E-Newsletter, September 2009, Volume 1, Number 2

What We Do

Matching Canadian expertise with international democratic development needs

The Deployment for Democratic Development (DDD) mechanism recruits and sends Canadian democratic development experts to Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East/Maghreb in response to requests for assistance from CIDA partner countries.

Click here to learn more about what we do

DDD’s New Online Library of Case Studies

Our updated website made its debut this summer with many new features and links. Our site carries information about our programs in nearly 25 different countries, the areas in which we work, as well as an online library of case studies. New case studies of DDD initiatives in Jordan, Niger and Ukraine are now available:

Gender Budgeting: Influencing Policy Choices in Niger and Ukraine

By Gordon Evans, Marie-Fortier Balogh, Diana Ivancic-Skinner

Strengthening Checks and Balances: Budget Analysis in Ukraine’s Office of the President
By Gordon Evans

Dreaming Big, Implementing Not-So-Big:  Development Coordination in Jordan’s Ministry of Labour
By Leslie Shimotakahara

News from the Field

Graph: A breakdown of DDD initiatives by region

Since DDD’s launch in May 2007, eight initiatives have been completed and 35 are currently in progress in 25 different countries around the world. 

Here are just a few highlights:

Peru: Supporting the Decentralization Process

Peru’s regions (similar to Canada’s provinces) have requested assistance in beefing up their local governance systems and their institutional capacity as they take on increased responsibility and authority in Peru’s decentralization process. The Government of Piura has asked DDD to provide technical assistance in two areas: strategic/priority planning capacities and information systems.  Canadian expert Carlos Salazar is working closely with the regional government to help update their diagnostic and action plan, strengthen strategic and operational planning, and recommend next steps for better service delivery to the communities. IT consultant Rémy Pinsonnault will help improve information systems.

Niger: Preventing and Managing Food Crises

One of the poorest and drought-prone countries in the world, Niger recently suffered its second worst food crisis when a third of the population was threatened by famine, mostly women and children. The Government of Niger has been working to strengthen its food crisis prevention and management system. In collaboration with Niger’s Food Crisis Response Unit (CCA), DDD expert Francine Marier is helping to establish an effective monitoring and evaluation system that can be used by the CCA to follow-up on projects aimed at diminishing food insecurity, as financed by the Donors Common Fund and executed by local and international partners. Training modules on evaluation-monitoring tools have been developed and training provided to a number of local trainers.

Mali: Improving the Management of Public Finances

To improve the efficiency, transparency and reliability of public finance management, the Government of Mali adopted a Government Action Plan for the Improvement and Modernization of Public Finance Management (PAGAM/GFP). DDD Canadian experts Pierre Martineau and Lucie Rouillard are helping to focus Mali’s second phase of PAGAM using a results-based action plan.

Côte d’Ivoire: Strengthening Civil Society Organizations

Côte d’Ivoire’s National Governance and Capacity Building Secretariat (SNGRC), the organization responsible for producing national policy on governance post-conflict, has asked for DDD assistance to strengthen its civil society organizations so they can fulfill their significant role in the building of a peaceful, democratic country. Canadian expert Yves Poulin is helping to provide guidelines and training on the formulation and implementation of human rights projects and to help build the capacity of the SNGRC and civil society organizations to obtain additional human resources and financing.

Spotlight on our Canadian Experts

Mary Gusella, Mr Justice Stephen Ihema, Ethics Commissioner for Tanzania, and other members of the Ethics Secretariat discuss strengthening the code of ethics for public leaders in Tanzania. 

Mary Gusella: Strengthening Ethics and Conflict of Interest Legislation

Canadian expert Mary Gusella has had a distinguished career in the public service. Currently Chair of the board of the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications, she served as Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission and President of the National Film Board of Canada. She was also senior adviser to the Privy Council Office, the Canadian chair of the International Joint Commission, and the deputy minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship Canada.  She is currently working with Tanzania’s Ethics Commissioner on behalf of DDD to help prepare the policy work leading to a revised Leadership Code of Ethics that will apply to a wide cross-section of public leaders in Tanzania. 

"Ethics management, and in particular conflict of interest legislation, is an important aspect of public administration because it affects every citizen's confidence in public office holders and in democratic institutions. It is an honour to be asked to assist in the strengthening of the Public Leadership Code of Ethics for Tanzania."

Mary Gusella

Interested in DDD Work?

DDD recruits Canadians with expertise in democratic governance, freedom and democracy, human rights, rule of law and accountable public institutions. Although DDD will draw on innovative and experienced practitioners from various sources or networks, we recruit mainly through organizations with experts in democratic development. Interested organizations can register directly with DDD by using our Institution Registry Form.  Individuals can send their resume to international@ipac.ca.

Stay Informed

We invite you to stay up-to-date on DDD’s latest news.

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What's New

Monitoring Mission to Indonesia

While conducting a monitoring mission in Indonesia at the end of June, Ann Masson, Director of IPAC’s International Programs, took the opportunity to meet with DDD partner Badan Pengkajian dan Pengembangan Kebijakan (The Policy Analysis and Development Agency of Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs). They expressed to her their deep appreciation for DDD’s training of trainers, which helped them to identify and address emerging foreign policy issues within the context of ASEAN and the EU. For highlights of the Indonesia initiative, visit our website.

La force du partage: échanges et collaborations nord-sud entre commissions nationales de droits humains 

Rights & Democracy President Rémy Beauregard spoke at CASHRA’s annual conference held in Montreal on June 15, 2009. Click here to read his bilingual speech.

Democratic Development Forum in Fredericton, NB

On Sunday, August 23, IPAC hosted a one-day democratic development forum in Fredericton, New Brunswick, preceding the IPAC Annual Conference. The purpose of the workshop was to bring together participants in IPAC’s International Program to engage in dialogue, knowledge sharing, networking and a celebration of successes in the field of international development. DDD experts who have travelled to Guyana, Peru, Niger, Cameroon and Mali shared their experiences in a series of panels on good governance, democratic development, and gender. For more information, visit 2009 IPAC National Conference.

Public Sector Management Magazine: Highlighting the Innovative Work of DDD

The second annual special edition of Public Sector Management magazine, which focuses on IPAC's International Program, is hot off the press. In this issue, you will find profiles of our DDD initiatives and articles on Peru’s decentralization process, media governance and democracy, and strategic planning with Kenya’s Prime Minister. To subscribe to PSM or to purchase a copy of this issue, contact Elisabeth Laviolette or visit www.ipac.ca/Public_SectorMagazine.

New Professionals Conference in Halifax

New professionals entering the public sector with new ideas, new approaches, and a stronger interest in new policy areas are beginning to change the public sector at a pace not seen in decades. Increasing retirement rates and new generations' demands continues to challenge the public sector. IPAC’s National New Professionals Conference, being held in Halifax from October 26-28, 2009, will explore how the expectations of these new generations will lead organizations to adopt new ways of working, communicating, and delivering programs and services.

Worth Reading!

• Democratic Dialogue: A Handbook for Practitioners

• IPAC's Case Studies Program

• A New Effective Approach to Canadian Aid

Worth Browsing!

AiDA: the largest online directory of development activities. This inventory offers a quick overview of who is doing what in international development, where they are doing it, and with what funds.

The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) Blog: offers short and quick commentary from leading development experts on the major issues in development and humanitarianism today.

The United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN): helps developing countries and countries in transition bridge the digital divide and achieve their development goals. UNPAN’s internet-based network links regional and national institutions devoted to public administration, facilitating information exchange, experience sharing and training in public sector policy and management.