Minister Paradis Launches Calls for Proposals for Women’s Economic Empowerment Projects in Egypt, Jordan and Morocco

June 25, 2015 – Ottawa, Ontario – Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada

The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today launched three calls for proposals aimed at supporting sustainable economic growth in Egypt , Jordan and Morocco by increasing women’s entrepreneurship and participation in the workforce.

The calls for proposals will fund initiatives in each country aimed at increasing productivity and job opportunities generated by women entrepreneurs, and in so doing, increasing employment of women and reducing gender-specific barriers.

The calls for proposals are open to eligible organizations that propose projects to advance the outcomes outlined in the proposal descriptions. Partners that would like to participate in these or future Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) calls for proposals are invited to consult the Calls for Proposals web page .

Quick Facts:

• Women play a central role in lifting themselves, their families and their communities out of poverty through employment, entrepreneurship and livelihoods that contribute to economic growth.
• Priorities for action in DFATD’s Sustainable Economic Growth Strategy include establishing more women-led enterprises and increasing women’s access to demand-driven basic skills and knowledge so that they may take advantage of economic opportunities in the formal labour market.
• Women comprise over 40 percent of the global workforce, account for one third of formal business owners and are responsible for, or influence, as much as 80 percent of consumer spending. When women cannot participate equally, economies pay a cost in terms of growth and development.
• Increasing women’s economic opportunity and gender equality has been linked to an increase in gross domestic product, higher income per capita and greater competitiveness.

Quotes:

“Canada has committed to emphasizing women’s economic empowerment by targeting initiatives that increase women’s economic opportunities, strengthen their economic leadership and advance their rights worldwide. Increasing women’s productivity and employment opportunities and reducing gender barriers can lead to improvements in education and maternal, newborn and child health, and work to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.”
– Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie

Associated Links:

• Calls for Proposals
• Canada’s bilateral development assistance program in Egypt
• Canada’s bilateral development assistance program in Jordan
• Canada’s bilateral development assistance program in Morocco
• Development Thematic Priorities
• Maternal, Newborn and Child Health