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CIC NCB Ottawa: The Economic Dimension of the Canada Strategy for Africa: One Year On – Progress, Partnerships, and Prospects / La dimension économique de la Stratégie du Canada pour l’Afrique : Un an après – Progrès, partenariats et perspectives
**THIS EVENT HAS A NEW DATE AND TIME: MARCH 5, 2:00 PM EST**
The Canadian International Council – National Capital Branch (Ottawa)’s Africa Study Group presents…
THE ECONOMIC DIMENSION OF THE CANADA STRATEGY FOR AFRICA: ONE YEAR ON – PROGRESS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND PROSPECTS /
La dimension économique de la Stratégie du Canada pour l’Afrique : Un an après – Progrès, partenariats et perspectives
March 5, 2026 | 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM EST
In-person: Richcraft Hall 5320 D, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA), Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6
Online: Zoom
REGISTRATION
This event is hybrid.
To register in-person, please use Eventbrite (click here). To register online, please do so through Zoom (click here).
EVENT DESCRIPTION
In March 2025, Canada launched its first Strategy for Africa as a comprehensive framework to redefine and strengthen its engagement with African countries across political, economic, development, security, and people-to-people dimensions. The economic pillar of the strategy places particular emphasis on sustainable trade, investment, private sector development, infrastructure, clean energy, digital transformation, and inclusive growth.
Under the Carney Doctrine, there have been major shifts in Canadian foreign policy. At Davos, the PM called on Canadians (as well as the international community) to look at the “real” world, acknowledge the loss of the “rules-based order” and actively and energetically diversify our economic relations. Many countries have developed and implemented economic (that is, trade and investment) strategies towards Africa, but the Canadian involvement (outside large-scale mining) has been limited to date. The economic dimension of the Canada-Africa Strategy needs to be enhanced.
With this Webinar the Africa Study Group (ASG) is assembling a panel for dialogue amongst policymakers, researchers, the Canadian African diaspora, private sector actors, and government actors, to provide insights into how the economic dimension of the Canada-Africa Strategy can translate into concrete outcomes.
The webinar will also serve as a space to identify lessons learned, update our membership and audiences on trade and economic mechanisms, promote emerging partnerships in and with Africa with the perspective to strengthen Canada–Africa economic cooperation.
The webinar aims to:
- Outline current activities by the Government of Canada in the economic sphere.
- Analyze opportunities for trade, investment, and private sector collaboration between Canada and African economies.
- Examine challenges and constraints affecting implementation, including financing, regulatory frameworks, and institutional coordination.
- Highlight success stories and best practices from ongoing Canada–Africa economic partnerships.
- Generate policy-relevant recommendations to strengthen the strategy’s economic impact.
Key Themes:
- Trade and market access between Canada and Africa
- Investment promotion and business partnerships
- Infrastructure development and financing
- SMEs and entrepreneurship development
- Role of development finance and blended finance instruments/organizations
- Role and functions of the Canadian African Diaspora for trade and investment relations between Canada and Africa
SPEAKERS
Mr. Andrew (Drew) Smith, Director General, Pan-African Affairs Bureau, Global Affairs Canada, Africa Branch
Professor Edward Akuffo, Associate Professor of International Relations, Chair Department of Political Science, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford
Suzanne Taylor, Principal of Public Policy and Partnerships, FinDev Canada
MODERATOR
Yiagadeesen (Teddy) Samy, Carleton University NPSIA Director and Professor of International Affairs
Saskatoon Club 
