Minister Sajjan announces $68 million in international assistance funding on trip to Rwanda and Kenya

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, has concluded a visit to Rwanda and Kenya focused on the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers, gender equality, food security, and Canadian development and humanitarian programming in East Africa.

While in Rwanda, Minister Sajjan paid his respects to the victims of the genocide committed against the Tutsi in Rwanda at the Kigali Genocide Memorial. He met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame to discuss the ongoing work and cooperation of Canada and Rwanda in preventing the recruitment and use of child soldiers by armed forces and armed groups. Minister Sajjan and President Kagame also talked about regional peace and security issues, as well as peacekeeping.

The Minister participated in a round table focused on child soldiers and the Vancouver Principles at the Dallaire Institute’s African Centre of Excellence on Children, Peace, and Security. There, he announced that Canada is in the process of planning support for a new project proposed by the Dallaire Institute to promote and operationalize the Vancouver Principles in sub-Saharan Africa.

He visited the office of EarthEnable, an innovative project funded by Canada through Grand Challenges Canada, which provides clean, durable, and affordable earthen floors to reduce diarrheal disease and parasitic infections in Rwanda.

He also attended two events hosted by Giants of Africa: the Moving Sports Forward Forum and the official unveiling of a new basketball court in Kigali, Rwanda.

While in Kenya, the Minister visited staff members at the High Commission of Canada in Kenya to thank them for the hard work they do in representing Canada and serving Canadians. He spoke about his priorities, particularly in relation to food security and the importance of Canada’s relationship with African countries, and he answered questions from staff members.

Minister Sajjan traveled to Kakuma Refugee Camp to learn more about humanitarian needs in the region, including food security and education. He met with local authorities and residents of the camp, including farmers, students, and teachers. He also spoke with Canada-funded partners working in the camp: the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Food Programme.

He met with Fred Matiang’i, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of the Interior and Coordination of the National Government of Kenya, to discuss shared development cooperation priorities, including gender equality, technical and vocational education, and training (TVET), and humanitarian issues. He announced $25 million in funding to support TVET in Kenya’s emerging blue economy sector.

“By working together with our partners in Rwanda and Kenya, we can support them in their efforts to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient East Africa. Through the immensely talented and innovative people of Rwanda and Kenya, we can help support local solutions to mitigate crises such as drought, increase food security and prevent conflict. Our work together can ensure that this growth is inclusive for everyone, from women and girls to refugees, and that opportunities for participation and fulfillment exist,” Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada.

The Minister stopped by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) to see the work being done by both ICIPE and the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA). Canada has been supporting PABRA, an initiative of the Alliance of Biodiversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, since its establishment in 1996. At ICIPE, he engaged with stakeholders working on East Africa’s food security issues from a food research perspective and focusing on improved bean varieties introduced by PABRA as well as value-added bean products manufactured by women entrepreneurs. Canada continues to work with partners to support innovation as we deal with the climate change crisis and food insecurity.

He met with representatives of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) to discuss their work in Kenya, including efforts related to food security, economic growth, and grassroots development. He also accompanied them to Frigoken, the largest export-oriented vegetable processing company in East Africa, where he saw AKDN’s development efforts firsthand.

Minister Sajjan met with contestants, organizers, and producers of the reality television show, Ms. President. Funded in part by Canada, this popular show trains women to be political candidates and promotes women as strong leaders. He encouraged women and girls, in all their diversity, to participate in all levels of politics and announced $37 million in funding for 4 new projects aimed at empowering women.

He also promoted women’s rights in Kenya by visiting a call center that provides help to victims of gender-based violence. He talked about women’s rights issues, particularly gender-based violence, including sexual violence, and Canada’s support for women’s rights organizations.

In Kenya, the Minister met with peace and security stakeholders who are active in Somalia—including stakeholders from both non-governmental and multilateral organizations—and participated in a discussion on the women, peace, and security dimension of Somalia’s security and development challenges.

During his trip, Minister Sajjan also announced $6 million in humanitarian funding for crisis-affected people, including refugees, in East Africa.