Canada gives $272M in aid to Bangladesh, Indo-Pacific as USAID shuttered

Canada’s Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen, announced $272.1 million in new funding on Sunday for foreign aid initiatives in Bangladesh and the Indo-Pacific region.

“Canada continues to strengthen our enduring friendship with Bangladesh and the broader Indo-Pacific region through our strong people-to-people connections,” Hussen stated. “By supporting healthcare services for vulnerable communities, empowering women, and tackling climate change, we are shaping a better future for the global community.”

The funding, to be used in collaboration with other foreign partners and donors, will go towards 14 different projects in Bangladesh and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

This move by the federal Liberal government showcases a starkly different approach to foreign development assistance compared to the American Republican government of President Donald Trump, which ceased funding through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Trump and his newly appointed government efficiency czar, businessman Elon Musk, suspended U.S. foreign aid for 90 days after assuming office, leading to the cessation of aid programs worldwide and causing layoffs for thousands of government employees and contractors.

Trump and his Republican appointees perceive foreign aid programs as a misuse of taxpayers’ money, arguing that they promote liberal political agendas. On the other hand, their critics argue that such spending enhances American global standing and counters foreign interference from other nations.

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American foreign aid workers and supporters have contested Trump’s actions in court, claiming that the president exceeded his legal and constitutional authority by effectively dismantling a federal agency whose spending was authorized by the U.S. Congress.

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For more information on the various multi-year projects funded by Canada, refer to this backgrounder from Global Affairs Canada.

Canada is backing projects that will concentrate on gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls, as well as enhancing access to inclusive education and skills training.

Other initiatives aim to help communities enhance their resilience to climate change, promote civic engagement, and alleviate poverty.

One specific project, titled “Empowering Women in the Nursing Sector,” will receive a $6.3 million funding increase over three years through Canadian company Cowater International, as announced by the government.

The Canadian government’s aid was announced by Hussen and British Columbia Liberal Member of Parliament Parm Bains at an event in Vancouver attended by leaders of the Bangladeshi community, shortly before the Liberal government’s anticipated spring election with a new leader.

The federal government estimates that the Bangladeshi-Canadian community now surpasses 100,000 individuals.

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