OTTAWA, ON - A new Memorandum of Understanding between FCM and Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) will ensure greater collaboration between the Government of Canada and Canadian municipalities on questions related to international development.
Through this new partnership, DFATD and FCM will pursue a strategic dialogue on issues of common interest related to Canada's international development priorities, and explore ways in which Canadian municipalities can collaborate with the Government of Canada to achieve common objectives in international development. It adds to existing frameworks to promote greater collaboration between DFATD and FCM in the areas of trade promotion, trade policy, two-way investment and international activities.
"FCM and Canadian municipalities have been important strategic partners of the Government of Canada's development efforts for the past 27 years, implementing federally-funded programs in more than 55 countries," said Minister Paradis. This agreement further enhances the existing cooperation between the federal government and the Canadian municipal sector in advancing Canada's international development priorities."
FCM currently partners with DFATD on more than $100M of programming in Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean, helping build overseas municipal and private sector capacity by using Canadian municipal expertise.
"Canada's cities and communities can offer invaluable insight in countries such as Ukraine, promoting local democracy and building strong private sector linkages," said FCM President Brad Woodside.
The first program to be implemented as part of this strategic partnership is the Sustainable and Inclusive Communities in Latin America (CISAL. Through this five-year $20 million program, FCM's municipal experts will work with local governments in Colombia and Peru to help them manage both the impacts and benefits of working with the mining sector, while creating lasting economic development opportunities.
For more information on FCM's international programs, visit www.fcm.ca/international.