CFTC joins the call for inclusive and quality education

OTTAWA, September 18, 2018–Canadian Feed The Children is proud to demonstrate its commitment to inclusive and quality education globally by becoming a new member of the Canadian International Education Policy Working Group (CIEPWG), Canada’s only national group building an international education agenda.

As a new member of CIEPWG, Canadian Feed The Children joins a coalition of more than 20 international development agencies working to support policies and programs to improve access to safe, inclusive and quality education for all children and youth.

CIEPWG aims to advance education policy and mobilize additional financial and technical resources by engaging with the Canadian government and Canadian public. In 2018, the working group has ensured the inclusion of evidence-based education policy in the implementation of the Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP); supported Canada’s leadership to educate girls in crises at the G7 Summit; and promoted youth engagement in education policy through a Youth Advisory Council.

The working group’s efforts are helping to position Canada as a leading actor in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 – Quality Education – by ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all, and Goal 5 – Gender Equality – by integrating the empowerment of women and girls.

“Canadian Feed The Children is a proud new member of CIEPWG and we are eager to learn from the rich experiences of working group members and contribute to the continued success of their advocacy work,” said Jacquelyn Wright, President & CEO of Canadian Feed The Children. “We intend to leverage CFTC’s learning and technical expertise built from 32 years of experience working together with partners and communities to ensure inclusive, high-quality education for children – and especially for girls.”

Canadian Feed The Children promotes quality teaching and inclusive learning environments in Bolivia, Ethiopia, Ghana and Uganda through a variety of initiatives:

• Funding for salaries, training, teacher materials, and other necessities to attract and retain teachers in rural areas
• Well-equipped classrooms, water, sanitation and kitchen facilities, which contribute to safe environments for children, especially girls
• Integrated school nutrition programs that improve attention and make learning possible for the most vulnerable
• Strong parent and community participation in school governance, which reinforces the value of education, helps to secure resources, and influences education policy
• Sexual and reproductive health initiatives that keep girls in school, including the construction of private school latrines, safe space groups, peer mentorship, radio sensitization programs, and training to produce sanitary pads

Together with the CIEPWG, Canadian Feed The Children hopes to support a unified voice advocating for strong, equitable education strategies as a well-funded priority in development spending by the Government of Canada.