2019-2020 IN REVIEW
TheAtlanticCouncilforInternationalCooperation(ACIC)gratefully acknowledgesthefinancialsupportoftheGovernmentofCanada providedthroughGlobalAffairsCanada(GAC).
OurStrategicPlan OurMission
TheAtlanticCouncilforInternationalCooperation(ACIC)is acoalitionofindividuals,organizationsandinstitutions workingintheAtlanticregiontobuildandmodeljust, equitableandsustainablecommunities,locallyand globally.ACICconnectsleadershipacrossgenerationsby strengtheningmembersandpartners,bridgingdialogue, andbuildingnetworkingandlearningopportunities.ACIC alsorepresentsandamplifiesthevoiceofAtlanticCanada andconnectstheAtlanticwithotherprovincial,national andinternationalstakeholders.
In2019,ACICadoptedanewstrategicplan,aimedat: strengtheningmemberandpartnereffectiveness,senseof communityandpeerlearning;amplifyingthevoiceandreach oftheAtlanticdevelopmentsectorwithinnational developmentdialogue;andstrengtheningandrecognizing youthleadership.
ThisreportcoversactivitiesthattookplacebetweenJuly1, 2019toDecember31,2020alongthisstrategicplan.The financialstatementsattheendcovertheperiodofJuly2019 toJune2020.
2019-20ReportfromtheExecutiveDirector andBoardChair
BoardofDirectors
Staff
Membership Communication Symposia
AtlanticResilience
InternationalDevelopmentWeek
YouthConference
InternationalVolunteerDay
MyVoiceCounts
AtlanticYouthweaversPhotovoiceProject
MembersPublicEngagementFund
CapacityBuildingOpportunities
ShirleyCaseLeadershipAward
SouthernSpeakersFund
Inter-CouncilNetwork
InternationalInternshipsforIndigenousYouth
NationalLeadershipandRepresentation
NetworkingEvents
ACICCommittees
StatementofFinancialPosition
StatementofRevenuesandExpenditures
2019-20Report
FromtheExecutiveDirectorand BoardChair
JenniferSloot ExecutiveDirector
FredrickWangabo
Mwenengabo Chair,BoardofDirectors
Thepast18monthshavebeenatumultuoustime,butdespitetheuncertainty, ACIChascontinuedtokeepourvisioninfocus:“Leadersoftomorrowpartnerwith leadersoftodayforamorejust,equitableandsustainablecommunities”.Wehave continuedtosupportourmembershipinconnectingwithandsupportingyouth,by undertakingjointprogramming,providingcapacitybuildingactivitiesandensuring thatyouthhaveavoiceatthetable,thoughourevents,delegationsandresearch.
Duringthistime,ACIChasbeenworkingonthreelarge-scaleinitiatives–theInternationalInternshipsforIndigenousYouthProgram(IIIY),theInspiring ActionProgram(IAGC),andtheInter-CouncilNetworkprogram(ICN),whichhas seenACICbecomethenewhost.Thesethreeprojects,alongsidesomesmaller scaleinitiatives,suchasourInternationalVolunteerDayproject(hostedin partnershipwiththegovernmentofNovaScotia),haveallseensignificantshifts duetoCOVID-19andtheglobalpandemic.Weknowthatourmembershiphas alsopivotedtheirwork,andtobetterunderstandthechallengeswehave collectivelyfacedandtheinnovationthatispresentinouradaptationsand changes,ACICconductedastudy,“AtlanticResilience:Creativity,Adaptationand Challenges–LessonsfromAtlanticCanada”.Thisresearchhasprovidedusdata andstoriesthatwehavesharedwithgovernmentandotherstakeholders.
Ourservicestoourmembershipremainfrontandforemost.Throughcapacitybuildingendeavours, networkingmeetings,oursymposiaandcollaborativeprojectssuchasInternationalDevelopmentWeek, theMembersPEFundorourSouthernSpeakersFundproject,wecontinuetoengagewithandsupport ourmembers,intheirveryimportantwork.
Ourstrategicfocusonengagingandsupportingyouthhasbecomeevenmoreimportantduringthisglobal pandemic.BetweenJune2019andFebruary2020,wewereabletoengagewithyouththroughoutthe AtlanticregionthroughourAct4GlobalChangesuiteofprograms;butaslockdownsemerged,wequickly pivotedourworktocontinuetoengageandsupportyouth,butvirtually.OurYouthPhotovoiceProjectis onesuchexample(seep.12)whereweconnectedwithyouththroughphotovoicetobetterunderstandthe impactsofCOVID-19onwellbeing,butalsotosupportanddocumenttheuniqueexperienceofAtlantic Canadianyouthduringthistime.Throughouryouthinternshipprogram,wewrappedupasuccessful cohortof18IndigenousyouthinDecember2019,thankfullybeforethepandemichit.Alongwithother youthprograms,wehaveadaptedourworkinthisprogramtobuildmomentumforthenextroundof internshipsthroughavirtualIndigenousYouthGlobalLeadershipProgram.
ThroughourworkwiththeICN,wehaveworkedwiththeotherprovincialandregionalcouncilstodeliver asuccessfulprogramthatincludescapacitybuilding,knowledgesharing,advocacyandthought leadership(primarilywithinthecontextofPublicEngagement).Wehavehostedwebinars,createdpolicy briefsandmetwithGlobalAffairsandothergovernmentdepartmentstodialogueabouttheimportanceof PublicEngagement,particularlyatatimewhereglobalsolidarityisofutmostimportance.
We’dliketotakethisopportunitytothankourmanyconstituents–our70+members,ourpartnersin Canadaandacrosstheglobe,ourboardandcommitteevolunteers,theotherprovincialandregional councilsthatmakeuptheICN,andlastlythestaffteamatACIC,whocontinuetogoaboveandbeyondin theirefforts.Welookforwardtomoresuccessin2021!
