Canada-Nauru relations
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Bilateral relations
Diplomatic relations between Canada and Nauru were established on September 11, 1997. Nauru is the third smallest country and smallest island state in the world.
Bilateral relations are cordial and enhanced by a shared membership in international organisations such as the Commonwealth, the United Nations and the World Health Organisation.
Canada and Nauru share interests with respect to fisheries and are both party to the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement. Canada is also a Dialogue Partner of the Pacific Islands Forum to which Nauru belongs.
In Nauru, Canada is represented by the High Commission of Canada to Australia, in Canberra. The High Commissioner of Nauru in New York City (U.S.A.) represents Nauru to Canada. About 35 people who live in Canada are born in Nauru according to the 2021 Canadian census.
Trade relations
Canada's trade relations with Nauru are managed by the Trade Commissioner Service at the High Commission of Canada to Australia, in Canberra. Canada has limited trade relations with Nauru. In 2022, total bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Nauru was $496,687. Canadian merchandise exports amounted to $160,615, comprising mainly of machinery parts. Imports amounted to $336,072 and were mostly of machinery parts.
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Development
Canada supports small and community-focused projects in Nauru through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). Canada has contributed over $211,300 to organizations implementing CFLI in Nauru since 2017.
Nauru has also been a beneficiary of the following projects in the Pacific islands region:
The Kiwa Initiative (2020 to 2026) is a $79 million multi-donor Pan-Pacific regional initiative funded by Canada, France, the European Union, Australia and New Zealand. Since March 2020, Canada has contributed a total of $16 million to the Kiwa initiative through a Contribution Arrangement with the Agence française de développement (AFD). The Kiwa initiative strengthens capacities of local and national authorities and civil society organizations to design and implement small to large-scale biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation projects at local, national and regional levels through granting/funding facilities.
The Canadian Trade and Investment Facility for Development (CTIF) (2018 to 2025) is a demand-driven $11.6 million technical assistance facility designed to support poverty reduction and women’s empowerment.
The Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative (PCRAFI) (2018 to 2023) is a project implemented by the World Bank, and to which Canada contributed $1.5 million. The PCRAFI seeks to provide the Pacific island countries with disaster risk assessment and financing tools, including sovereign insurance, for enhanced disaster risk management and climate change adaptation.
Canada contributed $300 million to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) since its inception in 2010, which responds to climate change by investing in low-emission and climate-resilient development. GCF aims to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries, and to help vulnerable societies adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change.
The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission’s (WCPFC) Special Requirements Fund has received contributions of $68,000 to $100,000 from Canada in recent years. It aims to support capacity-building among the members of the Commission such as Nauru.
Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Nauru work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
- Commonwealth
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
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