International Development Week (IDW) is an annual initiative held during the first week of February (beginning in 1991) to engage Canadians on global issues.
This uniquely Canadian tradition offers an opportunity to pause and to acknowledge Canadian contributions to poverty reduction and international humanitarian assistance in the developing world.
Canadians individuals, the government of Canada, and civil society organizations mark this week by organizing hundreds of activities across the country and abroad.
We will celebrate IDW 2021 virtually February 7th to 13th.
The theme is “Ethics, Equity, and Emergency Response.”
In October of 1988, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) introduced “Development Day.” It took place twice. CIDA created it as part of the “Education to Development Program” in order to promote global peace. CIDA is now incorporated into Global Affairs Canada. In 1990, this event evolved into what is currently known as “International Development Week” (IDW). It was first celebrated in February 1991. Since its beginning, the number of schools and organizations marking IDW grew. Each year millions of Canadians across the country gather to celebrate IDW. These efforts contributed to the longevity and success of the week over the past three decades.
In 2013, CIDA merged with what is now Global Affairs Canada (GAC). GAC continues to coordinate IDW. They collaborate with hundreds of Canadian civil societies to organize IDW celebrations.
In 2020, IDW celebrated its 30th anniversary. The theme was “Go for the Goals.” Referring to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, this theme illustrates the idea of moving forward in a collaborative and positive way toward a better world.
This way forward is the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This agenda is a global plan of action aiming to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. In other words, it is a path that seeks to shift the world toward a less wasteful, less destructive, and more sustainable and equitable mindset. One where no one goes hungry, no one feels unsafe, and no one is left behind.
While this agenda involves ambitious goals, we can achieve them if we #GoForTheGoals together.
The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) is the Anglican Church of Canada’s agency for sustainable development and relief. With the support of Anglicans across Canada, PWRDF partners with organizations working to increase healthy pregnancies and births, reduce gender inequality, relieve hunger, and break the cycle of poverty in the world’s most vulnerable communities. Against a backdrop of climate change, PWRDF strives to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.
PWRDF wants to work with partners who share our commitment to a more just and equitable and peaceful world. We share Anglican Church of Canada financial and human resources to support the relief, development and justice initiatives of our partners.
We also see development as involving whole communities and networks in processes of social transformation. While individuals are important participants and beneficiaries of all community development, we work best with them and help them by focusing on the communities where they live as a whole.
If you would to see examples of how PWRDF promotes and shares in IDW, please visit the links below:
https://pwrdf.org/film-festival-in-honour-of-international-development-week
https://pwrdf.org/pwrdf-supports-international-development-week/