BoardofDirectors
2019-20
FredrickWangaboMwenengabo Chair&NBRepresentative, ECAAIR(EasternandCentralAfrican AssociationforIndigenousRights)
ValeriPilgrim
Secretary&Director-at-Large IndividualMember,NL
ShelaghSavage
Treasurer&NSRepresentative IndividualMember,NS
AshleyChilds
Director-at-Large,
TheConfederacyofMainlandMi’kmaq (Jul2020-Nov2020)
EricSmith
Director-at-Large, CoadyInternationalInstitute
JillianKilfoil
PEIRepresentative
Women'sNetworkPEI(WNPEI)
MicaMcCurdy
NLRepresentative
MemorialUniversityNL
InternationalizationOffice
LauraHunter
Director-at-Large, MaritimeConference, UnitedChurchofCanada
ScottSmith
Director-at-Large, LAMP(LatinAmericanMissionProgram)
Staff
2019-20
ACICStaff:
ExecutiveDirector
JenniferSloot
TrainingandDevelopmentManager
JanelleFrail
ProgramManager(Youth)
JackieDowling
RachelMorgan (Jun2019toJun2020)
ProvincialCoordinators
SamMorton,NL
SelviRoy,PEI
MartinePanzica,NS(June2019March 2020)
RossKinney,NB(SepttoFeb2020)
FinanceandAdministrationOfficer
JadeIlagan
WissamIssa (May2018toMay2020)
CommunicationsOfficer(ACICandICN)
RaushniAbraham
SamKrueger (Jun2019toMarch2020)
FinancialAdministrator
HuanHongXie
Inter-CouncilNetworkStaff:
NationalProgramManager
SherryStevenson
PolicyOfficer
JudyannetMuchiri
TinaRenier (Jan2020toOctober2020)
InternationalInternshipsfor IndigenousYouthStaff: ProgramManager
Lee-AnneLavell
WearethankfultoCanadaSummer
Jobs,theNovaScotiaprovincial governmentandNovaScotia CommunityCollege’sCo-opplacement foradditionalfundingthathelpedus engageyouthinvariousopportunities:
AlisonHorton |ProgramSupport Assistant
AshleyBeairsto |Communications Assistant
EmmaCraig |Communications Assistant
LindsayVandewater |Program SupportAssistant
LaurenTilley | ProgramSupport Assistant
2019-20 Membership
INDIVIDUALS:
AngelaLéger
AnujCharan
ArielleRegan
CarolynBrown
CatherineRonahan
DarleneDoiron
DellaWebster
GraceAllen
IlariaPivi
JeanMcCardle
JenniferElms
JesseLalonde
JohnCameronDale
JonathanFerguson
JoyHecht
KeithForsyth
KevinDeveaux
LindseyEdney
LouiseWebb
MarianLucas-Jefferies
MaryJaneHarkins
MaryRigby
PerlaHernandez
PeteDay
PremKumarSRMarisa
SandraJuarezReyes
SaurabhKulkarni
ShelaghSavage
SuAlteen
SurajBaral
SusanHartley
SuzanKamelMarie
TeresaLush
ValeriPilgrim
VickySchreiber
YingZhang
ORGANIZATIONS:
AmnestyInternationalMaritimes
AtlanticRegionoftheUnited ChurchofCanada
BreakingtheSilenceMaritimesGuatemalaSolidarityNetwork
CampbellWebsterFoundation
CanadianRedCross
CentreforNursingStudies: InternationalOffice/EasternHealth ChaliceCanada
CoadyInternationalInstitute CommunityForestsInternational ConfederacyofMainlandMi'kmaq ConservationCouncilof NewBrunswick CooperInstitute
DalhousieUniversity, GlobalHealthOffice
DalhousieUniversity, OfficeofResearchServices
DalhousieUniversity,Facultyof AgricultureInternationalOffice
DalhousieUniversity,International DevelopmentStudies(IDS) Department
DevelopmentandPeace(CCODP)
EastandCentralAfricanAssociation forIndigenousRights(ECAAIR)
EngageNovaScotia
FarmersHelpingFarmers
GPIAtlantic
Help2OvercomeSociety(H2O)
InternationalDevelopment EducationandAwarenessSociety (IDEAS)
InternationalSustainable CommunityAssistance(ISCA)
LatinAmericanMissionProgram(LAMP) MarineInstituteInternational MemorialUniversity, InternationalizationOffice MennoniteCentralCommittee
MikinduriChildrenofHope NewBrunswickCommunityCollege (NBCC)
NovaScotiaCommunityCollege,Centre forInternationalActivities
ONE OxfamCanada
SaintMary'sUniversity,GlobalLearning andInterculturalSupportOffice
TatamagoucheCentre UniversityofNewBrunswick–Fredericton UniversityofPEI
Venture2Impact Women'sNetworkPEI
WUSC(WorldUniversityServiceof Canada)
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ACIC’scommunicationeffortsaredriven byitsnewstrategicplan.Weprofileour members’work,opportunities,and programsthroughthe‘FromOur Members’series.Wealsoprofilesector initiativesincludingcapacitybuilding opportunities,grants,andother communityandpeerlearning opportunitiesthroughour‘FromThe Sector’series.SinceJune2020,wehave highlightedantiracismresources throughour‘SocialJusticeTuesdays’ campaign,whichhighlightsresources thatspeaktoafeministperspective. Thelastyearalsosawcampaignsrunto highlightyouthvoices.Forexample,to launchPhotoVoices,ACICpartnered withInspiringCommunities highlighting36photographstakenby theyouth.Wealsocontinuetoregularly engagewithourmembershipthrough oursocialmediachannels,andhighlight theirworkthroughourmonthly newsletter..
VaryingPerspectives.EngagingSpeakers. Symposia
Infall2019,ACIChelditsannualsymposiumon GenderEquality:ThePowerof StorytellingtoBuildRelationshipsandCollaboration. TheSymposium,heldinSt.John’s, Newfoundland,offeredopportunitiesforcapacitybuildingthroughkeynote,panels,and workshops,andnetworkingopportunitiesfor46attendees.
