The program responds to poverty, needs and challenges faced by vulnerable populations (poor women, small holder farmers, indigenous groups, youth, children) in ten countries - Bangladesh, India, Philippines, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Sudan, Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala and Peru. Inter Pares carries out this program by strengthening the capacities of counterpart organizations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Canada to develop activities that enhance the well-being of people in terms of livelihoods, health, food security, environmental sustainability and human rights. Inter Pares works towards these goals in four ways: by supporting organizations in Southern countries whose work addresses the structural causes of under-development; by supporting women to make their lives and work visible and empower them in their role as leaders and agents of change; by promoting institutional, national or international policies which create enabling conditions to improve the prospects for effective development, locally, nationally and globally; by learning from these efforts, making them known to Canadians, and building support for Canada's role in international cooperation and development. Activities take place at four levels: (1) support to counterparts to improve organizational effectiveness (governance, administration, management, accountability); (2) support to counterparts to plan, implement and assess program initiatives; (3) support to counterparts in developing and evaluating strategies to influence practice and policy for sustainable development; and (4) development of public engagement strategies in Canada to promote understanding and support for Canada's role in international development.
