What is CIDA Doing?

CIDA continues to respond effectively to the widespread devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, cooperating closely with other Government of Canada departments and agencies, other donor countries, and the Government of Haiti.

Recent contributions

Projects funded recently by CIDA include the following:

• On November 19, Canada expanded its response to the cholera outbreak by $4 million. This amount is in addition to the $1-million contribution announced in October by Prime Minster Stephen Harper.
• On November 17, a contribution of $7.2 million over three years was allocated, through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, to help five severely earthquake-affected Haitian municipalities rebuild and help them strengthen their institutional capacity to restore essential services to their citizens.
• On October 8, a $30-million call for proposals to Canadian organizations was launched recovery and reconstruction projects in Haiti.
• On October 1, it was announced that $5 million was set aside to support CIDA's climate change adaptation initiatives in Haiti.
• $1.5 million was set aside to support the work of Interim Haitian Recovery Commission.
• $5.8 million was set aside for the sound management of the electoral process for the November legislative and presidential elections.

During her visit to Haiti on April 8, Minister Oda announcedadditional funding for humanitarian assistance and key projects to support Haiti's action plan. This includes support for the construction of a hospital, police training, and various humanitarian assistance programs. To date, CIDA's humanitarian assistance totals $155,15 million.

On March 31, at the International Donors' Conference held at the United Nations in New York, Minister Oda announced that the Government of Canada was pledging $400 million in further support for relief, recovery, and reconstruction in Haiti. Of that amount:

• $33 million (USD) has been delivered for debt relief
• $31.3 million was allocated to the multi-donor Haiti Reconstruction Fund
• $20 million was allocated in support for the World Food Programme's school feeding initiative to provide daily meals to some 400,000 school children in need
• $10 million will go toward increased support for Haitian justice and security institutions

CIDA's immediate response

• Within hours of the earthquake, CIDA had launched efforts to assist people affected by the disaster. In the days following the earthquake, Canada, through CIDA, provided the people of Haiti with $85 million in humanitarian assistance.
• On January 16, the first planeload of relief items taken from CIDA's emergency stockpile left for Haiti. The relief items constitute a component of CIDA's Global Rapid Response Project.
• On January 18, CIDA provided financial support for the Norwegian and Canadian Red Cross co-funded emergency field hospital set up in Port-au-Prince.
• Through the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund the Government of Canada matched donations made by individuals to eligible registered Canadian charities from January 12 to February 12, 2010. Thanks to the generosity of those individuals, 14 registered Canadian charities reporting to CIDA raised a total of $220 million.

Our ongoing programs

As part of CIDA ongoing five-year $555 million (2006-2011) development cooperation program in Haiti, CIDA has launched new initiatives, for which the following amounts have been earmarked:

• $20 million for the rebuilding of the Gonaïves hospital
• $18.1 million for the construction of the national police academy
• $16.5 million for a police-training program
• $12 million for the building of temporary facilities for key Haitian government departments

Our partners

All of these CIDA undertakings require the cooperation of trusted and established partners. There are approximately 70 CIDA-funded Canadian organizations currently active in Haiti. Whether large-scale or small-scale organizations, their level of commitment to this cause is unwavering.

Our personnel

Already committed to improving the lives of Haitians, CIDA personnel have responded to this crisis by redoubling their determination and dedication. It was with deep sadness, moreover, that CIDA personnel learned of the death of two of their colleagues who were in Haiti when the earthquake struck.

CIDA remains determined to give all Haitians hope. Other activities will be undertaken in the future to meet their needs and help them rebuild their lives.