SisterLissyChakodeliveredthekeynoteaddress–madepossibleinpartnershipwith ACICmemberChaliceCanada,andthroughtheSouthernSpeakersFund–on‘Gender EqualityattheGrassrootsLevelinIndia.’Evaluationsofthesymposiumwere overwhelminglypositive,withtheenergy,knowledgeandperspectiveofthepanelists beingakeyhighlightformostattendees.
The 2020Symposium sawtheworldgoingonline,bringingwithitauniqueopportunity ofmoreaccessibleconnections.Titled ’Just ClimateAction:Gender,DemocracyandLocal Movements’ the2020ACICSymposiumstressedtheimportanceofaglobalcommunity responsewithspeakersandpanelistsfromAtlanticCanada,Guyana,KenyaandUganda. TheSymposiumalsofeaturedayouthdelegationof10youthfromAtlanticCanada, Guyana,HaitiandPeru.ThedelegationdiscussedclimatejusticeworkinCanadaandthe GlobalSouth,theSustainableDevelopmentGoals,andinternationalcooperation,while reflectingonhowthisworkimpactscommunitiesatthelocalandgloballevels.
Overfoursessions,panelistsandattendeesdiscussedwhataclimatejustworldlooks like,howwecreatesuchaworld,andwhytheclimatecrisisahumanrightscrisis.Inher widelyliked–asevidencedbytheevaluationreport–andanticipatedkeynoteaddress, Dr.IngridWaldrondiscussedtheENRICHproject’sworkonenvironmentalracisminNova Scotia,itsimpactoncommunitiesintheAtlanticCanadianprovinces,andstepsonhow attendeescanhelp.
Photo:PromotionalimagesforACICSymposium2019and2020respectively.
“We’veheardstoriesofenvironmentalracismin Mi’kma’kiandfurtheraway.Ofthedisastrouseffectsof climatechangeinNunatsiavut,Kenya,Guyanaand beyond.Butwe’vealsoheard storiesofcommunityand cooperation. Ofpeoplebuildinginter-generational bridges,workingwithwomenwhoareontheground, whoarethecontextexperts.Andbeingconnectedwith contentexperts:theacademicsandadvocates,whocan supportthem.We’veheardstoriesof howwecanbuild hopeandunitevoicesthroughresistingsystemsof inequality,oppressionandpower.”
-Speaker,ACICSymposium2020
UnderstandingandLearningfromthe Pandemic AtlanticResilience
InJune2020,facedwithaglobalpandemicandrecognizingthechallengesfacedbyour membership,ACICconductedastudytounderstandtheimpactofthepandemiconthework ofourmembers,andtheirorganizationalandcommunityresponse.Apreliminaryreportwas launchedinAugust2020inordertosharelearnings,resources,andbestpracticesthathave emerged.Fortysemi-structuredinterviewswereconductedwithinathree-weektimeframe. Theresearchersemployedasemi-groundedtheoryapproachtoidentifythemesasthey emerged.
Thepreliminaryfindingswerepresentedtothemembershipinawebinardiscussingthe report,whichwasattendedby23membersinAugust2020.Thepreliminaryfindingsdiscussed a)virtualprogrammingandevents,b)travel,c)gender,d)localisation,ande)infrastructureand funding. Discussionsinthewebinarindicatedresonancewiththethemesandbroughtup furtherquestionsthestudycouldfocuson.Afullreportwillbepublishedin2021.
“TheclosureofschoolstocontrolCOVID-19 transmissionhasadifferentialeffectonwomen economically,giventheirroleinprovidingmostof theinformalcarewithinfamilies,with consequencesthatlimittheirworkandeconomic opportunities.Ingeneraltheoutbreakexperience
meansthat women’sdomesticburdenbecomes exacerbatedaswell,makingtheirshareof householdresponsibilitiesevenheavier,andfor manywhiletheyalsoworkfulltime.”
-FromtheAtlanticResilienceReport,2020
International DevelopmentWeek #GoForTheGoals
15 EVENTS
12,948 DIRECTREACH
117,000 INDIRECTREACH
Theyear2020marked30yearsofInternationalDevelopmentWeek.ACICandmembersorganized eventsandengagementactivitiestocelebratethetheme:GoForTheGoals.Someofthekey engagementactivitiesincluded:the#UNIGNORABLE#campaignbyStudentUnitedWay;afilm screeninganddiscussionatSt.John’sFarmers’Market;afilmproductionworkshop;atownhall meeting;introductiontoSDGsworkshops;poetryrecitalsandmusicalevenings;andpanel discussions.
Infall2020,ACICanditsmembersstartedpreparationfortheInternationalDevelopmentWeek 2021Withthesametheme,‘GoForTheGoals.’Themostlyvirtualengagementactivitieswillaim toengageawideraudienceandshedlightonthefalloutofthepandemic,thegapsithas exposedandtheimportanceofusingthesustainabledevelopmentgoalsasaroadmaptoa sociallyjustworld.
PhotobyGraceGillisforthe AtlanticYouthWeavers’ PhotovoiceProject.
DuringIDW2020,therewere13youth-ledevents fundedbyACIC,drawingatotal348attendees. IDWYoutheventswerefundedbetween$200$600andwereimplementedbyyouthages15-28. Youthweresuccessfulinattractinghighprofile speakersandparticipants.Inadditionbyusingtheir voicesonvarioussocialmediaplatformsyouth fromallfourprovincesintheAtlantic,helped generateawarenessandbroadenthereachoftheir IDWevents,globalissuesingeneralandACIC’s mandate.
