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International Development Week
International Development Week (IDW) is an annual initiative held during the first full week in February. A uniquely Canadian tradition, IDW was initiated in 1991 by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in order to promote global peace. The Government of Canada, Global Affairs Canada (GAC), civil society organizations, schools, businesses, provinces, municipalities, volunteers and millions of interested Canadians participate in IDW each year. OCIC is proud to work in close collaboration with our members, partners and colleagues across Ontario and around the world to co-create meaningful opportunities for IDW and throughout the month of February to increase awareness of Canadians’ contributions to international cooperation, to celebrate and share achievements, and to encourage the active engagement of us all, as global citizens. These initiatives are undertaken with financial support from the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada.#IDW2025 Event Details
Positioning for the Future: OCIC Symposium 2025
Date: January 30 & 31, 2025
Location: Humber Polytechnic Lakeshore Campus
TICKETS ARE NOW SOLD OUT!
About the Event:
We are delighted to kick off International Development Week (IDW) 2025 with this two-day gathering for OCIC members, associates, partners and youth with interest in positioning for and co-creating our collective future.
This Symposium presents an important and strategic opportunity to:
- Take time for reflection and learning, taking into consideration key principles, values, trends, priorities and drivers of change shaping the international cooperation and global education sectors in Ontario and globally;
- Draw insights from Strategic Foresight work undertaken through the Cooperation Canada and International Development Research Fund (IDRC) ‘Futures Initiative’, Red Argentina para la Cooperación Internacional (RACI) and other relevant initiatives such as the Inter-Council Network (ICN) research focused on More Decolonial, Feminist, Anti-Racist Public Engagement;
- Reflect upon, reconsider and help to refine OCIC’s current Theory of Change and Strategic Objectives to better align with the changing context and emerging needs; and
- Celebrate our community and collective accomplishments
The Road Ahead: Exploring Careers in the International Cooperation Sector
Date: Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm ET
Location: Zoom
Language: English
About the Event:
This IDW2025, don’t miss our virtual Career Panel ‘The Road Ahead: Exploring Careers in the International Cooperation Sector’ for students and other individuals interested in working in the international cooperation and humanitarian sectors in Canada. The panel will profile professionals who bring diverse personal experience, expertise and backgrounds to their role.
The panel will explore:
- Panelists’ personal career paths
- Perspectives on the ways their education and experience is relevant to their current positions
- Insights into the changing priorities and skills needed for young people as they seek opportunities in their sector
- Suggestions for students and professionals looking for work in the sector Speakers coming soon!
About the Contributors:
Moderator:
- Andron McKoy, Co-founder, Afrika Outbound
Panelists:
- Mathieu Bibeau-Leblanc, Foreign Services Officer, Global Affairs Canada
- Madhuri Kibria, Strategic Partnerships Associate, Nature United & Program Manager, BacharLorai
- Christina Koikaran, Parliamentary Intern, The Parliamentary Internship Programme
- Sophia Mirzayee, Education & Youth Engagement Officer, Aga Khan Foundation Canada
Feminist Futures: Exploring Transformative Leadership and Equitable Partnerships
Date: Thursday, February 6, 2025
Time: 9:30am-11:30am ET
Location: Zoom
Language: English
About the Event:
In the spirit of advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and fostering more equitable global partnerships, OCIC’s International Development Week 2025 Gender Panel, ‘Feminist Futures: Exploring Transformative Leadership and Equitable Partnerships’, will focus on feminist leadership and inclusive partnerships as transformative forces for creating lasting social change.
The event will focus on sharing powerful stories of hope, agency, and resilience from South Asian and East African regions, drawing attention to how feminist leaders and grassroots collaborations are shaping the future of development.
Meet the Contributors:
Opening Remarks:
- Senator Paulette Senior
Moderator:
- Marlen Mondaca, Vice President of Programs and Partnerships, Canadian Feed the Children
Panelists:
- Elizabeth Kemigisha, The Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA – Uganda)
- Dr. Rubel Manivannan, Regions Beyond Medical Union Society
- Gulnora Mukhamadieva, Global Lead for Gender, Aga Khan Foundation
- Shobha Shrestha, Women for Peace and Democracy (WPD) Nepal
- Dr. Felagot Taddese, CPAR Ethiopia
Thank you to OCIC members; Aga Khan Foundation, Canadian Feed the Children, Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR), Crossroads International, Presbyterian World Service & Development (PWS&D), and World Accord.
#IDW2025 OCIC & Member Event Calendar
January 30 & 31, 2025
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Positioning for the Future: OCIC Symposium 2025
Join us for an inspiring start to International Development Week (IDW) 2025! Our two-day Symposium is all about reflecting, learning, and co-creating our collective future.
As OCIC heads into a year of strategic planning, we will be drawing insights from Strategic Foresight work undertaken through the Cooperation Canada and International Development Research Centre (IDRC) ‘Futures Initiative’, Red Argentina para la Cooperación Internacional (RACI) and other relevant initiatives such as the Inter-Council Network (ICN) research focused on More Decolonial, Feminist, Anti-Racist Public Engagement.
Thursday & Friday, January 30 & 31, 2025 at Humber Polytechnic Lakeshore Campus
February 3, 2025
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Cooperation Canada and IDRC: Film Screening of 'The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos'
As part of International Development Week 2025, Cooperation Canada and IDRC are proud to present a reception and a screening of The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos, a powerful, thought-provoking film that offers a riveting critique of urban development and forced evictions in Africa’s largest city, Lagos.
February 3, 2025 at 5:00pm at La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins in Ottawa
February 4, 2025
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Centennial College: IDW 2025
Join Centennial for IDW2025, an annual event organized by the International Development Postgraduate Program of The Business School. Students, faculty and professionals interested in NGOs’ activities, Sustainable Development Goals, and international development studies are welcome to join. Registration is required upon arrival at the event.
