CanWaCH June newsletter 2026: A new sector platform, reflections from our CSE forum and fresh member insights

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Join CanWaCH’s Board of Directors!

We are looking for enthusiastic leaders who can bring their passion and expertise to support CanWaCH’s initiatives and objectives! The current Board of Directors is an extraordinary group of individuals who exemplify leadership and dedication to global health and gender equality. If interested in submitting a nomination form, please email Alli Bunting. Completed nomination forms must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT, Sunday, September 20, 2026.  

Building momentum for comprehensive sexuality education

In late May, CanWaCH and Right To Play International co-hosted a two-day forum in Ottawa on advancing comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) as a cornerstone of sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality and youth empowerment.

The forum brought together Canadian and global partners, policy makers, researchers, youth advocates and subject matter experts for an interactive exchange on how CSE can be better understood, strengthened and championed across policy and practice. Together, participants shared lessons, explored emerging challenges and opportunities and identified practical ways to keep this work moving forward.

Thank you to all participants and partners who brought their insight, experience and energy to this important conversation!

CSE and the city: From momentum to action

Following the forum, several participants took to Parliament Hill. The CSE Hill Day saw youth leaders, subject matter experts and sector partners speak directly to federal decision-makers on the critical importance of CSE to health, gender equality and youth empowerment. Participants met with parliamentarians and government officials, including Mona Fortier, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and representatives from Women and Gender Equality Canada. 

Discussions highlighted the value of youth-led advocacy in shaping policy discussions, evidence-based approaches to advancing menstrual equity and efforts to ensure young people have access to accurate, inclusive information. 

Next week in Ottawa: Presenting Atlas!

CanWaCH is pleased to partner with Cooperation Canada on a series of in-person convenings on June 15. Atlas, a new data platform for insights on Canada’s international development sector, will be launched at 1:30 p.m. EDT at the Ottawa Art Gallery. It will be followed by a reception co-hosted with the Humanitarian Response Network.

What we heard from the CanWaCH membership

In spring 2026, the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH) collected feedback from its 110+ members through the annual member engagement survey and a series of roundtables in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montréal and Ottawa. Members were candid about the pressures facing the sector, clear about where CanWaCH adds value and practical about the kinds of support they need next.

Challenges surrounding access to medical certificates for survivors of gender-based violence 

Join CanWaCH and Médecins du Monde on June 25 at 11 a.m. EDT for a panel discussion exploring the challenges surrounding access to medical certificates for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) in humanitarian and development contexts.

Speakers will examine what medical certificates for GBV survivors are and why they matter, key challenges in obtaining and issuing certificates from multiple perspectives and experiences from Bénin, Burkina Faso and Haiti.

National Indigenous History Month spotlight: The Inuit Perinatal Health Hub

The next edition of the PCWHC Grand Rounds welcomes the Inuit Perinatal Health Hub! On June 24 at 12 p.m. EDT, the Hub will share insights associated with meaningful and relational research engagement with Inuit communities. Join us for an engaging session on how research can be grounded in lived experience, dialogue and reciprocity. 

Through conversation and storytelling, speakers and participants will reflect on what it means to engage in research within Nunavut communities, how northern communities experience health and social systems, and the role of the Inuit Perinatal Health Hub in fostering collaborative, community-based work.

Out now: Canada’s opportunity to bridge domestic and global action to end cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide despite the availability of highly effective preventive measures, including the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Grounded in lived experience, evidence and implementation realities, a CanWaCH and Results Canada roundtable provided an opportunity to identify actionable steps, share best practices and strengthen cross-sector collaboration.

