Ontario Council for International Cooperation

ICN National Poll Results
On May 22nd, 2012, the Inter-Council Network (ICN) published the results from a national poll on global poverty. To view the results, visit http://www.icnpoll.ca/
The official media release and more information about the poll follows below.

Canadians Call for Federal Government to Address Global Poverty
Respondents feel reducing global poverty will have an impact on human rights obligations and boost our international reputation.

May 22, 2012

[OTTAWA – May 22, 2012] - Global poverty is identified by Canadians as one of the top three issues facing the world today and a large proportion of respondents believe it is a human rights obligation to act, according to a poll conducted by Vision Critical for the Inter-Council Network (ICN).

The survey shows that Canadians are more optimistic about the impact of global poverty reduction than people in the United States and Britain. While 75 per cent of Canadians believe that reducing global poverty will help to fulfill human rights obligations, only 56 per cent of Americans and 55 per cent of Britons feel the same way.

Large majorities of Canadians also think reducing global poverty will improve Canada’s international reputation (71%), reduce global conflicts (71%) and reduce global HIV and AIDS pandemics (67%).

"Canadians believe there are significant benefits in addressing global poverty," said Heather McPherson, spokesperson for the ICN. "They are aware that taking action will not only reduce conflict and pandemics—it will also play a role in improving Canada's international reputation."

More than half of Canadians (52%) feel the federal government is most responsible for addressing global poverty, and nearly three-quarters (72%) believe they should be supporting public awareness about global poverty issues.

While seven-in-ten Canadians (70%) are supportive of the government matching donations of private citizens for global poverty reduction work, an equally high number (72%) do not support government funding of multinational corporations for the same type of work.

To view a presentation with all the findings from the survey (including the results of similar questions in the United States and Britain), visit www.icnpoll.ca

About the Inter-Council Network (ICN)
The Inter-Council Network (ICN) is a coalition of seven provincial and regional Councils for International Cooperation. These member-based Councils represent over 400 diverse organizations from across Canada that are committed to global social justice. The ICN provides a forum in which the Councils collaborate for improved effectiveness and identify common priorities for collective action.

About Vision Critical
Vision Critical is a global research and technology firm that creates software and services solutions for over 600 clients, including one third of the world’s top 100 brands. The company has offices across North America, Europe and Australia as well as a Global Partner Program that provides other research companies and consultants with access to top-of-the-line technology. Its Sparq™ product is the most widely adopted community panel platform on the planet.

About the “Canadian Engagement on Global Poverty Issues” poll
This survey of a representative sample of 1,211 Canadian adults, conducted in March 2012, is one component of a three-year national initiative designed to explore public engagement effectiveness on global poverty issues, and to build the capacity of public engagement practitioners in Canada.

For media inquiries, please contact ICN spokesperson:
Heather McPherson
780.238.8504 | director@acgc.ca

Kimberly Gibbons
416.972.6303 | kimberly@ocic.on.ca

Putting Partnership back at the Heart of Development: Canadian Civil Society Experience with CIDA’s Call-for-Proposals Mechanism, PWCB. An Analysis of Survey Results

March 2, 2012

The Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) and the Inter-Council Network of Provincial/Regional Councils for International Cooperation (ICN, comprised of the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation, l’Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale, the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation, the British Columbia Council for International Cooperation, the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation, the Ontario Council for International Cooperation and the Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation), are launching the following report on an extensive survey that was conducted in January 2012 to document the impacts on Canadian Civil Society Organizations of the new funding mechanism implemented by CIDA’s Partnerships with Canadians Branch (PWCB) since July 2010.

The survey was completed by 158 Canadian organizations who work in international development, which corresponds to a response rate of at least 25% of all organizations who were contacted. We thank all organizations who have taken the time to complete the survey, making the results meaningful and representative of the sector.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of the results of survey, key conclusions and a list of recommendations. An Executive Summary at the beginning of the report captures the essential elements and key findings of the report. We invite you to distribute it in your respective networks, post it on your websites, and promote it in other ways so that it may serve as a catalyst for the discussion on the future of international development in Canada.

Read the full report

Results of survey on the impacts of CIDA funding delays on civil society organizations

November 28, 2011

A large number of Canadian civil society organizations (CSOs) involved in international development have been anxiously awaiting the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)'s announcements on calls for proposals launched months ago. CIDA has not respected the deadlines set for publishing the results, which is seriously undermining the capacity of CSOs to keep delivering development programs to assist the poorest and most marginalized in developing countries.

To illustrate the impacts of these delays, CSOs across Canada were asked to complete an online survey about the concrete impacts that funding announcement delays have had on their operations and development work. The survey was conducted from November 18-24, 2011 and sent to member organizations of CCIC and the Provincial and Regional Councils for International Cooperation.

Read the full report