Canada is stepping up its global leadership in support of a better, safer world that is more just, prosperous and sustainable. Its global engagement is underpinned by Canadian values and national interests and a strong commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Membership of the G7 and G20 enables Canada to shape global processes, address global risks and contribute to sustainable development.

Canada’s feminist international assistance policy draws on a strong track record of gender advocacy and has been universally welcomed. It is underpinned by a human rights-based and inclusive approach and a commitment to implementing the 2030 Agenda. The policy articulates a vision which will help Canada to be coherent in the changes it is striving to make in its development co-operation.

Canada’s overall aid volume has not increased significantly since the last peer review. As its economy has grown, the share of its aid volume in the overall economy (ODA/GNI) has declined. Canada’s current announced increases in ODA will not see it return to the 2012 ODA/GNI level of 0.31%. Canada could more systematically disclose forward spending information about its international assistance.

The amalgamation of CIDA and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has brought significant changes to how Canada organises and manages development co-operation. While amalgamation has achieved positive results, such as improved coherence of Canada’s global engagement, challenges remain include creating a new, unified culture in Global Affairs Canada and improving harmonisation across the department.

The new feminist policy commits Global Affairs Canada to more effective partnerships globally, regionally, nationally and locally to advance the interests of women and girls. Canada works with a broad range of partners to deliver its development co-operation, applying a mix of programming mechanisms and ensuring they are well aligned with the needs of beneficiaries. A distinct strategy, as has been set out for civil society, would benefit private sector and multilateral partnerships.

Global Affairs Canada has embraced new government-wide results measurement requirements and is implementing a series of initiatives to enhance the use of results information for learning and impactful reporting. As Canada rolls out new processes at different levels, it would benefit from ensuring results are clearly linked to development goals and that it supports and uses country-led data and results.

Canada remains a major donor that helps to shape the humanitarian policy landscape. Humanitarian aid is at the top of Canada’s ODA spending, representing 22.3% of its total ODA bilateral commitments on average in 2015-16, well above the DAC average. Based on solid whole-of-government co-ordination, already praised in the last peer review, Canada has further strengthened its integrated response to major crises, such as in the Middle East; its humanitarian budget has kept increasing in recent years; and the Peace and Stabilisation Operations Programme is a good tool to help address the factors that create violence and humanitarian needs.