2.3 – Going further

Public Engagement Framwork (INFO TO COME)

Example 1: British Columbia Council for International Cooperation (BCCIC) - Movement Map

The Movement Map is an online map that shows Canadian non-profit organizations that are working toward sustainable development within the framework of the UN SDGs

Example 2ː Aga Khan Foundation Canada - Together: An exhibition on global development.

The award-winning Togetherː An exhibition on global development criss crossed the country between 2015-2017, The unique exhibition-in-a-truck showcased the importance role Canada is playing in reducing global poverty and the role that Canadians can play as global citizens.

Understanding how Canada engages with civil society

To ensure that Canada efficiently engages the most Canadians possible as global citizens, Global Affairs Canada collaborates with a variety of partner organizations including civil society organizations (CSOs), universities and associations. Global Affairs Canada recently updated its policy on Civil Society Partnerships for International Assistance, which sets out the department’s approach to enhancing effective cooperation with Canadian, international and local CSOs to maximize the impact and results of Canada’s international assistance and foster a strong and vibrant civil society sector.

Objective 8 of Global Affairs Canada’s policy on Civil Society Partnerships for International Assistance

Engaging Canadians as global citizens in international assistance

Canadian CSOs are globally recognized leaders for their expertise in the areas of peace and security, humanitarian action and sustainable, transformative development. They also have a unique and positive approach to supporting local CSOs to build capacity and take ownership of their programming and results. Their strong relationships with local CSOs, including women’s organizations, strengthen Canada’s engagement at the community level and enhance Canada’s networks abroad. Global Affairs Canada is committed to engaging with diverse Canadian CSO partners to build their capacity and maximize the global impact of Canada’s CSO community. Establishing new Canadian CSO partnerships can increase the effectiveness of Global Affairs Canada’s and the CSOs’ own international assistance efforts, and ensure that Canada’s investments yield lasting results.

Canadian CSOs play a key role in expressing Canadian values and telling Canada’s feminist international assistance story, which can foster global citizenship, particularly among youth, and help inspire Canadians to engage in transformative action to reduce poverty and overcome gender inequality. CSOs engage Canadians in a broader and deeper understanding of international issues, including promoting global citizenship and mobilizing citizens to participate actively in Canada’s international assistance efforts.

Action area 8.1

Global Affairs Canada will, where appropriate, encourage Canadian CSOs to create pan-Canadian partnerships with global reach that can tackle major development challenges, such as gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls

Action area 8.2

Global Affairs Canada will amplify the work of CSO partners to strategically engage Canadians in international assistance through innovative digital technologies and an enhanced online presence

Action area 8.3

Global Affairs Canada will invest strategically in Canadian CSO public engagement activities, in Canada and abroad, that enhance visibility and raise awareness of Canada’s international assistance results, as well as build citizen engagement and contributions to international assistance efforts

Importance of collaboration

One of the key ingredients to successful public engagement initiatives is collaboration with a wide range of civil society organizations.

Such collaboration can help organizations to be more efficient and maximize their results. For example:

• Collaboration between CSOs can add value, encourage a meaningful exchange of knowledge and resources, and increase the impact and reach of new/diverse audiences.
• Coordinating efforts and leveraging resources toward the same event, campaign or other activity can help to maximize effect. Collaborative development of PE activities often leads to better-developed activities.
• CSOs can leverage partnerships to achieve their objectives. By leveraging the messaging power of partners, CSOs can achieve three important objectives.
• They can access audiences that may otherwise be out of reach.
• Partners may be seen as being more “credible,” facilitating the uptake of messages.
• Smart partnerships can be a way of doing more with less, particularly when communication offices face resource constraints.
• Strategic partnerships can be essential for development public engagement strategies to achieve their goals.