News, resources and publications

Connection, Clarity and Collective Action, CanWaCH

Who Gets to Shape the Table? Reflections on Power, Funding and Gender Equality after Women Deliver 2026, Alex Valoroso and Clare Szalay Timbo, members of the CanWaCH Gender Equality Working Group

Bringing Care Home: Inside Human Concern International’s Elderly Support Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tasfia Tasneem Rafa, Health and Livelihood Program Officer, Human Concern International

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak resources, Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG) on Reproductive Health in Crises

A special issue of Canadian Geographic magazine – What does it mean to be a global citizen today — and how are young people across Canada putting that idea into action?, Aga Khan Foundation of Canada

A sustainable world (Interactive map), Aga Khan Foundation of Canada

Artificial intelligence pathways to abortion care: a regional analysis of ChatGPT referrals to Women on Web, Women on Web

BC Children’s Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre (IGH-CW) 2026–2031 Strategic Plan, The Institute for Global Health at BC Children’s and BC Women’s Hospital (IGH-CW)

Come and See: Community-Led Evidence of Impact, Salanga

First NICU Opens in Sierra Leone, Partners In Health Canada

Fuel Crisis Devastates Patient Care in Malawi, Partners In Health Canada

In conversation with… Isata Dumbuya and Allison Adamson (Podcast), The Lancet Global Health

New UNICEF Report Card Shows Canada Continues to Stall on Child Well-Being, UNICEF Canada

Results That Matter: Gender Equality Across the Nexus: Evidence from Humanitarian, Development and Peace Programming, Oxfam Canada

Safe Abortion Calculator, Guttmacher Institute

The Road to Safer Childbirth in Sierra Leone, Partners In Health Canada

Upcoming events  

June 15, The Launch of Atlas and Reception

June 16, Designing Informed Consent for AI Tools: Supporting Real Choice for Global Majority Users

June 17, The Walrus Talks at Home: Education in Crisis

June 17, PCWHC event: How stigma continues to shape experiences in women’s health

June 23, Global Health – Research in Progress Series

June 24, Join the conversation: Bringing the Human Back into Research

June 24, Recognizing & Responding to FGM/C

June 24, 6 Principles of Locally-Led Development

June 24, Why Global Health is Social Justice

June 25, PCWHC event: Access to medical certificates for survivors of GBV

July 27-31, Teachers’ Leadership Institute

July 27-31, Youth Leadership Academy

Jobs and opportunities

Call for Nominations: 2026 Paul Farmer Lectureship and Award for Global Health Equity, McGill University | School of Population and Global Health. Application deadline: June 12

Community Organizing Specialist, Partners in Health Canada. Application deadline: June 12

IDRC Financial Advisor, IDRC. Application deadline: June 13

Volunteer Board of Directors, End FGM Canada Network. Application deadline: June 15

Bridge2FutureBC Regional Lead, The Public Health Association of BC. Application deadline: June 17

Knowledge Sharing Advisor, IDRC. Application deadline: June 21

Upcoming funding opportunity – Addressing Neglected Areas of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in sub-Saharan Africa, IDRC. Call for Letters of Interest Launch: June 29, 2026

Strategic Partnership Advisor – Volunteer in Colombia, Cuso International. Application deadline: June 30

El Salvador – Safeguarding Advisor, Oxfam-Québec. Application deadline: July 31

Mitacs Accelerate Global Excellence Award, Mitacs. Application deadline: September 11

U-Report Canada – Share Your Voice! Youth Opportunity with UNICEF Canada, UNICEF Canada. Application deadline: Ongoing

Advisor, MEAL, Impact and Gender Equality, Operation Eyesight Universal. Application deadline: Open until filled

Bolivia – Social Innovation Advisor, Oxfam-Québec. Application deadline: Open until filled

El Salvador – Gender Equality and Feminism Advisor, Oxfam-Québec. Application deadline: Open until filled

Program Manager, Operation Eyesight Universal. Application deadline: Open until filled

Volunteer Opportunities with Cuso International, Cuso International. Application deadline: Various dates

Assistant Professor (Tenure Track), Ingram School of Nursing (Nurse-Led Health Systems Change), Ingram School of Nursing. Application deadline: June 29

Have an opportunity that you would like to share with us? Please contact us at [email protected].

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Published:

June 11, 2026


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