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.
#IDW2026 OCIC Event Details
Innovation Lab 2026: Centering Community Participatory Knowledge Co-Creation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Date: January 30 & 31, 2026
Location: Regent Park Community Centre
402 Shuter St, Toronto, ON M5A 1X6
[ Fill out the Expression of Interest ]
About the Event:
Kick-off International Development Week 2026 with the Knowledge for Change (K4C) Tkaronto Hub – the Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC), the Center for Community Learning and Development (CL&D), the Knowledge Equity Lab at the University of Toronto Scarborough – for our Innovation Lab 2026: Centering Community Participatory Knowledge Co-Creation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
With the emergence of new technologies, particularly AI, knowledge creation, validation, and application in local and global development are rapidly evolving. Knowledge production is inherently political, shaped by power dynamics over whose knowledge counts, who is included or excluded, and who benefits or is affected. As AI increasingly mediates these processes, it raises urgent questions of equity, inclusion, and justice.
Designed for participants across the K4C Tkaronto Hub—including leaders within global and local development organizations, members of the Youth Policy-Makers Hub, early-career practitioners and students, and newcomer community researchers and organizers—the Innovation Lab aims to create an exploratory space for dialogue about AI around shared concerns, hesitations, and opportunities; to identify the aspects of our work we want to protect, preserve, and uplift; and to consider what we wish AI designers understood about our communities.
The Innovation Lab is a two-day, in-person, hands-on space grounded in Community-Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR). This approach is relational, justice-oriented, and rooted in lived experience, treating knowledge as co-created rather than extracted. By centering community agency, CBPAR ensures those most affected by decisions are active in shaping them. We hope you’ll join us to co-create knowledge and imagine ethical, community-centered approaches to AI in development.
Attendance is free for selected participants. Please share your expression of interest by Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
25 Years of UNSC Resolution 1325: Canada’s Ongoing Commitment to Women, Peace, and Security
Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm ET
Location: Online
As part of our International Development Week 2026 program, we’ll be examining Canada’s ongoing commitment to Women, Peace, & Security with an expert group of panelists.
At this important juncture, marking 25 years since the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and two years into the implementation of Canada’s Third National Action Plan (2023–2029), this session will explore what progress has been made, what challenges persist, and what our goals are as we look toward 2029.
We will reflect on Canada’s commitments to advancing gender-responsive peacebuilding, women’s participation in decision-making, and inclusive approaches to conflict prevention and recovery. The discussion will also examine how civil society, youth, and policy actors can contribute to the effective implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda in Canada and globally.
Opening Remarks:
- Sarah Hendriks, Director, Policy, Programme & Intergovernmental Division at UN Women
Moderator:
- Isabella Aung, Research Fellow at MyPACK (Myanmar Policy and Community Knowledge) Hub, University of Toronto
Panelists:
- Yolande Bouka, Co-Director, Research Network on Women, Peace and Security, McGill University
- Emily Wiseman, Director of Gender Justice and Impact, CARE Canada
Youth Policy-Makers Hub Alumni Panel: Navigating Careers in the International Cooperation Sector
Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Time: 12:00pm – 1:30pm ET
Location: Online
As a part of our IDW2026 program, we will be hosting a virtual panel for students and other individuals interested in working in the international cooperation and policy sectors in Canada. The panel will profile some of our Youth Policy-Makers Hub alumni to share their experience navigating the sector, and how policy and programming intersect.
The panel will explore:
- Panelists’ personal career paths
- Reflections on their time in the YPH
- 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
Meet the Contributors:
Moderator:
- Christina Muia, Manager of Social Enterprise, Skills for Change, 2019-2020 Cohort
Panelists:
- Allison Kingston, Executive Director, Rayjon Share Care, 2021-2022 Cohort
- Laura Perez Gonzalez, Portfolio Management Analyst, 2022-2023 Cohort
- Hudson Biko Mwalagho, Digital Media Manager, CanWACH, 2023-2024 Cohort
- Tashin Rodoshi, Operations Manager, Office of Councillor Parthi Kandavel, City of Toronto, 2024-2025 Cohort
Prosperity Through Partnership: A Collaborative Networking Night
Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026
Time: 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Location: Industrious Toronto, 33 Bloor Street East, 5th Floor, Toronto, ON
OCIC Members are invited to [REGISTER HERE]
Join us for an evening of conversation and connection with people working across international cooperation, impact investing, and housing rights. Meet new peers, share ideas, explore where your work overlaps, and uncover collaboration opportunities to show how capital, partnerships, and shared priorities can move ideas into real-world impact.
Designed as part of International Development Week, the evening will feature brief remarks from co-hosting organizations, followed by facilitated networking structured around shared areas of interest, including housing, climate finance, education, and gender-lens investing. Emphasis will be placed on dialogue, relationship-building, and practical connection, and participants will be encouraged to engage in focused conversations aligned with their interests and expertise
Event Organizers:
- Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC)
- Canada Forum for Impact Investment and Development (CAFIID)
- Rooftops Canada
OCIC Members are invited to [REGISTER HERE]
#IDW2026 Member Event Calendar
February 3, 2026

Aga Khan Foundation Canada: Advancing Climate Resilience: Nature-based Solutions, Partnerships, & Indigenous Knowledge
Join climate and development practitioners for a full-day virtual event focused on learning, exchange, and dialogue around inclusive and effective climate change adaptation. Throughout the day, participants will engage in high-level panels, interactive discussions, and facilitated breakout sessions.
This event is part of AKFC’s Speaker Series on Climate Change Resilience and Adaptation.
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 | Online
February 6, 2026

World Accord: Building Better Partnerships: Cross-sector Collaboration for Global Impact
In a time of growing global challenges and constrained resources, strong partnerships across sectors are more important than ever. This event will bring together leaders from international cooperation, academia and finance sectors to explore what makes partnerships work—and how collaboration can drive greater development impact. Featuring panelists from Kinvia, Canadian Foodgrains Bank, University of Ottawa’s Global Development Policy & Practice Hub, Développement international Desjardins (DID) and World Accord.
Friday, February 6, 2026 | Heartwood House-Unitarian Fellowship in Ottawa







