Building Community Program 2004
Citizen participation in policy development and implementation is a priority for South Asia Partnership in Canada and in South Asia.
SAP Canada is an active participant in Canadian civil society and a promoter of South Asian civil society’s vital role in enhancing the governance and democracy, peace and security and sustainable livelihoods of South Asia’s poor.
Through the Building Community program, SAP Canada is using its unique position as the Northern partner of a South Asian-led network to strengthen and build a better informed and more cooperative community in Canada and in South Asia to eradicate poverty.
Among its activities, the program will deliver:
- Canada Fit For Children: A South Asian Plan of Action conference in September 2004,
- South Asian and Canadian analysis on South Asian human development themes of governance and democracy, sustainable livelihoods and peace and security distributed through SAP Canada’s web site and list-servers: Afghanistan, SAP E-Link, and Youth Asia,
- informative seminars with South Asian and Canadian speakers, and
- broader distribution of SAP Canada’s Beyond Borders radio segment through community radio.
This Canadian-focused program will involve non-government organizations and associations working on development in South Asia or on SAP Canada’s priority themes, the South Asian community, individuals, businesses, associations, employee organizations, foundations, activists and community organizations.
In our experience, Canadians of different backgrounds often work in parallel on programs related to poverty reduction and livelihoods. By strengthening the links among these groups, SAP Canada seeks to increase support for development in South Asia, build lines of communication and, in effect, build both a sense of community and common purpose about South Asian development in Canada and South Asia.
This program is supported by SAP Canada’s membership and the Canadian Partnership branch of the Canadian International Development Agency.