Yesterday, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Worldwide Growth, concluded his journey to Benin, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. Throughout his journey, he reaffirmed Canada’s engagement in Africa, significantly in assist of empowering girls and ladies, growing inexperienced financial development and guaranteeing a extra affluent world for all.
In Benin, Minister Hussen, with Kouaro Yves Chabi, Minister of Secondary and Technical Schooling and Vocational Coaching, visited a vocational centre supported by My Coaching, My Job, My Future, a venture applied by Éducation Internationale [international education], a Canadian companion. On the centre, he met venture beneficiaries and discovered concerning the challenges of vocational coaching and socio-professional integration.
Minister Hussen additionally visited the Canada-funded Centre for the Built-in Care of Victims of Gender-Primarily based Violence, which is supported by UNICEF as a part of its venture Accelerating the Elimination of Gender-Primarily based Violence In opposition to Women and Adolescent in Benin, and mentioned the challenges of eliminating gender-based violence, a shared precedence for Benin and Canada.
He concluded his go to to Benin by assembly Romuald Wadagni, Minister of Financial system and Finance, Senior Minister additionally liable for Cooperation, and Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, Minister of International Affairs, on bilateral and multilateral commerce and improvement points. He additionally met with representatives of the UN, World Financial institution and African Growth Financial institution to alternate views on key improvement points and with representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs) to debate advancing human dignity, equality, and inclusion. Lastly, Minister Hussen had conferences with Médessè Véronique Tognifode Mewanou, Minister of Social Affairs and Microfinance, and Benjamin Hounkpatin, Minister of Well being, to debate Benin’s key challenges and desires in these sectors.
Within the DRC, Minister Hussen started within the capital Kinshasa, visiting the venture Abilities Pluriels [plural talents], a venture applied by Cuso Worldwide that demonstrates how Canada’s investments are supporting the DRC’s most susceptible youths in enhancing their livelihoods by means of employment and entrepreneurship. He additionally met with girls electoral candidates supported by Girls’s Voice and Management, a venture applied by The Carter Middle.
He visited the Neighborhood Studying Facilities for Girls and Women venture, within the Kongo Central province, the place he met younger girls and ladies receiving literacy and vocational coaching. Susila Dharma Canada and Susila Dharma Congo are implementing this venture.
Minister Hussen additionally met with Bintou Keita, Particular Consultant of the Secretary-Normal within the DRC and Head of the United Nations Group Stabilization Mission within the DRC, to debate the safety and humanitarian state of affairs within the nation. Lastly, throughout conferences with Félix Tshisekedi, President of the DRC, and Christophe Lutundula Apala, the DRC’s Minister of International Affairs, Minister Hussen mentioned alternatives for collaboration between Canada and the DRC.
He concluded his journey in Kigali, Rwanda, the place he attended the thirtieth commemoration of the genocide in opposition to the Tutsi. He grieved for all of the lives misplaced, mirrored on the bravery of all those that risked their lives to avoid wasting others throughout this darkish time and located inspiration within the resilient spirit of those that have survived and persevered.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Authorities of Canada.
