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PACP Committee Report

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Government Response to the Eighteenth Report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts Entitled Chapter 8, Strengthening Aid Effectiveness – Canadian International Development Agency of the Fall 2009 Report of the Auditor General of Canada

In May 2010, the Auditor General appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts to review Chapter 8, Strengthening Aid Effectiveness – Canadian International Development Agency of the Fall 2009 Report of the Auditor General of Canada. The Standing Committee tabled its Third Report on September 20, 2010. Pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons, the Government must table a response to the report within 120 calendar days or before January 18, 2011.

The Government would like to thank the members of the committee for their work in preparing this Report and welcomes its continued interest in supporting efforts to improve the effectiveness of Canada’s international assistance.

The Response addresses all of the Standing Committee’s recommendations.

Recommendation 1

That the Canadian International Development Agency provide a status report to the Public Accounts Committee by 1 April 2011 on its progress in addressing the recommendations made by the Office of the Auditor General in Chapter 8 of the Fall 2009 report. 

The Government accepts the first recommendation.

As mentioned in the Committee report, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has already made significant strides in addressing the Auditor General’s recommendations.

CIDA accepted all seven of the recommendations made by the Auditor General in 2009. These recommendations continue to reinforce the approach the government is taking to increase the effectiveness of its development assistance through the Aid Effectiveness Agenda. Since the release of this report, CIDA has been implementing measures towards fulfilling all recommendations.

CIDA will provide a status report on its progress in addressing the recommendations made by the OAG in Chapter 8 of the Fall 2009 report by 1 April 2011.

Recommendation 2

That the Canadian International Development Agency include in its annual performance report its progress on the organization-wide implementation of the pilot project for streamlining its business processes, as well as the average time required for project approval.

The Government accepts the second recommendation.

Beginning in 2011-12, the Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) will set out targets and the corresponding Departmental Performance Report (DPR) will report on accomplishments.  In the DPR, CIDA will report on its progress on the implementation of the pilot project for streamlining its business processes. Details regarding average time required for project approval will be provided on the Agency’s website. As per standard practice, the link will be provided in the DPR.

Recommendation 3

That commencing in 2011-2012, the Canadian International Development Agency set out in its departmental performance report full and complete details of its decentralization process for all of its countries, including a target and the actual number of staff in each country, and that this be continued in each subsequent departmental performance report.

As it adapts to evolving realities, CIDA will continue to ensure that resources are placed where they are needed most. Since 2008-09, CIDA’s DPR has reported on enhanced field presence, also known as its decentralization initiative. The DPR reported that:

  • In Afghanistan, CIDA continued to strengthen its decentralized presence: the number of Canadian staff increased to 25 in 2009-10, compared to 7 at the beginning of 2007-08;
  • In Africa, an additional 8 positions were moved to the field, bringing CIDA’s total number to 125 field staff; and,
  • In the Americas, an additional 3 positions increased CIDA’s presence to 82.

CIDA’s decentralization initiative is an ongoing process, which will pave the way for significant increases of personnel in the field. CIDA’s operational requirements, entail a great degree of flexibility to adapt to constantly evolving local and regional realities. In future DPRs, CIDA will continue to provide information similar to that outlined in recent years, highlighting total Headquarters and field staff figures with a breakdown by continent. CIDA will also explore ways to enhance reporting of details regarding its field presence, as appropriate.

Recommendation 4

That the Canadian International Development Agency include in its strategy papers the specific programming areas it will fund under each thematic priority.

The Government accepts the fourth recommendation.

CIDA’s three thematic priorities, announced by the Minister of International Cooperation in May 2009, represent a significant refocusing of CIDA’s policy and programming priorities. These priorities fall within the Government’s overall efforts to focus Canada’s international assistance on five thematic priorities. This new direction has been elaborated through three strategies: increasing food security; securing the future of children and youth; and, stimulating sustainable economic growth. These strategies have been launched by the Minister and are publicly available on CIDA’s website. 

Within each of the thematic priority strategies, CIDA has defined three paths to direct the Agency’s programming. These paths will be used to determine where CIDA will focus its efforts and target its investments. CIDA’s 2009 Country Strategies reflect greater programming focus in support of these three thematic priorities.  The design of CIDA’s specific programming to deliver on these thematic priorities is appropriate to the needs and capacity of developing Country partners and is informed through in-country cooperation with other donors. Summaries of the Country Strategies are available on the Agency’s website.

Under the Food Security Strategy, CIDA will focus on the following three paths:

  • Food aid and nutrition;
  • Sustainable agricultural development; and,
  • Research and development.

Under the Children & Youth Strategy, CIDA will focus on the following three paths:

    • Child survival, including maternal health;
    • Access to a quality education; and,
    • Safe and secure futures for children and youth.

Under the Sustainable Economic Growth Strategy, CIDA will focus on the following three paths:

    • Building economic foundations;
    • Growing businesses; and,
    • Investing in people.

Further details on the content of the thematic priority strategies are available on CIDA’s departmental website.

3. Conclusion

Strengthening Aid Effectiveness is part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to make Canada’s international assistance more efficient, focused and accountable. CIDA is committed to supporting sustainable initiatives that have measurable results, ensuring maximum impact of public funds.