YouthConference
TheACT4GlobalChangeconferenceisaplaceforyouthtopartakeinexperientiallearningopportunities thatencouragedeepenedengagementonlocal,regionalandglobalissues.Theconferencetookplacein November2019,inTatamagouche,NovaScotia,with38participantsjoiningfromthefourAtlantic provinces.79%oftheyouthcamefromunderrepresentedbackgrounds.Thethreedayconference includedeightworkshopsonglobalissues.Someofthesessionsfocusedon:theFeministInternational AssistancePolicy,IntroductiontotheSDGs,ForcedtoFight(RedCross),QualityEducation(OreJoda),and ImmigrationandActivism(Let’sSprout).
ACICreceivedadditionalfundingfromtheNovaScotiaDepartmentofCommunities,CultureandHeritage, RotaryClubofHalifaxNorthwest,TheUnitedChurchofCanada,FirstDawnEasternEdgeRegional Council,andPALAirlines,whichhelpedmaketheconferenceasuccessandwaswidelyappreciatedby participants.
International VolunteerDay
CelebratingandCapturingtheImportance OfVolunteering
TheInternationalVolunteerDay(IVD)2019celebrationcuratedanexhibitionofphotosfromvolunteer placements,andaline-upofspeakersandstorytellers,whonarratedtheexhibitandspokeaboutthevalue ofvolunteerism.Thephotocompetitionhadsixwinningphotosselectedbyanall-youthselectionpanel. ACICalsoorganizedaIVDTravelGrant.Twosuccessfulapplicants–IndigoChristandCourtneyLaw–wereselectedtosplittheACICIVDTravelGrantof$4,000,andconductedworkinCubaandGuatemala.
ForIVD2020,17volunteersfromacrosstheAtlanticprovincesusedphotojournalismtechniquestotelltheir storiesofvolunteeringlocallyandtheeffectithasglobally,capturinghowvolunteeringlooksdifferentin thetimeofCOVID-19.InDecember2020,allthephotoswerecuratedintoane-galleryandwerelaunched inaneventfeaturingsevenselectedvolunteers.Thelauncheventwasattendedby38people.
TheInternationalVolunteerDaycelebrationsareheldeachyearinpartnershipwithNovaScotia’s DepartmentofCommunities,Culture,andHeritage.
PhotosfromIVD2019and2020:PhotosfromSarahParaisio,LydiaMazel,LynnMatheson(clockwise).
MyVoiceCounts
Infall2020,ACIClaunchedtheMyVoiceCountsinitiative–aninteractiveworkshopthat providesyouthwithanopportunitytoexplorehowtheglobalpandemichasimpacted genderandclimatechange.WorkshopsbeganinDecember2020andwillcontinueinto spring2021.Theworkshopwillfocusondiscussionamongpeerstoexploreandidentify trends(bothpositiveandchallenging)whichhaveemergedinthepandemic.Through thoughtprovokingactivities,youthwilllearnmoreaboutSustainableDevelopmentGoals5 (GenderEquality)and13(ClimateAction)andwillcreatemessagesthatexpressthe importanceofyouthvoicebeingpresentatdecision-makingtables.
Atlantic Youthweavers PhotovoiceProject
TheAtlanticYouthWeavers(AYW)PhotovoiceprojectconnectedsixteenAtlanticCanadianyouthinan eight-week,honorarium-basedproject,whichexploredwhatresiliencelookslikefromayouthperspective.
LaunchedonMay12th,2020,theprojectwasbuiltonthecoretenetsofParticipatoryActionResearch:1) democratic,participatorypathwayforcommunityreflectionandexpression;2)equalaccesstoliberties, rights,andopportunities;3)investigatingrootcausesofproblemsthatdirectlyimpactcommunities;and4) takingaction:reachingpolicymakersandstakeholderstocatalyzechange.
Sixteenyouth,fromdiversebackgrounds,capturedimagesthatemotewhatitmeanstobea changemaker.Inaconveningsessioninsummer2020,thephotographstakenbytheyouthwerecurated intoane-galleryandlaunchedinaconveningsessionattendedby25attendees,includingpolicyleaders, decisionmakersandthoughtleadersfromacrossCanada.
AYWwasajointinitiativebetweenInspiringCommunitiesinitiativeWeavEastandACIC.Fundingwas providedbytheMcConnellFoundation,GlobalAffairsCanadathroughACIC,andInspiringCommunities.
Members’Public EngagementFund
ACIC’sMembers’PublicEngagementFund–nowinitssixthyear–supportssmallpublic engagementopportunitiesthataimtoengageAtlanticCanadiansinglobaldevelopmentissues.In 2020,weupdatedthemandatetofocusespeciallyonsupportingnovelpracticesandinnovative methods.Memberswereencouragedtoconsidercreative,non-traditionalapproachesthatwould allowdeeperengagementandleadtopersonalinvolvementandinformedaction.
2019 2020
Fiveapplicationswerereceived.Aselection committeeconsistingofpastrecipients,staff andBoardevaluatedtheapplications,and selectedthefollowingprojectstoreceivethe $1500funding.Thefourprojectsledtoan indirectreachof4,242and177peoplewere directlyengagedatevents.
BreakingtheSilenceMaritimesGuatemala SolidarityNetwork:SolidarityTraining Program
DalhousieUniversity,FacultyofAgriculture: SDGIdeathon
Photo:MemorialUniversityscreenedthefilm Metamorphosis(posterinphoto).
MemorialUniversityNewfoundlandCinema Politica:ReelIssuesontheRock
SaintMary’sUniversityIDSUndergradSociety: EastCoastInternationalDevelopmentSummit 2020
Sixapplicationswerereceived.Threeprojectshave beenfundedforthisyear.Theprojectswillbe completedinwinter2021.
DalhousieUniversity,FacultyofAgriculture, InternationalOffice
Agroupofyouth(aged15-25)willbetrainedonfilm productionandgenderstudies,andplacedinsmall crewstoproduceashortvideoswhichwillthenbe showcasedpubliclyduringInternationalDevelopment Week.
