August 2017 Newsletter

CanWaCH Submission to 2018 Federal Pre-budget Consultation

Canadian parliament clock tower with flag on left

CanWaCH has submitted its recommendations to the House of Commons Finance Committee in advance of the 2018 Federal Budget. The submission includes three recommendations to ensure that Canada continues to contribute positively to a strong and inclusive global economy: an increase in Canada’s Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) by 10% each year to reach the globally agreed target of 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2030; expanding investments in women’s and children’s health with new resources to close gaps in adolescent health and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR); and, renewed and greater investments in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) and SRHR interventions beyond 2020. 

Call for Nominations for CanWaCH Board of Directors
CanWaCH is currently seeking from its membership nominations for the Board of Directors. Board members must be: dedicated to reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) and development; available to attend at least four board meetings a year (in person and/or via teleconference); willing to sit on CanWaCH’s various committees and working groups; and, be prepared to serve on the Board for a three-year term. A full description of the board member role, the nomination procedures and the nomination form is available here.

CanWaCH Releases Research Report:  Using Shared Values and Beliefs to Engage Canadians. Don’t miss the member webinar August 17th! 
Earlier this year CanWaCH commissioned research on the values, beliefs and behaviours of Canadians regarding Canada’s investment in women and children’s health globally. In addition to a survey of Canadians, the research involved an analysis of over 4,000 online conversations by a team of anthropologists and a break down of different Canadian audiences, their respective values and characteristics and how to reach them. The research project will inform upcoming public engagement efforts by CanWaCH and its members. ‘Using Shared Values and Beliefs to Engage Canadians’, includes a set of recommendations to influence Canadians’ perspectives on investment in women and children’s health globally.
 
CanWach will brief its members on the findings and recommendations of the report in a webinar on August 17, 2017 at 1:00pm EDT. Register here.
 
CanWaCH has also issued a Request for Proposals for the development of a public engagement strategy which will include common messages, branding and themes based upon the research, insights and recommendations. The strategy will be accompanied by an implementation plan starting in the Fall of 2017 and extending into the Spring of 2019 that includes supporting design materials that can be leveraged by CanWaCH and its members across digital media channels.

Recruitment Opens August 12th for Women Deliver Young Leaders Program  
The Women Deliver Young Leaders Program is recruiting its next class of Young Leaders! Started in 2010, the Young Leaders Program provides youth advocates with the training and resources necessary to extend their influence and actively shape the programs and policies that affect their lives. Currently comprised of 400 youth advocates from more than 100 countries, the new class of 300 new Young Leaders will join the program early 2018.
 
All young people between the ages of 15 and 28 are welcome to apply (link) and can access the application here, which will be open starting the week of International Youth Day (August 12th). The Applications open August 12th, the week of International Youth Day, and close October 13th.

CanWaCH is a Women Deliver – Deliver for Good Campaign Ally. Women Deliver offers a rich variety of resources for organizations, including infographics, policy briefs, suggested Tweets and more – all free to download and share.

Nutrition International and UNFPA partner to improve women and adolescent girls’ health

Adolescent girls sitting together

Nutrition International and the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) announced a partnership at last month’s Family Planning Summit 2020 in London to provide services integrating family planning and nutrition to improve women and adolescent girls’ health. Through the Nutrition Leverage and Influence for Transformation (N-LIFT) initiative, funded by the Global Affairs Canada, Nutrition International will invest up to $2 million (CAD) to incorporate nutrition components into existing UNFPA sexual and reproductive health services. The partnership hopes to increase the benefits to women and girls reached by UNFPA family planning services by offering a range of nutrition interventions. Read more here. Also read, Three reasons why integrating nutrition and family planning is a game changer.

CanWaCH Youth Delegates at the London Family Planning Summit
Cassandra Morris of HealthBridge Foundation of Canada attended the Family Planning Summit in London on July 11, 2017 as a CanWaCH Youth Delegate. Previously a speaker and member of the Conference Youth Council (CYC) for the CanWaCH Global Adolescent Health Conference in May 2017, Cassandra offers her perspective on the Summit and how it emphasized the needs of adolescents and young people in her report on the CanWaCH website. Patrick Mwesigye, another CanWaCH CYC member, also attended the Summit and offers his observations as a Founder/Team Leader for Uganda Youth and Adolescents Health Forum here.

Save the Date! CanWaCH AGM
The CanWaCH Annual General Meeting will be held November 1, 2017 in Ottawa at the Marriott Hotel. The day will focus on building the capacity of member organizations and facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange between CanWaCH members. A business meeting, including election of Directors, will also take place. The AGM immediately follows the Canadian Conference on Global Health at the same location October 29-31. For more info, subscribe to receive AGM updates!

Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) and CUSO International Host Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Workshop in Ethiopia for In-Service Midwives

Workshop participants holding up workshop banner

In March of 2017, Cuso International and the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM)organized a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with a specific emphasis on Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) for  in-service midwives from the four target countries of  the Midwives Save Lives (MSL) project:  Ethiopia,  Benin, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The hands-on 4-day workshop provided participants with the opportunity for professional development and learning, connecting principles around gender equality with the concept of Respectful Maternity Care. It was the MSL project’s first gathering of midwives from all participating countries. Read more about the workshop and the MSL project, here.

Apply Now – Second Canada-Guatemala MNCH Knowledge Exchange!
Horizons of Friendship, a Canadian organization focusing on Central America and Mexico, invites maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) professionals, experts and advocates to apply to its second Canada-Guatemala MNCH Knowledge Exchange. From February 17-26, 2018, participants interested in global health and social justice will be immersed in an ambitious, locally-led project supported by Global Affairs Canada that is improving the delivery and use of culturally-pertinent MNCH services for thousands of Indigenous Maya K’iche’ women, children and families. Knowledge and experiences will be shared with Maya K’iche’ and Guatemalan health practitioners, including traditional Indigenous birth attendants and formal health staff. Read more and apply here. Or contact Raúl Scorza at [email protected].

Public voting open for Canadian SDG Champions!
Global Compact Network Canada will be recognizing outstanding efforts of Canadian organizations who are adopting and implementing the SDGs at the 2nd annual SDG Awards and they need your help! Please view award entries, vote, and help spread the word about the Sustainable Development Goals! View submissions and vote here.

Published:

August 10, 2017


Author:

CanWaCH


Categories:


SHARE THIS POST:


Icon