetermined length of time. While Canada's current ODA/GNI stands at 0.33%, it is projected to fall to 0.27% by 2015 as the freeze continues.7 Given Canada's relatively strong economic performance during the recent global recession, this decision risks harming its legacy on global development issues and its credibility as a partner for sub-Saharan Africa in the years ahead. Canada should set a new development assistance commitment striving towards the most ambitious ODA target possible, with a specific amount dedicated to the region.

A new and explicit development assistance commitment, both globally and for sub-Saharan Africa, is especially critical given the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA's) new policy to focus 80% of its bilateral country programme aid on 20 countries, seven of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. For those countries receiving bilateral aid that are not included among the 20 priority countries, ONE hopes to see greater transparency and explanation around the country strategies and results from development assistance. Along with a more selective country focus, CIDA's aid effectiveness reforms will introduce a greater sectoral focus, to include targeted results in partner countries and be driven by more staff in the field. It remains to be seen how effective these aid reforms will be in making a bigger impact in terms of results.

Clarity on development assistance is critical to Canada continuing its leadership on accountability and aid effectiveness. The 2008 Official Development Assistance Accountability Act set standards for the definition of development assistance, for consultation and for transparent reporting. Canada's most recent annual report on results shows progress made in focus countries, and lists targets and timelines for anticipated results moving forward.8 However, Canada should begin to to move beyond project outputs and set targets for development outcomes, with a rigorous monitoring and evaluation plan to measure results.

As this report went to print, Canada was in the midst of a national election, after which the new government will need to define and prioritise the country's future role in global development. The post-election period will provide an opportunity for Canada to move beyond its freeze on development assistance spending and to set a new, more ambitious vision for its role in development and targets for development assistance by 2015.