EngageNS:WomenandtheNSQualityofLife Survey
EngageNSlaunchedaprovince-wideQualityofLife Initiativesurveycollectingcloseto13,000responses. FundingfromACIC’sPEfundwillbeusedtohostand invitewomen-servingagenciestojoinavirtual gatheringtodiscussthesurveyresults.
FarmersHelpingFarmers:BrokenCrayons FarmersHelpingFarmersmemberPatsyDingwell,in BrokenCrayons,tellsthestoryofpre-serviceteacher EllenGillisandherunforgettableexperienceina Kenyanschool.FundingfromACIC’sMembersPE EngagementFundwillbeusedtosupportabook launchandbookreadingsinschoolsinPrinceEdward IslandandKenya.
CapacityBuilding Opportunities
DemystifyingPartnerships:Stakeholder meetingwithGlobalAffairsCanada| Winter2019
ACICarrangedfortwoinformationsessions–in HalifaxandSackville,NBwitharepresentative fromGlobalAffairsCanada.Theeventprovided informationandinsightintothemainfocusof GlobalAffairsCanada,andpartneringwithGlobal AffairsCanadaproject:fromdesigningaprojectto selectionandimplementationquestions.95%of theparticipantsindicatedtheirsatisfactionwith theworkshopfacilitationas‘high’orabove,anda 100%ratedworkshopcontentashighorabove, signalinganoverwhelmingsatisfactionwiththe event.
SpurTrainingonDataCollectionThrough ProjectCycle|Spring2020
SpurChange–aninitiativeoftheInter-Council Network–organizedafull-daytraininginHalifax inMarch2020.Thetrainingwasattendedby20 peoplerepresenting15organizations.
PanelDiscussiononWhatwillinternational developmentlooklikeinapost-pandemic world?|Summer2020
ACICcollaboratedwiththeCanadianInternational Council’sHalifaxBranchtodiscusshowCanada canutilizeitsresourceseffectivelytosupport globalsustainableeconomicandsocial development,andtheneedtoconsidernew approachesthatwillallowCanadatomaximizeits useofaidasasoftpower.Thevirtualeventwas widelyattended,with116peoplejoiningfrom acrossCanada.
Localization–NationalandLocalOwnership Post-Pandemic|Fall2020
Withanincreasedfocusonlocalization,ACIChelda moderatedpaneldiscussiondiscussingthe effectivenessandsustainabilityofpartner-led programstoensurenationalandlocalownership. ACICmemberNovaScotiaGambiaAssociation’s story,toldbyitsexecutivedirectorAbdouKanteh, wasexploredasacasestudyinthispanelattended by42people.
InnovationforNewProgramming|Fall2020
CollaboratingwithACICMemberVenture2Impact, thistraining,attendedby14members,explored organizationalculturethatleadstoinnovative thoughtandaction.Attendeesalsodiscussedtools neededtoinnovateandovercomefearoffailure.
SaferSpaceDialogue|Winter2020
ACICispilotingitsSaferSpaceDialogueprogram throughanongoinganti-racismtrainingfacilitated byWaynHamilton,ofWrappedinPride.Thepilot willassessthebenefitsandshortfallsofhostingsafe spacesvirtually.
TheShirleyCaseLeadershipAward,presentedannuallysince2009,hasfourobjectives:toofficially recognizeleadersinAtlanticCanadathatareactivelyinvolvedasglobalcitizens;todrawpublicattention tothefullscopeofglobalcitizenshipandengagementactivities;toinspireindividualstocontinuetheir involvementintheinternationalcooperationmovement;andtohonourthememoryofShirleyCase.
CreatedtohonourthelifeofShirleyCase,formerACICinternwhowaskilledinAfghanistanwhileworking withtheInternationalRescueCommittee,theAwardispresentedannuallytoanindividualinAtlantic Canadawhohasdemonstratedaspiritofglobalcitizenshipinalocal,nationalorinternationalcapacity andwhohashelpedcreateamorejustandsustainableworld.
ShirleyCase LeadershipAward 2019 2020
NabilaQureshi (St.John’s,Newfoundland) wastherecipientoftheShirleyCase LeadershipAwardin2019.Nominatedby MemorialUniversityofNewfoundland’s InternationalizationOffice,Nabilawas recognizedforherworkonsupporting genderequality,herservicetoimmigrants inSt.John’s,NL,andherworktoestablish thefirstrefugeesponsorshipprograminNL aspartofWUSCatMemorialUniversity. Herresearch,asshepursuesamastersin CommunityHealth,focusesontheimpact ofearlyresettlementexperienceson refugeeyouth.ACICBoardChairFreddy WangaboMwenengabopresentedNabila withtheawardatthe2019Symposium.
DelvinaBernard (Halifax,NovaScotia),an educator,civilandhumanrightsactivist,singer/ songwriter,andinstitutionalchangestrategist, wasawardedtheShirleyCaseLeadershipAward in2020.Delvinaistheprincipalfounderofthe AfricentricLearningInstituteofNovaScotia,and servedfor18yearsastheExecutiveDirectorof theCouncilonAfricanCanadianEducationand asanAfrocentriceducationpolicyadvisortothe NovaScotiaDepartmentofEducation.Since 2013,DelvinahasbeenontheBoardofDirectors ofOxfamCanada–whonominatedher.Pam Ellis,ShirleyCase’ssister,presentedDelvinawith theawardattheACICSymposium2020.
SouthernSpeakers’ Fund
SisterLissyChako|5th Recipient
SisterLissyChako,nominatedbyACICmemberChaliceCanada,joinedACICasthekeynotespeakerfor the2019Symposiumon‘GenderEquality:ThePowerofStorytellingtoBuildRelationshipsand Collaboration.’Sr.ChakowaspartofseveralengagementactivitiesinAtlanticCanadaduringhervisit–suchasaneventongenderequalityinIndia,andaCBCradiointerviewontheInternationalDayoftheGirl Child.Throughherengagementactivitiesshesharedknowledgeandexperience,contributingtothe dialogueaboutempoweringandcreatingawarenessongenderequality.
