Urgent Action: CIDA Cuts KAIROS Funding

(Note: Read also the “Further background material” below before writing a letter.  A sample letter from Marilyn Manzer is given at the bottom of the post.
A PDF can be downloaded for printing and circulating: KAIROS Urgent Action 031209
The latest info can be found on the KAIROS web site

 

URGENT ACTION:
RESTORE CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CIDA) FUNDING TO KAIROS

On November 30, KAIROS received notice from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) that our project proposal for 2009-2013 had been declined. We were not given an explanation for this decision, other than that our program did not fit CIDA priorities.

Our 2009-2013 proposal was developed within two priority sectors of CIDA: promoting good governance (human rights) and advancing ecological sustainability (reducing the impact of climate change and addressing land degradation). It was approved at every level of CIDA before being declined on November 30.

This decision terminates a 35-year history of cooperation between CIDA and KAIROS and its predecessor organizations, and compromises the work of human rights and ecological integrity in the developing world. (For possible impacts on specific partners, please see the background materials below.) This decision also negatively affects the ability of Canadians to develop skills and knowledge in the exercise of their global citizenship.

Please contact your MP to discuss this urgent matter. Please, respectfully and politely,

- Speak about your own positive involvement with KAIROS;

- Express grave concern about this decision;

- Ask that CIDA restore its long-standing relationship with KAIROS;

- Emphasize the impacts of this decision on global partners and our work in Canada;

- Ask them to call on CIDA to reverse this decision.

Further Background Material

Situation

- KAIROS submitted a 4-year program proposal to CIDA on human rights and ecological sustainability. The total program cost of the proposal is $9,211,483 over four years (CIDA contributes just over $7 million of that amount). This is consistent with previous levels of CIDA funding to KAIROS.
– On November 30, we received a call from CIDA informing us that our 2009-2013 program proposal had been rejected and that KAIROS would no longer be receiving funding from CIDA. We asked for an explanation and were informed that our program did not fit CIDA’s priorities. This was the last day of an extension to our current proposal. No written explanation has been provided.
– This decision, if not reversed, would cut funds to 21 ecumenical and citizen’s organizations in Latin America, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, and cut educational work that helps Canadians across the country to develop skills and knowledge in the exercise of their global citizenship.

Background

- KAIROS and its precursor organizations have been funded by CIDA since 1973.
– The KAIROS-CIDA 2006-2009 program received a positive audit report and an excellent evaluation.
– KAIROS staff worked closely with global partners to develop the 2009-2013 program proposal which focused on human rights and ecological justice.
– It was submitted to CIDA in March 2009 and went fairly quickly through all levels of approval. KAIROS made all adjustments to the program requested by our program officer.

- The proposal arrived on the desk of Bev Oda, the Minister of International Cooperation, in July 2009. It remained on the Minister’s desk for five months.
– In September 2009, when our agreement had still not been signed, we were granted a two-month extension on our previous contribution agreement. During this time we received no communication from the Minister’s office. On November 30, the last day of this extension, we received the phone call from CIDA informing us that KAIROS would not be funded.

CIDA priorities and human rights

- With the support of CIDA staff, and in collaboration with our partners, our proposal was developed within two priority sectors of CIDA: promoting good governance (human rights) and advancing ecological sustainability (reducing the impact of climate change and addressing land degradation). Our proposal was deemed by CIDA staff to be within CIDA criteria and priorities throughout the approval process.
– Our proposal places a strong priority on advancing human rights. States are obliged to protect, respect and ensure fulfillment of human rights. Canada is expected to collaborate to fulfill these rights, including providing international assistance for these efforts. Our proposal is one way in which the government can demonstrate that it is providing support to the fulfillment of rights around the globe.
– Our focus on human rights is completely consistent with the ODA Accountability Act which came into effect in June of 2008. The act requires all Official Development Assistance “to be consistent with international human rights standards.”