February 4, 2025 at 9:00am at Event Center, Centennial College in Scarborough
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Good Neighbours Canada: Together: A story of a GNC Development Project in Bangladesh
Join Good Neighbours Canada for a documentary screening of a case study of community-led development work in Bangladesh, highlighting how this organization fosters sustainable development through empowering young people, supporting livelihoods and utilizing an innovative whole-community support system. The screening will be followed by an interactive Q&A and reflective discussions, where attendees will be invited to engage with Good Neighbours staff and one another while thinking about sustainable development practice.
February 4, 2025 at 10:45am at Event Center, Centennial College in Scarborough
February 5, 2025
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World Accord, Inter Pares & PWS&D: Locally Led Development - How do we do it?
Join us for a lively discussion on the ins and outs of locally led development. The event will start off with a talk by Professor Maïka Sondarjee on locally led development and decolonization in the development sector. This will be followed by a panel discussion from three Ontario SMO’s who actively practice locally led development. They will share insights on best practices and lessons learned. We also welcome other SMO’s to showcase their own successes when it comes to locally led development. This is a bilingual event and live translation services will be provided.
February 5, 2025 at 11:00am ET at 404 McArthur Ave. Ottawa
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The Road Ahead: Exploring Careers in the International Development Sector
As a part of the Ontario Council for International Cooperation’s (OCIC) International Development Week 2025 program, OCIC will be hosting a virtual Career Panel, 'The Road Ahead: Exploring Careers in the International Cooperation Sector', for students and other individuals interested in working in the international cooperation and humanitarian sectors in Canada. The panel will profile professionals who bring diverse personal experience, expertise and backgrounds to their role. They will also offer insights into the changing priorities and skills needed for people seeking opportunities in the sector.
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 from 2:00pm to 3:30pm on Zoom
February 6, 2025
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CARE Canada: Women’s Financial Inclusion: A Catalyst for Sustainable Development
Toronto Centre and CARE Canada are co-hosting a virtual panel session to mark Canada's International Development Week.
Closing the financial inclusion gender gap is essential for sustainable economic growth and stability. It empowers women socially and economically while strengthening financial systems. Safeguarding and accelerating the progress made over the past 15 years is critical to ensuring continued advancement.
The panel will explore strategies to drive women’s financial inclusion, focusing on policy innovations, digital financial services, savings and loan groups, and public-private partnerships.
Thursday, February 6, 2025 from 9:00am to 10:00am on Zoom
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Feminist Futures: Exploring Transformative Leadership and Equitable Partnerships
In the spirit of advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and fostering more equitable global partnerships, OCIC's International Development Week 2025 Gender Panel, ‘Feminist Futures: Exploring Transformative Leadership and Equitable Partnerships’, will focus on feminist leadership and inclusive partnerships as transformative forces for creating lasting social change. Join us to hear powerful stories of hope, agency, and resilience from South Asian and East African regions, drawing attention to how feminist leaders and grassroots collaborations are shaping the future of development.
Thursday, February 6, 2025 from 9:30am to 11:30am on Zoom
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Partners in Health Canada: Insights and Impacts from PIH SRHR Programming in Malawi and Sierra Leone
From 2019 to 2024, Partners In Health Canada led the transformative No Woman or Girl Left Behind project in Neno District, Malawi, and Kono District, Sierra Leone, with funding from Global Affairs Canada. This comprehensive initiative tackled critical issues in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), empowering women, girls, and adolescents through groundbreaking health interventions and social supports.
Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 11:30am on Zoom
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Good Neighbours Canada: Together: A story of a GNC Development Project in Bangladesh
Join Good Neighbours Canada for a documentary screening of a case study of community-led development work in Bangladesh, highlighting how this organization fosters sustainable development through empowering young people, supporting livelihoods and utilizing an innovative whole-community support system. The screening will be followed by an interactive Q&A and reflective discussions, where attendees will be invited to engage with Good Neighbours staff and one another while thinking about sustainable development practice.
Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 12:30pm on Zoom
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Cuso International: Come Savour the Stories, Taste the World
Join Cuso International for Taste of the World during International Development Week 2025! Our event, in partnership with Global Affairs Canada, celebrates Canada's 35-year commitment to international development, highlighting the profound unifying power of food.
Shared meals connect us beyond borders, transforming strangers into allies. There will be food sampling from regions of Peru, Ethiopia and Jamaica.
February 6, 2025 at 5:30pm at Centre for Social Innovation - Spadina, Toronto
February 7, 2025
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Results Canada: Fireside Chat and Networking Lunch
As part of International Development Week, Results Canada and Nutrition International are pleased to invite you to a fireside chat and networking lunch with Monsieur Brieuc Pont, France’s Special Envoy on Nutrition and Secretary General of the Nutrition for Growth Summit, and Global Affairs Canada’s Assistant Deputy Minister Leslie Norton.
This gathering provides an opportunity to hear the Special Envoy’s vision for this crucial moment to advance nutrition, celebrate Canada’s leadership, and call for new, ambitious commitments.
February 7, 2025 at 11:30am at Nutrition International HQ, Ottawa
February 8, 2025
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Aga Khan Foundation Canada & Jane Goodall Institute of Canada: IDW Insight Exchange
This International Development Week (IDW), join Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC), in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada’s Youth Advisory Council, for a youth-led afternoon featuring dynamic conversations, networking, and presentations by youth related to intersecting challenges and opportunities in global development.
This free networking event is designed to connect people from diverse sectors, generations, and career paths who are interested in supporting sustainable, inclusive initiatives that empower communities in Canada and around the world.
February 8, 2025 at 1:30pm at Centre for Social Innovation - Spadina, Toronto