Highlights from the Senate Sessions on Canada-Africa Relations 28/11/24-04/12/24

The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade recently held two sessions to deepen its understanding of Canada’s evolving engagement with Africa as part of its preparation for the forthcoming Canada-Africa Strategy. The discussions highlighted Canada's ongoing efforts to engage with key stakeholders in Africa-Canada relations, exploring themes of diplomacy, governance, economic development, and humanitarian assistance. By bringing together diverse perspectives, these panels offered critical insights into how Canada can position itself as a reliable and impactful partner on the continent.

Day 1: November 28, 2024

The first session opened with testimony from Ben Marc Diendéré , Canada’s Permanent Observer to the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa . Ambassador Diendéré emphasized the importance of Canada’s partnership with the AU, describing it as essential for advancing shared priorities in peace building, trade, and sustainable development. Highlighting Agenda 2063, the AU’s framework for inclusive growth, Diendéré outlined how Canada’s commitments align with Africa’s broader aspirations, particularly through initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He noted that Canada’s $54 million funding package, recently announced by Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, aims to support food security, good governance, and youth empowerment. He also described the new roles of special envoys for Africa and the Sahel respectively, which he described as critical to enhancing Canada’s diplomatic footprint. However, Diendéré candidly acknowledged that Canada’s limited number of embassies 27 for 54 countries remains a significant constraint, arguing that expanding embassies and specialized diplomatic expertise is necessary to meet the complexities of African engagement effectively.

The day's second panel featured Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, Ph.D., at the National Democratic Institute(NDI) and Barbra Chimhandamba, Ph.D., Public Policy Advisor at the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. They addressed the topics of governance, democratic support, and development priorities.

Dr. Fomunyoh provided a critical overview of the current state of democracy in Africa. He discussed the trend of democratic backsliding across the continent, with increasing military coups, weakened electoral systems, and external influences from countries such as China and Russia. He emphasized that Canada, leveraging its global reputation for fair governance and diplomacy, could be pivotal in supporting democratic resilience. This, he argued, could be achieved through investments in civil society organizations, protecting media freedoms, and funding electoral reforms designed to empower African citizens. Fomunyoh stressed the importance of engaging with grassroots organizations to ensure that democratic values remain robust, even amid political instability.

Chimhandamba complemented this analysis by focusing on Canada's unique opportunity to foster governance and development partnerships based on mutual respect. Drawing on her experience at the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, she advocated for Canada to engage directly with local partners to enhance capacity-building initiatives, emphasizing the importance of aligning Canada’s governance and development efforts with local priorities and respecting sovereignty. Additionally, she called attention to the need for sustainable partnerships that address systemic issues such as food insecurity, poor infrastructure, and economic inequality, arguing that such partnerships could provide a solid foundation for improving governance and democratic accountability while addressing pressing humanitarian needs.

The panelists showcased the tension between African nations’ aspirations for local ownership of governance and the significant influence of foreign powers. They urged Canada to position itself as a partner of choice by emphasizing sovereignty, offering meaningful support tailored to African contexts, and demonstrating respect for the continent's priorities while fostering mutual benefit. This strategic approach would enhance Canada's impact and ensure its relevance in the dynamic African governance and development landscape.

Day 2: December 4, 2024

The second session brought together civil society leaders, including Dr. Jason Nickerson of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Canada, Wendy Harris CA of Catalyste+, Steve Gilbert of Nutrition International, and Anne Delorme of Humanity and Inclusion Canada. Together, they painted a picture of the continent's humanitarian, economic, and social challenges.

Dr. Nickerson began by detailing the dire humanitarian conditions across the continent, particularly in conflict zones like Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo describing how MSF has been forced to scale back critical programs due to logistical and security challenges, leaving thousands without access to essential care. Nickerson urged Canada to prioritize funding for humanitarian initiatives, noting that addressing immediate crises is a prerequisite for long-term stability.

Inclusion was the key focus of Anne Delorme’s testimony, as she discussed the staggering number of children with disabilities who are excluded from education across sub-Saharan Africa. She shared powerful anecdotes, including the story of an eight-year-old boy in Kenya who, through support from Humanity & Inclusion, transitioned from being hidden at home to thriving in school. Delorme called on Canada to allocate resources to disability-inclusive programs, emphasizing that such initiatives align with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and its commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals.

Wendy Harris emphasized the economic dimension of Canada’s engagement, advocating for greater support for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as engines of growth. Drawing on Catalyste+’s decades of experience, she argued that investments in governance and institutional resilience are key to creating environments where SMEs can flourish. She also stressed the urgency of preparing for Africa’s demographic boom, warning that without significant investments in education and job creation, the continent risks severe social and economic disruptions.

Steve Gilbert’s remarks focused on malnutrition, particularly among women and children, as a barrier to Africa’s broader development. He detailed how Nutrition International is working to integrate nutrition into health and education systems, emphasizing the need for sustainable, locally driven solutions. Gilbert urged Canada to expand its support for nutrition programs, framing them as foundational to achieving broader development goals.

A common thread emerged across both sessions: Canada must adopt a more strategic, inclusive, and context-aware approach to its engagement with the continent. Witnesses consistently highlighted the importance of aligning Canada’s efforts with African priorities, fostering mutual respect, and addressing systemic barriers to development and governance.

The first session focused on high-level diplomacy, democratic resilience, and partnerships grounded in sovereignty and trust. It emphasized Canada’s unique position to champion fair governance and inclusive development, leveraging its global reputation to support African-led initiatives. Meanwhile, the second session shifted the focus to humanitarian challenges, economic opportunities, and the critical need for sustainable, locally driven solutions. These complementary perspectives show the multifaceted nature of Canada-Africa relations and the importance of integrating diplomatic, economic, and social priorities into a cohesive strategy.

Conversations like this make it clear that Canada must embrace a holistic vision that balances immediate humanitarian needs with long-term development goals to establish itself as a truly impactful and reliable partner on the continent.

Canadian Centre for African Affairs and Policy Research