Governor General Michaëlle Jean represents Canada on state visit to sub-Saharan and North Africa

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, lead a delegation of distinguished Canadians to Algeria, Mali, Ghana, South Africa, and Morocco between November 19 and December 11, 2006.

The Governor General's first official state visit allowed her to witness how Canadian and African partners are working together to achieve development results in Africa. In addition, this visit will highlight how dedicated Canadians in Africa, both in sub-Saharan and North Africa, have advanced the values and goals we cherish as a nation.

Through trips to Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) projects and other development projects, each stop highlighted Canada's support for African development and the significant results achieved through partnerships. The Governor General and her delegation (which included representatives from civil society and the youth community) saw how Africans have taken the lead in their own development while understanding the role Canadians are playing.

CIDA projects visited during the state visit

Algeria

• Civil Society Support Fund II

Mali

• Gender and Development Fund

Ghana

• Ghana Regional Appropriate Technology Industrial Service
• West Africa Peace and Security Initiative
• Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building of the Judicial Service
• Farmer-Responsive Mechanisms in Extension and Research

South Africa

• HIV/AIDS Rapid Response Fund

Other useful links

• Governor General of Canada - Main website
• The Governor General's Citizen Voices BloGG
• CIDA's sub-Saharan Africa website
• CIDA's North Africa website
• Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada