McLeod Group Blog

McLeod Group guest blog by Molly den Heyer, April 7, 2020

If you speak to any hardened international development practitioner, they will share stories about epidemics, states of emergency, conflicts and economic crises – but most will also acknowledge that this time is different. There is no green zone or safe third country to which to retreat from COVID-19. This global pandemic will, according to projections, ebb and flow for many months.

While experts in humanitarian aid jump ...

McLeod Group guest blog by Clark Soriano and Rhonda Gossen, March 25, 2020

With a global health emergency now declared and COVID-19 present in most countries on earth, we need to ask: How should international assistance be used in this health emergency, beyond the usual items such as immediate humanitarian funding for supplies, equipment, and surge staff? Both humanitarian and development agencies need to act fast across multiple organizational mandates and ...

McLeod Group blog, January 27, 2020

Ten years ago this month, a massive earthquake struck Haiti, devastating the capital Port-au-Prince and other cities such as Léogâne and Jacmel. About 230,000 people were killed, with many more injured and tens of thousands of homes and small businesses destroyed. Over one million people were left homeless. For the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, already struggling to recover from hurricanes in 2008 and 2009, the earthquake dealt a shattering blow.

The international response ...

McLeod Group blog by Stéphanie Bacher, January 14, 2020

Global Affairs Canada (GAC) recently held a dialogue on civic space and the environment for civil society in Canada and globally, with a focus on women and marginalized human rights defenders. The meeting’s main purpose was to discuss the implementation of Canada’s Policy for Civil Society Partnerships for International Assistance, which should be released soon. If GAC wants to succeed in building ...

By Ian Smillie, December 30, 2019

Several members of the McLeod Group had the privilege of knowing and working with Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder of BRAC, one of the world’s top NGOs (see our recent blog). He passed away on December 20, and we wanted to share an appreciation of him with our readers. His biography can be found on the BRAC Continue Reading →

December 17, 2019

Dear Deputy Minister MacLean,

Congratulations on your appointment as Deputy Minister of International Development at Global Affairs Canada (GAC). We wish you all the very best as you settle into your new job.

Since you have been a senior public servant before, you will know that your first job as Deputy Minister is to manage your Minister. We recommend that you do watch a few episodes of Yes, ...

McLeod Group guest blog by Ryan Katz-Rosene, November 19, 2019

Yesterday’s blog highlighted the contradictions between economic development and climate action, focusing on the oil and gas sector. However, that is not to say that there’s no possible win-win scenario, even in the Prairies. In fact, numerous opportunities await, with four obvious areas of opportunity: a) renewable energy; b) regenerative agriculture; c) oil well reclamation; and d) alternative fuels.

The renewable ...

McLeod Group guest blog by Ryan Katz-Rosene, November 18, 2019

The 2019 federal election revealed an underlying contradiction between Canada’s climate change mitigation policy and its energy development strategy. On one hand, voters rewarded the Trudeau government’s efforts to take bold action on climate change. On the other hand, the Prairie provinces demonstrated deep discontent with what they saw as a ...

McLeod Group guest blog by Rebecca Tiessen, November 14, 2019

The Conservative Party’s 2019 election platform promised significant cuts to Canada’s aid program. In response, several leading thinkers in the Canadian aid community highlighted the importance of foreign aid for a wide range of issues that affect Canadians and partner communities around the world.

Yet foreign aid remains a misunderstood and increasingly divisive issue among Canadians. It is time to strategize ...

November 12, 2019

Dear Minister,

Welcome to your new job as Minister of International Development! The post you have just accepted offers the chance to make a real difference for Canada and the world if you build alliances and play your cards right. As long-time observers of and participants in the aid game in Ottawa, we humbly offer you the following advice as you settle into your new job.

One of the first things you receive upon arrival in your new office ...