Canadian development assistance to Asia: Programs, objectives, and future policy directions
This article examines the structure, composition, and goals of Canadian development cooperation with Asian countries. Particular attention is devoted to analyzing the changing role of aid as Canada responds to the dynamics and dilemmas of Asian development. The author states that because Official Development Assistance (ODA) transfers cannot, of themselves, alleviate poverty or stimulate development momentum, and because shifting national priorities and fiscal constraints will lead to a likely decrease in future aid funding for Asia, these circumstances have pushed Canadian aid programs towards institution strengthening. The author concludes that aid strategies focusing on building the institutional capacity of developing countries to fulfil their respective development mandates appear to offer the most relevance to both the development challenges faced by Asian recipient countries and the goals of Canadian development assistance to Asia.