Global Aid and Development

Canadian aid agencies press Ottawa to action after UN rules Gaza conflict constitutes genocide

The UN Commission’s genocide finding compels governments to act on their legal and moral obligations. For Canadians, the crisis exposes the tension between the urgent calls for humanitarian access and Ottawa’s cautious diplomatic approach. How world leaders respond will set a precedent for whether international law is enforced when entire populations face death.

124 American non-profit funders write open letter denouncing political violence, prepare for Trump backlash

As U.S. political division widens, non-profits are now in the crosshairs of the Trump administration - again. While several Canadian non-profits were affected by the recent USAID cuts, the loss of more funding for American non-profits could affect Canadian-affiliated chapters.

Global Affairs Canada commits $2 million in funding for prosthetics in Gaza

The commitment by Global Affairs Canada signals strong international recognition of the crisis in Gaza and a commitment to long-term support. However, blockades are still preventing help from flowing freely into the area, and organizers say the program will shut down in a few months if blockades aren’t lifted.

Canadian non-profits demand action from international community as Israeli invasion of Gaza City begins

More than 60,000 civilians have died and hundreds of thousands more have been injured since Oct. 6, 2023 in the Gaza Strip. Israel's plan to invade the city will only worsen the humanitarian crisis by leading to disease, more hunger and trauma for a population already on the verge of starvation. Local charities say Canada's lack of condemnation of these actions cannot be ignored.

‘Educational defiance’: In Gaza, makeshift classrooms keep hope alive amid war and hunger

Resiliance in Palestine is showing up in unexpected ways, including in the classrooms that have sprung up in tents and ruins of Gaza. War can erase culture; therefore it's important to preserve literacy as much as possible.

How a digital archive is fighting to save memories of pre-Nakba Palestine

Aside from the loss of life during a genocide, the loss of identity and culture is one of the most damaging things invaders can do to a society. But technology is making it easier to prevent that loss, even when resources are scarce.

Morocco’s overlooked waste pickers building a cleaner, fairer future

Across Morocco, tens of thousands of people scrape by on the margins, sorting through garbage for survival. Informal waste pickers, many of them women and children, are essential to the country’s recycling system, yet they remain legally invisible, unprotected, and stigmatized.

Need a loan? In Ghana, neighbours are helping neighbours

In Ghana's rural communities, Village Savings and Loan Associations are powerful, neighbour-to-neighbour systems that offer crucial access to credit and foster economic resilience. Community-based finance solutions could lift countless people out of poverty.

Ghana's Lake Bosomtwe farmers fight pests and lake loss with science and tradition

The challenges farmers face at Lake Bosomtwe, from pests to lake loss, exemplify global environmental crises. Their integrated approach to solutions offers crucial lessons for other regions facing similar pressures, emphasizing community-led action.

Egypt’s first charity thrift shop opens amidst widening gap between rich and poor

Egypt has a deep-rooted cultural stigma against buying second-hand clothing and goods. However, recent economic realities mean that a new charity thrift shop has proved more popular than expected.

When mosquitoes fly, AI listens: Ghana’s plan to prevent pandemics

An AI-led approach could reshape health strategies by offering a scalable, data-driven way to combat vector-borne diseases like malaria, yellow fever, and dengue—saving lives in regions most affected by these illnesses.

Garbage idea? How the University of Victoria teamed with waste pickers in Brazil to build a university

Empowering global learning goes beyond supporting institutions with funds. This is a prime example of building knowledge across cultures, languages and even continents while helping solve the climate crisis.

How villages banded together to rebuild Yemen’s schools amid war

Canada's support in rebuilding schools in war-torn countries is vital, as it helps restore educational opportunities for children, fostering hope and stability for future generations. However, it's important that local communities drive the efforts to ensure that the reconstruction aligns with their needs and culture.

A year of war: For Gaza’s children, their home is little more than a graveyard 

How warring parties treat children is a significant indicator of whether international laws of war are being respected, according to Save the Children

Children spearhead change in Worst Child Labour countries

Evidence from Bangladesh and Nepal shows that children can understand their exploitation and offer meaningful solutions. Engaging them is critical to developing more effective strategies to combat the worst forms of child labour.

What Canada can learn from successful cash aid programs in war zones

While basic food staples, clean water and health care services are always needed amid disaster, having cash allows families to choose what they need rather than be given whatever goods come their way.