A Word from CanWaCH
Covid. Conflict. Crises. Today’s challenges cannot be taken lightly. At CanWaCH, we believe that partnership is the heartbeat of all solutions and pathways forward, the driving force of the change we need to see in the world.
Partnership is not always easy. It requires intentional action built on mutual accountability. This means questioning the “how” and the “why” of our actions. The following report asks important questions about how our investments, partnerships, approaches and focus shifted amid a confluence of global challenges? Why have these shifts occurred? Were they intentional or consequential as we adjusted course multiple times amid significant world events. Are any course corrections needed today?
CanWaCH’s annual Global Health Impact Report is meant to be a window into members’ accountability work that showcases data we collect through our open data platform, the Project Explorer. It is our contribution, as a convener and gatherer of a diversity of voices and experiences, to the results story of Canadian involvement to advance health and rights globally.
We are all still in the shadow of the pandemic. Globally, we continue to discover the depth of the impact of this major global health crisis and related mitigation measures, with varying levels of severity. Global instability from the war in Ukraine to violent civil unrest in Yemen, Haiti and Afghanistan, coupled with climate emergencies in Pakistan, Türkiye and Syria, have left organizations scrambling to meet unprecedented global need. In all these situations and complex emergencies, efforts to ensure universal access to healthcare and the right to health are seriously undermined, especially for women and girls.
This report is a snapshot of the efforts being carried out by CanWaCH and Equal Futures Network (EFN) members and partners to ensure such rights – a shared commitment to make universal access, including sexual and reproductive health services, a reality, both in Canada and internationally.
In this 4th edition of the Global Health Impact Report, we are reporting from a growing dataset– a threefold increase since our first report. This means richer data to better ensure we can explore our collective learnings and achievements.
Along with the CanWaCH Board of Directors, amid significant ongoing challenges, I remain optimistic. The ability of our members, our partners and of the CanWaCH team to question ourselves, to learn and to share, is remarkable. In solidarity with each other, with governments and with our community partners, we strive to be more mindful and intentional, putting forward best practices and ‘walking the talk’ for authentic partnerships.
This involves giving space to local voices, as well as taking on the commitment to more equity and justice and further embracing anti-racist cooperation. We are privileged to do this within the context of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance policy, now in its fifth year.
This report is intended to pave the way to continuing important conversations about impact and accountability. CanWaCH will continue to convene these conversations in several ways over the coming year acknowledging that accountability – like any progress – elicits change and, at times, discomfort. Let’s sit in that discomfort together by continuing to share, listen and learn together.
In solidarity,
Julia Anderson
Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH)
