Canada’s strategy to respond to the Rohingya and Myanmar crises (2021 to 2024)

Canada is dedicating $288.3 million from 2021 to 2024 to support the next phase of the Strategy. This second phase will advance efforts toward an inclusive political settlement and sustainable peace in Myanmar, taking into account new realities following the February 2021 military coup, while continuing support for vulnerable and crisis-affected populations in Myanmar and Bangladesh, particularly Rohingya refugees and host communities.

This phase of the Strategy focuses on 4 key objectives:

support at-risk and crisis-affected populations in Myanmar and Bangladesh, particularly Rohingya refugees, internally displaced persons, and impacted host communities
intensify efforts to advance an inclusive and sustainable peace in Myanmar
target support to advance the restoration of democratic rule in Myanmar
increase pressure on malign actors, including through continued pursuit of accountability for human rights violations

To achieve these objectives, Canada will increase international cooperation, including through the appointment of a Special Envoy on the Rohingya and Myanmar crises.

This phase builds on previous achievements, lessons learned and consultations with a number of Canada’s partners in Bangladesh and Myanmar following the first phase of our strategy. It continues to be guided by Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, as well as Canada’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. These policies place gender equality at the centre of all programming and include diverse voices of those struggling for a more democratic, inclusive, peaceful and secure future in Myanmar.

Canada will support the voice, agency and empowerment of women and girls in all their diversity and will ensure that programming addresses the root causes of poverty and inequality.

We will support training and capacity building for local community groups and civil society in order to improve access to basic services, including health care. Canada will work with women’s rights organizations, and we will place a greater emphasis on empowering women and girls and the promotion of their rights in both countries.

Social cohesion continues to be an important theme that we will address in various ways, including through self-reliance programming such as skills development, vocational training and support to education.

Building on Ambassador Bob Rae’s legacy and work as Canada’s first Special Envoy to Myanmar, the next Special Envoy on the Rohingya and Myanmar crises will continue Canada’s diplomatic engagement and coordination with key international partners. They will work with the international community to identify medium-term options for relieving some of the burden of hosting refugees that Bangladesh is experiencing, including exploring options for resettlement. This mirrors commitments in the recent Speech from the Throne to strengthen engagement with international partners on peace and security, democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights.

This phase of the strategy will be complemented by our continued commitment to deliver life-saving, gender-responsive humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected people in Bangladesh and Myanmar, on the basis of needs.

In Bangladesh

Canada will pursue constructive engagement with key stakeholders, including host communities, through collaboration, advocacy and support for community-identified priority initiatives to:

maintain support for the Rohingya refugee response
help provide essential services to Rohingya refugees and affected host communities, recognizing pandemic-related challenges
provide support for learning through education, skills training and livelihoods, a critical aspect in building resilience and self-reliance
foster social cohesion between refugees and host communities

Distribution of phase 2 budget ($145M) by action area for Bangladesh

Action area	Amount disbursed (in $ millions)	% of total
Human dignity	105.2	72.5
Growth that works for everyone	19.6	13.5
Environment and climate action	12.0	8.3
Peace and security	4.5	3.1
Other	2.0	1.4
Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls	1.7	1.2

Distribution of phase 2 budget ($145M) by partner type for Bangladesh

Partner type	Amount disbursed (in $ millions)	% of total
Multilateral (Non-core)	111.5	76.9
Civil society (Foreign)	21.0	14.5
Civil society (Canadian)	12.5	8.6

Our programming will address the unique needs of women and girls of both communities, from survivors of gender-based violence to adolescent girls who face particular barriers to accessing education or skills-building opportunities.

This is crucial to their economic empowerment. Increasing these opportunities will support women and girls to take the lead on and influence decisions affecting their lives and futures, in keeping with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy.

Many Rohingya refugees seek to return to Myanmar when safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation can occur. The determination of safety for repatriation is paramount and will be done in consultation with Rohingya refugees. Canada supports programming that lays the foundation for a successful and safe reintegration of Rohingya refugees and a dignified future in Myanmar once the pathway to peace and democracy has been restored.

This includes supporting informal learning opportunities, formal education for children, skills training for youth and livelihood opportunities. This is consistent with our global efforts, including through the Together for Learning campaign, to ensure that all refugee, other forcibly displaced, and host-community children and youth can get the education that they need and deserve.

In Myanmar

Canada will use its diplomatic, development, and peace and security tools to advance prospects for a peaceful, inclusive solution to the political and security crises in Myanmar.

We will work to address the needs of crisis-affected populations, address conflict drivers, and promote the rights and freedoms of all civilians, especially women and girls, as well as at-risk and conflict-affected minority groups such as the Rohingya.

Distribution of phase 2 budget ($83M) by action area for Myanmar

Action area	Amount disbursed (in $ millions)	% of total
Human dignity	41.4	49.9
Inclusive governance	16.3	19.6
Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls	15.4	18.6
Growth that works for everyone	7.7	9.2
Peace and security	2.0	2.4
Humanitarian assistance	0.2	0.3

Distribution of phase 2 budget ($83M) by partner type for Myanmar

Partner type	Amount disbursed (in $ millions)	% of total
Multilateral (Non-core)	4.0	48.2
Civil society (Canadian)	23.4	28.2
Civil society (Foreign)	10.7	12.9
Government (Canadian)	6.5	7.8
Private sector (Canadian)	2.4	2.9

Canada will also continue to place emphasis on empowering women and girls by supporting programs that promote their rights and well-being alongside access to sexual and reproductive health and COVID-related services.