Duetothepandemic,in2020,wewereabletohostmultiplespeakersfromtheGlobalSouththroughour SouthernSpeakers’FundatourvirtualSymposium–leadingtodialoguesanddiscussionsondiverse perspectives.
SisterEstellinaNamutebi|6th Recipient
SheddinglightontheplightoffarmersfacedwithdeforestationinthetropicalregionofUganda,Sister Estellina,nominatedforthefundbyCoadyInternationalInsitute,spokeaboutthemeasuresher communityhastakentohelprevivetheecosystem.Sr.EstellinaisalecturerandHeadoftheDepartment ofDevelopmentStudiesintheSchoolofArtsinSocialSciences,atUgandaMartyrsUniversity.Sheisalso aGlobalChangeLeadertrainedatCoadyInternationalInstitute,andanactionresearcherinindigenous treespeciesreforestationasanadaptationmeasuretoclimatechange.
LeahJepkirui|7th Recipient
AcommunityworkerfromKenya,LeahworkswithwomengroupsinNandiCountytomobilizeresources toteachthebenefitsofowningabiodigester.Leahspokeabouttheeffectofclimatechange,theincrease indroughtsandfloods,thatisaffectingthefarmersofKenya.Shefocusedontheresponseofand problemsfacedbywomenfromruralKenyatothechangingenvironmentandsubsequentlycreatedfood securityissues.Sheshedlightonherworkpromotinggreenhousesandbiodigesters,andtheneedto adoptthesetechniquesandtechnologylocally.AsLeahsaid,“Ifgivenachance,thesewomenwillfeedthe entirecountry.”
JacintaRealine&JoshuaFredericks|
8th &9th Recipients
Atthe2020ACICSymposium,JacintaandJoshuahighlightedtheworkandimportanceoftheSouth RupuniDistrictCouncil(SRDC)–alegallyrecognizeddistrictcouncilinGuyanaunderthe2006Amerindian Actwhichrepresentsthe21WapichancommunitiesintheWapichanTerritory.JacintaandJoshuaserve asthespokespersonandchairpersonoftheyoutharmofSRDC,andwerealsoapartofthe2020 SymposiumYouthDelegation,interactingwith8otheryouthdiscussingtheglobalandlocalimpactsofthe sustainabledevelopmentgoals.
Inter-Council Network
TheInter-CouncilNetwork(ICN)isacoalitionoftheeightprovincialandregionalCouncilsforInternational Cooperationcommittedtoglobalsocialjusticeandsocialchange,currentlyhostedbytheAtlanticCouncil forInternationalCooperation.Representingover350diversecivilsocietyorganizations,ICNprovidesa nationalforuminwhichtheCouncilscollaborateforimprovedeffectivenessofthesectorandidentifies commonprioritiesforcollectiveaction,coasttocoasttocoast.ICNcurrentlyhastwoinitiatives: Spur Change and FundsforInnovationTransformation,hostedbytheAlbertaCouncilforGlobalCooperation andManitobaCouncilforInternationalCooperationrespectively.
InternationalDevelopmentWeek
For IDW2020,tomark30yearsofInternationalDevelopmentWeek,ICNproducedashortvideo showcasingtheworkofcivilsocietyorganizationsacrossthecountry.Infall2020,ICNbegantheprocess of developingapodcast whichwillexploretimelytopicsrelatedtointernationaldevelopmentandthe SDGswithinthecontextoftheglobalpandemic.IDW2021willmarkthelaunchoftheICNpodcast.
Policy,ResearchandAdvocacy
ICNsupportsandbuildstheinternationalcooperationsector,byconductingoriginalresearchtoinfluence policyandcommunity-ledchange.Inspring2020,ICNconducteda policyscanofthesector tomapout emergingthemesandprojectswithinthechangingcontextofthepandemic.ICN,underitsbrand ICNEngage(Fr:RCCParticipe),hosted twowebinarsinsummerandfall2020. Speakersfromvarying perspectives:feminist,indigenous,youth,andtheGlobalSouthaddressedand highlightedtheimportance ofethicsin,andthechangingcontextofpublicengagementandglobalcitizenshipeducation. ICNalso advocatedforincreasedinvestmentintheinternationalcooperationsectorinalettertotheMinister, highlightingtherisingimportanceofODAinthepandemic ICNisrepresentedonanumberof government-CSOhighlevelcommittees,includingtheCivilSocietyPartnershipPolicyAdvisoryGroup (CPAG),TaskForceforImplementingEffectiveness(TaFie),EXACPEAdvisoryGroup,CovidDialgoueGroup andCovidSolutionsgroups.
PublicEngagement
ICN,togetherwithCooperationCanada(formerlytheCanadianCouncilforInternationalCo-operation),the CanadianAssociationforInternationalDevelopmentProfessionals(CAIDP),theClimateActionNetwork (CAN-Rac)andtheCanadianPartnershipforWomenandChildren’sHealth(CanWaCH)hosted twovirtual TownHallswiththeHonourableKarinaGould,MinisterforInternationalDevelopment.Thetownhalls presentedthesectortheopportunitytohearfromtheMinister,andvoiceprioritiesonissuesthatmatter globally,andinthechangingcontextofthepandemic.Thetownhallswereindividuallyattendedbyover 400professionalsfromtheinternationalcooperationanddevelopmentsector.
YouthDelegation
Eachyear,theInter-CouncilNetworkYouthDelegates,comprisedofeightdelegatesrepresentingthe eightprovincialandregionalcouncils,attendmultilateralspacesandconventionstomeetwith policymakersandinternationalchangemakers.In2020,theYouthDelegatesweremeanttoattendthe 64thCommissionontheStatusofWomenattheUnitedNationsheadquarters.Duetothepandemic,this planhadtobechanged,andtheDelegationinsteadattendedaYouthForumattheSenateofCanada,in Ottawa.
