Good evening.

Thank you for inviting Islamic Relief Canada to partake in this discussion on Africa with the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

Islamic Relief’s roots began in East Africa in response to the famine in 1984. Over the span of four decades, we continued to work across Africa, implementing humanitarian and development programs, often in the most remote and underserved areas. Africa is a huge continent and a diverse region facing a number of challenges, as well as opportunities.

I would like to use this time to speak to you about an approach to what Canada can invest in, particularly as many of the challenges are compounded by the climate crisis, escalated and protracted conflicts and varied economic growth, to name a few. We must use a holistic approach that continues to focus on resilience building and supports communities in developing and implementing locally driven, inclusive and sustainable policies.

With this in mind, I would like to share a brief anecdote.

During a visit to our operations in Mali, I was struck by a very simple remark. I had several people come up to me and say: “Our communities don’t differentiate needs by the type of response, like emergency, development and peace-building. To us, they’re all needs that have to be addressed.”

This sentiment illustrates the need for a holistic approach, also known as the “triple nexus” approach, particularly in the context of Canadian government investment, including minimizing or reducing the rigidness of financing modalities. I would like to share two examples that outline the type of impact a holistic approach can have.

In Kenya, Islamic Relief implemented a small-scale triple nexus program with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. This program sought to address tensions surrounding resource-based conflicts by developing platforms for dialogue, including peace committees, as well as engaging in livelihood activities and natural resource management support. As a result, the frequency and pattern of conflict between communities has subsided, the peace committee has established a conflict early warning system, looted assets were returned to their owners and cross-community communication was strengthened.

In another example, in South Sudan, Islamic Relief is implementing a transformative multi-year program that seeks to promote gender equality, foster peace and develop resilient livelihoods. Through activities spanning from water and sanitation initiatives to community peace-building efforts and to livelihood inputs and mentorship, the program has yielded positive outcomes, with one rights holder or beneficiary expressing, “Due to peace, we can make progress in each sector or any corner within the community.”

Phase one has had staggering results, including annual income rising more than 200% among target families, a 49% increase in women-owned productive assets, a 44% increase in the number of rights holders able to discuss peace-related topics and an 8% reduction in the number of conflicts over the project duration.

These outcomes underscore the power of well-integrated programs that prioritize human dignity through essential support, a tangible pathway out of poverty and an environment conducive to inclusive participation and prosperity.

With all of this in mind, Islamic Relief Canada recommends, first, that the government increase its funding to Africa. Given the rise in disasters and compounding factors like protracted crises, it's imperative for Canada to escalate its funding efforts.

Second, as part of increasing funding, we recommend that Canada invest more substantively in specifically the triple nexus approach: humanitarian assistance, development and peace-building. We know that sustainable development is reliant on peace, and there can be more effective outcomes when all three are tackled in a well-coordinated manner.

The triple nexus approach has been recommended in multiple evaluations of Canadian country programs, like Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, so it’s time to start making more substantial strides in the triple nexus. This will also involve the need to improve intergovernmental links to accommodate the triple nexus program and, as mentioned, requires a change in the rigidness of the current funding modalities.

Lastly, we recommend that Canada continue to focus on and increase strengthening governance, particularly with local authorities and civil societies within this triple nexus approach. This indirectly supports development pathways for localization and enhances state-society relations. This would also promote the identification and promotion of local solutions to humanitarian and development challenges.

We strongly believe that a Canadian strategy for Africa must include increased funding and support for transformative holistic programs that address the interconnected needs of communities and contribute to a thriving Africa.

Thank you for your time.