Thematic Priorities

Increasing Food Security

Increasing Food Security

About 870 million men, women and children around the world face chronic hunger.

Securing the Future of Children and Youth

Securing the Future of Children and Youth

Nearly half of the world's 7 billion people under the age of 25. Among them, more than 90 percent live in the developing world.

Stimulating Sustainable Economic Growth

Stimulating Sustainable Economic Growth

As many as 2.6 billion people live on less than $2 a day.

Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

Improving the health of mothers, newborns and children and reducing the number of preventable deaths are top priorities for Canada.

Women voting

Advancing Democracy

Canada's efforts focus on seven core democratic elements

Three Police Wowen

Promoting Stability and Security

More than twenty countries have experienced armed conflict since 2000

To advance Canada's aid effectiveness agenda and to sharpen the focus of Canada's international assistance, the Government of Canada has established five priorities for the international assistance envelope.

Canada is leading a global commitment, the Muskoka Initiative, to improve maternal, newborn and child health in developing countries and reduce the number of preventable deaths, as announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the G-8 Summit in June 2010. Canada renewed its efforts in May 2014 in Toronto during Saving Every Woman Every Child: Within Arm's Reach, an international Summit on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health issues.

In addition to these priority themes, three cross-cutting themes are integrated into all of Canada's international development programs and policies:

With this approach, Canada can focus on key development challenges, and ensure that its aid investments lead to concrete results for the world's poorest.