“Beingapartofadelegationofeightpowerful,brilliant,fierce individualswasthehighlightforme.Thelearningdidn’tendwhenthe scheduledeventswereover,aswewouldthenshareamealand discussthingsthatwewerepassionateaboutandthechangewehope toseeintheworld.Theideasandthoughtsthatcameoutofthesenew relationshipsweformedwillstaywithmeforever.”
TheSpurChangeprogramisa5-yearinitiativeoftheInter-CouncilNetwork(ICN),fundedby GlobalAffairsCanada(GAC),supportingcapacitybuildingandknowledgesharingforCanadian SmallandMediumOrganizations(SMOs),educators,andyouth.
In2020,39peoplefromAtlanticCanadaparticipatedinonlineandin-personcapacity-building opportunitiescoveringawiderangeoftopicsincludingfundraising,riskanalysis,contingency planning,genderlearning.Theseparticipantsweremembersof20uniqueAtlanticSMOswith headofficesinGander,Halifax,Charlottetown,andTruroamongothers.Twooutof11members oftheSpurConferenceplanningcommitteearefromAtlanticCanada.Asagroup,thecommittee confirmedthisyear'sfocustobeHumanDignity,withthecross-cuttingthemesofgender equalityandtheempowermentofwomen.ThefirstcohortoftheYouthChampionsProgramis justwrappingupactivitiesasrecruitmentforanewcohortgetsunderway.Twoyouth,Autum JulesandChorkMouykea,collaboratedwithandwerementoredbySMOGPIAtlantic.Itwasa challengingyearforalltheyouth,whohadtopivottheirplannedpublicengagementactivities online.Nonetheless,theyimprovedtheirskillsandknowledgeoftheUNSDGsthrough12 trainingseminarswhichalsocoveredyouthsocialmovements,publicengagement, communicationskillsandcareerdevelopment.
SpurChange FundsforInnovation AndTransformation
TheFundforInnovationandTransformation(FIT)isaprogramoftheInter-CouncilNetwork(ICN) madepossiblethroughfundingfromGlobalAffairsCanadaandadministeredbytheManitoba CouncilforInternationalCooperation.FITisafive-year$16.5mnationalprogramdesignedto providefundingtosmallandmedium-sizedorganizations(SMOs)inCanadatotestinnovative solutionstospecificdevelopmentchallengesthatadvancegenderequalityandempower womenandgirlsintheGlobalSouth.
ThefirstroundofrecipientswasannouncedinFebruary2020,withnineCanadianSMOs selected.Testinghasbegunorwillbesoonunderway.InthemidstofadaptingtoCOVID-19,the secondroundofrecipientswasannouncedinSeptember2020,withnineCanadianSMOs selected.Theinnovationsaddresschallengesrelatedtoagriculture,climatechange& environment,educationandlivelihoods,allwithafocusongenderequality.TheSMOswillbe testingtheirideasindifferentcountriesacrossAfrica,AsiaandLatinAmerica,including DemocraticRepublicofCongo,India,Indonesia,Jordan,Kenya,Nicaragua,SierraLeoneand Uganda.ConceptNotesforintake3weresubmittedinOctober2020andselectedSMOswillbe submittingfullproposalin2021.
InternationalInternships ForIndigenousYouth
ImplementedbyACICandtheNorthernCouncilforGlobalCooperation,thepurposeoftheIIIYprogram istobringtogetherIndigenousandyouth-servingorganizationstoempowerIndigenousyouthinCanada asglobalcitizensintheirowncommunitiesandbeyond.TheprogramincorporatesIndigenous knowledge,familiesandcommunitymembers,Indigenouscommunityorganizations,andlocalpartner organizationswhoworkinprioritydevelopmentsectorsinIndigenouscommunitiesintheGlobalSouth.
EachcohortofIndigenousyouthcompletesfour-monthinternshipplacementsincountriesaroundthe world.Throughtheseinternships,youthparticipantslearnfirst-handaboutinternationaldevelopment issueswhilegainingprofessionaldevelopmentexperienceandbuildingteamworkandleadershipskills. InAugust2019,thesecondcohortofinterns(18IndigenousyouthfromacrossCanada)travelledtowork withourpartnerorganizationsinKenya,Nepal,Myanmar,GuyanaandCostaRica.
TheIIIYprogramalsoworkswithaconsortiumgroupof4Canadianpartnerorganizations:GPI(Genuine ProgressIndex)Atlantic,NativeCouncilofPEI,ConfederacyofMainlandMi’kmaq,andBYTE–EmpoweringYouth.Theseorganizationsprovideadvisorysupporttotheprogramandalsosupportthe recruitment,orientationandmentorshipofprogramparticipants.
Year2PublicEngagementActivitiesandIDW:
Thesecondcohortofinternsorganizednumerouspublicengagementactivitiesupontheirreturnto Canada,culminatinginseveralthatwerehostedduringIDWinFebruary2020.Internstookpartin severalactivitiesincludingmediainterviews,writingblogsabouttheiroverseasexperiences,classroom presentations,andaHumanLibraryevent.Thepublicengagementactivitiesraisedawarenessofthe workbeingdonebytheinterns’hostorganizationswhiledrawingconnectionswiththeUNSustainable DevelopmentGoals.
IndigenousGlobalLeadershipProgram
DuetotheevolvingsituationwiththeCOVID-19virusinCanadaandaroundtheworld,theinternship componentoftheIIIYprogramwaspostponedinSpring2020.Followingaseriesofconsultationswith Indigenousandyouth-servingorganizationsinSummerandFall2020,theIndigenousGlobalLeadership ProgramwaslaunchedinNovember2020.