Impact of the decision

- This decision, if it is not reversed, will have a devastating impact on the work and well-being of our partners overseas, the hundreds of marginalized communities and the thousands of people who have benefited from their programs. Furthermore, it will decimate our education program in Canada, which enhances Canadian’s commitment to international cooperation.
– KAIROS supports partners in countries such as Sudan, the Congo, the Philippines, and Colombia who face extreme human rights and humanitarian crises as well as political repression. Many of our overseas partners risk their lives for the work that they do. KAIROS’ accompaniment, advocacy and education work with partners has saved lives.
– In the Congo, KAIROS funding means a women’s legal clinic to address rampant gender-based violence will be established. Loss of this funding to our critical human rights partner, Héritiers de la Justice, compromises this critical work to fight rape as a weapon of war.
– In Sudan, KAIROS is working with Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) and its members to mobilize greater action for democratic peace. The full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan is essential to ensuring that basic humanitarian, food security, livelihood needs of women and children and their communities will be met. Without KAIROS funding, the SCC will not be able to adequately pressure parties to implement this peace agreement. In a country with very weak civil society networks, SCC has been an essential voice in negotiating and implementing peace.
– In Indonesia, KAIROS, through CIDA, supports KONTRAS: The Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence. KONTRAS is highly recognized as a credible human rights organization in Indonesia and internationally, working specifically on human rights monitoring, documentation and advocacy. KONTRAS plays a lead role in ensuring the Indonesian government investigates past military abuses and compensates victims (and the families of victims) of human rights violations and military atrocities. Without KAIROS funding, KONTRAS will lose ground on the achievements made over the years in widening democratic space in Indonesia and will be unable to hold the Indonesian government accountable for national and international human rights covenants.
– In Colombia, KAIROS supports a grassroots women’s human rights organization, Organizacion Femenina Popular (OFP), in Magdela Medio, a region that has experienced some of the worst human rights abuses in Colombia. The OFP now has a membership of 5,000 women in the region of Magdalena Medio and runs 22 women’s centers, offering programs which include integrated community development, human rights of women, health and legal services, and education. In a recent letter the OFP appealed to Minister Oda to continue funding to KAIROS, “so that our sons and daughters grow up without being recruited by armed groups, kidnapped or assassinated – so that they have the right to a dignified life.”

Update: KAIROS Urgent Action on CIDA Funding Cut

Thank you for your swift and immediate action on the cut to KAIROS funding. Some people have experienced difficulties with their emails going through to Minister Oda and Prime Minister Harper. If that has happened to you, we ask that you please try again with alternate contact information. We have some options below:

The Hon. Bev Oda, Minister of International Cooperation:
Oda.B@parl.gc.ca,
phone: 613-992-2792,
fax 613-992-2794.

It is particularly urgent that we get through to Minister Oda.
Please use whatever method works for you.

The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper,
Prime Minister of Canada,
Harper.S@parl.gc.ca or pm@pm.gc.ca

Margaret Biggs, President of CIDA:
info@acdi-cida.gc.ca

The Canadian Press has been very actively following this story.
Please go online and contribute to the ‘Comments’ which follow each story.
It’s important that your voice be heard.

Toronto Star (Front Page Article)
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/733939–ottawa-starves-climate-critics-of-cash-on-eve-of-eco-summit

Globe & Mail (Michael Valpy)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/social-justice-group-says-ottawa-cut-its-funding-without-warning/article1386190/

Metronews.ca (John Cotter)
http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/canada/article/385385–canadian-church-based-group-says-ottawa-cut-its-funding-for-foreign-projects

End of Kairos alerts. Sample letter follows
========================================================\

Letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Bev Oda, Minister of International Co-operation, Margaret Biggs, President of CIDA, and Scott Brison, member of Parliament
from Marilyn Manzer
53 Pleasant St.
Wolfville NS B4P 1M9

Re Cuts to KAIROS funding

Dear Mr. Harper, Ms. Oda, Ms. Biggs and Mr. Brison,

I am astounded and mortified that the Canadian International Development Agency would suddenly cut funding for the human rights and ecological sustainability work of KAIROS Canada. This organization, which represents coalitions of churches in Canada, has a very long history of partnership with CIDA in this kind of work. I have been following and supporting this work since the 1970′s and have considered it to be among the most important social justice work being done in Canada and by Canadians abroad. The work of KAIROS has received high evaluations by CIDA and the process for developing the 2009-2013 funding proposal was supported by CIDA staff. This carefully developed proposal sat on Minister Oda’s desk for five months, and was then suddenly rejected on the last day of the extension of previous funding, with no reason given.

This is deplorable behaviour on the part of the government of Canada for many reasons. These are the ones that come immediately to mind:

1) Millions of caring Canadians, whose churches are members of KAIROS, will lose access to their means of supporting work for human rights and ecological justice.

2) Millions of overseas partners, who have been depending on assistance from KAIROS staff and finances, will lose their ability to undertake their courageous work to mitigate the abuses under which their people struggle

3) KAIROS itself, which is already under financial stress requiring staff reductions, will be severely compromised.

4) The voluntary sector of Canadian society working for human rights and ecological justice is being given the message that CIDA is not trustworthy. It is a huge undertaking to develop a multi-million dollar proposal for funding, and when it is for social justice work, most of the non-government participants are working without remuneration during on their voluntary time. That CIDA would take an organization all the way through a process of developing such a proposal and then deny funding at the last minute with no explanation IS A HUGE BLOW TO THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.

I feel ashamed that Canadians have a government that would behave in such a way toward Canadians and their overseas partners who work so diligently on behalf of those who suffer the most in our world.

I urge you to redress this and to require that CIDA approve the KAIROS funding proposal immediately.

Yours truly,

Marilyn Manzer

Please copy your letters to KAIROS at info@kairoscanada.org.