Inclusive opportunities will also be supported across all communities. We will lead in raising the voices and the full and meaningful participation of women in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding at local, national and international levels, including the voices of women from ethnic minority groups such as the Rohingya.

Besides advocacy, targeted support to return to the path of democracy will seek to build the capacity of civil society organizations and community movements, with a focus on women’s rights organizations. This is critical given the difficult operating environment currently faced by civil society and human rights defenders following the coup. It will enable these actors to better advocate for inclusive democracy and the equal enjoyment of rights, including sexual and reproductive health and rights.

It will also facilitate the participation of people at risk, particularly women and youth, in democratic processes through training, research and partnership development. This targeted support will need to be adaptable, flexible and conflict-sensitive given the evolving situation in Myanmar as a result of the coup.

Learn more about Canada’s international assistance contributions by searching our .

Accountability

Canada’s focus on accountability is not just about seeking justice for survivors and their families, it is about addressing root causes of both the Rohingya crisis and the political crisis in Myanmar, as well as ending impunity.

Accountability also advances protection for the human rights of the Rohingya who remain in Myanmar and those refugees who desire to return to their homes in line with Myanmar’s international obligations.

We are working with the international community to pursue accountability for serious human rights violations and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.

Our efforts include supporting human rights monitoring, collecting evidence and holding perpetrators of serious human rights violations and international crimes accountable through different mechanisms, including the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.

At the International Court of Justice, Canada filed a joint declaration of intervention with Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom in the case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar, alleging violations of the Genocide Convention. The declaration of intervention sets out our interpretation of relevant provisions of the Genocide Convention and pays special attention to crimes related to sexual and gender-based violence.

Learn more about our actions to seek accountability from 2018 to 2021 during the first phase of Canada’s response.

Results achieved

This section highlights some of the results achieved during this phase of the strategy. New results will be added as they are achieved.

Human dignity: Health and education

Myanmar

184,463 medical cases for marginalized, conflict-affected, and ethnic minority people, managed by primary health care providers
268,229 young people (166,302 women) reached with adolescent sexual reproductive health and rights education
122,510 children (51% girls) affected by conflict received psychosocial support
183,255 people were reached with nutrition education and services to address malnutrition

Bangladesh

98 health facilities supported including 19 with 24/7 basic emergency obstetric and newborn care
1,331 learning centres established for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh; 112,000 Rohingya children enrolled
Provided pre-natal and infant care to 290,000 women and information on sexual and gender-based violence to 480,000 women
More than 53,000 deliveries conducted by skilled birth attendants
537 schools in host communities received school effectiveness grants to advance gender-equitable education

Gender equality

Myanmar

Over 9,900 adolescent girls empowered through leadership training, sports programs, and phone outreach and counselling
10 women’s rights organizations enabled to deliver services to women and girls in hostile environment

Bangladesh

5,000+ people engaged in community-based gender-based violence prevention

Environment

Bangladesh

Alternative cooking fuels provided and used by over 200,000 refugee households, protecting 11,000 hectares of forest

Economic opportunities and livelihoods

Myanmar

141,788 migrant workers were informed about safe migration, gained new skills (e.g., sewing and tailoring, and mechanical and electrical repairs), and received emergency assistance
2.6 million people, 91% of which are women, continued to access savings and loans from micro-finance institutions for their agriculture livelihoods and small businesses

Bangladesh

Over 2,000 refugees (52% women and 8% persons with disabilities) enrolled in vocational training for agricultural crop production, industrial sewing, community health workers, solar panel installation and maintenance, masonry, electrical work, and baking
5,000 women in Cox's Bazar host communities tripled their income through coaching, technical training, and business start-up support

Governance and accountability

Myanmar

51 fellowships and scholarships offered to young scholars from Myanmar (19 women and 15 [young scholars] from ethnic minority groups, including the Rohingya)
2,638 pro-democracy actors (e.g., human rights defenders and peace advocates), including 1,283 women, trained in gender equality and federalism
Canada is the second largest donor providing extra-budgetary support to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM). Canada’s funding is supporting the collection of evidence of the most serious crimes and violations of international law and preparation of files for criminal prosecution
8 rounds of sanctions levelled against the military regime since the 2021 coup (134 individuals, 88 entities and the sector prohibition on aviation fuel)

Peace and stabilization operations

Myanmar

104 citizen journalists and keys influencers trained resulting in increased knowledge of these participants on advanced mobile journalism
Young women leaders were able to prepare radio scripts and coordinate the production of a radio program, raising awareness on human trafficking, child marriage, and gender-based violence to close to 100,000 listeners from host and Rohingya communities
297 young women leaders and male gender equality allies from Myanmar and Bangladesh trained to reduce tensions between host communities and refugees

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