TheIndigenousGlobalLeadershipProgramwillbringtogetherIndigenousyouthfromacrossCanadato buildleadershipskillsandlearnabouttheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)andthelocal-global connection,whilelearninghowtoactualizeleadershipskillsatthecommunitylevel.Therewillalsobean opportunityforyouthtoconnectwithmembersofACIC’sSouthernpartnernetwork,aswellasspecial guestspeakersfromacrossCanada,whowilljointheonlinesessionstoshareexamplesofthework beingdoneintheircommunities.
Photo:IIIYinternsleadawater conservationworkshopatalocal elementaryschoolaspartoftheir placementwiththeRiftValleyResource Centre.NandiCounty,RiftValley,Kenya.
“Ihopethatyouthalwaysfeelencouraged totryforexperienceslikethis…always keepyourhorizonsopen,haveanopen mindandtrynewthings.” -PhyliciaKagyut,IIIYYouthCohortYear2
NationalLeadership AndRepresentation
ContributingtoCooperationCanada’s GreeningCSOsProject Over2020,CooperationCanadaworked toraiseawarenessamongCanadianCSOsabout environmentalmainstreamingandclimateconsciousoperations,identifiedanddocumented CSOexperiencesinthissphere,andconsulted CanadianCSOsonthebarriersandopportunities forengagingingreenoperations.Inadditionto memberengagementanddatacollectionthrough surveys,focusgroupsandpeerlearning, CooperationCanadadocumentedgoodpractice casestudiesanddevelopedarepositoryof greeningtoolstosupportthesector.ACIC,in additiontocontributingfunds,waspartofthe nationalworkinggroupfortheresearchproject.
Together2020|LeavingNoOneBehind ACICmoderatedthesession‘LeavingNoOne Behind:AddressingInequalityAcrossSectorsin AtlanticCanada’attheTogether|Ensemble 2020e-conferenceinsummer2020.Thesession featuredrepresentativesfromAtlanticCanada andspoketotheindigenousandyouth perspectivewhileidentifyingaccessibilityasa keyareatoaddress.Thissessionhighlighted workintheAtlantictoclosetheinequalitygapin traditionallyunderrepresentedcommunities,and focusedonthelessonsfromcommunity-based approachesandpublicpolicyandexplore challengestoachievingtheirrespectivegoals.
SpurChangeConference2021PlanningandEngagementSubCommittee
ACICispartoftheplanningcommitteeandengagementsubcommitteethatisinformingtheorganization ofthe2021SpurNationalConference.Thisthree-dayconferencewillfocusonHumanDignity,while addressinggenderequalityandtheempowermentofwomenasacross-cuttingtheme.
NetworkingEvents
LongidentifiedasastrengthofACIC,andamongstthemostusefulaspectsofbeinganACICmember, wehostedninenetworkingeventsbetweenJuly2019andDecember2020.Theseeventsareorganized byprovincialcoordinatorsandtakeplaceinNewBrunswick,NewfoundlandandLabrador,Prince EdwardIslandandNovaScotia.Thenetworkingeventstakevariousformats(developmentdrinks, membermingles,cross-sectormeetings)allwiththeaimtofacilitateconnectionsacrossourdiversityof membership.
InMarch2020,manyofournetworkingeventshadtoberethoughttoaccountfortheglobalpandemic, andthemassmigrationofourmemberstotheonlineworld.Theonlineworld,thoughripewiththe opportunitiesofconnectionsbeyondgeographicalreach,alsobroughtwithitwidespreadfatigue. Identifyingtheusefulnessofcross-sectorconnectionsandcapacitybuildingopportunities,ACIC arrangedthefollowingnetworkingandknowledgegetaways.Acomprehensivelist,bothvirtualand onsitefollow:
LGBTQ2S+VoicesinSustainableDevelopment|Summer2019
NovaScotiaFallDevelopmentDrinks|Fall2019
NewBrunswickACICFallNetworkingEvent2019|Fall2019 Symposium2019|Fall2019
InternationalVolunteerDay2019|Winter2019
NovaScotiaHolidayDevelopmentDrinks2019|Winter2019
InternationalDevelopmentWeek|Winter2020
MembersPublicEngagementFundEvents|2019-2020
SpurTrainingonDataCollectionThroughProjectCycle|Spring2020
Atlantic-wideMembersmeeting|Summer2020
UniversityMembersMeeting|Summer2020
WhatWillInternationalDevelopmentLookLikeInAPost-PandemicWorld?|Summer2020 Localization–NationalandLocalOwnershipPost-Pandemic|Fall2020 InnovationforNewProgramming|Fall2020 Symposium2020|Fall2020
InternationalVolunteerDay2020|Winter2020
ACICCommittees
WewouldliketothankthefollowingindividualsandorganizationsfortheirsupportofACICthroughtheir voluntarycommitteework,constantlyprovidinginsightandknowledgethathelpsusrealiseourmission andgoals.
GovernanceCommittee
MicaMcCurdy,EricSmith,ShelaghSavage,JenniferSloot
MembershipCommittee
ScottSmith,AnnWheatley(2019-2020),SoniaHo,DellaWebster,LouiseWebb,SaurabhKulkarni
AdHocSymposiumCommittee2019
ValeriPilgrim,SojinKim,RoxannePereira,RachelMorgan,SamKrueger,WissamIssa,JenniferSloot, JanelleFrail,SamanthaMorton
AdHocSymposiumCommittee2020
EricSmith,ValeriPilgrim,LeoCheverie,DellaWebster,Lee-AnneLavell,RaushniAbraham,Jackie Dowling,AlisonHorton,JenniferSloot,JanelleFrail
AdHocNominationCommittee
ShelaghSavage,MicaMcCurdy
AdHocCOVIDCommittee
FreddyWangaboMwenengabo,LauraHunter,ValeriPilgrim
RiskCommittee
ShelaghSavage,JillianKilfoil,LauraHunter
HumanResourcesCommittee
FreddyWangaboMwenengabo,JohnCameron