ARCHIVED - Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

Name of Recipient: Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

Start Date: March 31, 2005

End Date: N/A

Total Funding: $50 million

Description: The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, created by an Act of Parliament in 1984, is an independent, not-for-profit think tank on Canada's relations with Asia. The Foundation functions as a knowledge broker, bringing together people and knowledge to provide current and comprehensive research, analysis and information on Canada's trans-Pacific relations. It promotes dialogue on economic, security, political and social issues, fostering informed decision making in the Canadian public, private and non-governmental sectors. The Foundation also provides grants to support policy research and informed discussion on Canada's relations with Asia. The Foundation is funded primarily by the proceeds of an endowment of $50 million from the Government of Canada.

Strategic Outcome: CANADA'S INTERNATIONAL AGENDA-The international agenda is shaped to Canada's benefit and advantage in accordance with Canadian interests and values.

Program Activity: Diplomacy and Advocacy

Summary of Results Achieved by the Recipient

• Advanced policy issues related to the Asia Pacific Gateway through a number of research activities, publications and convening activities.
• Produced surveys and publications on Canadians living overseas.
• Issued a variety of publications on the Global Asia theme, focused in particular on bilateral educational partnerships with India and two-way economic ties with China.
• Disseminated research and analysis through a wide range of publications, roundtables and briefings.

($ millions)

Actual Spending 2006-07	Actual Spending 2007-08	Planned Spending 2008-09	Total Authorities 2008-09	Actual Spending 2008-09	Variance Between Planned and Actual Spending
50.0	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1

Comment on Variance: N/A

Significant Evaluation Findings and URL(s) to Last Evaluation(s)/Future Plans: A summative evaluation was completed and approved by the DFAIT Departmental Evaluation Committee on April 20, 2009. The evaluation's four main recommendations were:

1. Use Web and interactive tools to better position the Foundation in the competitive market of ideas on Asian policy.
2. Cooperate with other organisations to leverage limited resources.
3. Involve the Board of Directors more extensively in decision making and fundraising, and improve the composition of the Board.
4. Monitor the effectiveness of policy activities and whether the intended target audience is being reached.

The Foundation's management response to each of the above points was:

1. A new website has been launched.
2. Collaborative efforts with other organisations are already under way.
3. The Foundation is committed to greater involvement of the Board of Directors in the governance of the Foundation and to recruiting appointees from areas and specialties not currently represented on the Board.
4. The Foundation agreed to incorporate client feedback (e.g. survey results) in the design of programs and research projects.

Significant Audit Findings and URL(s) to Last Audit(s)/Future Plans: An audit of the management of the Foundation Fund (section 4 of the Conditional Grant Agreement) was performed by DFAIT's Inspection Division in 2008. The audit found that the Foundation has:

• managed the investment of the Endowment Fund in a prudent manner with the objective of preserving the principal amount over the long term;
• established an Investment Committee that overseas matters related to the investment management of the Fund;
• established a Statement of Investment Policy and not engaged in or invested in prohibited investments and trading activities as outlined in 4.10 of the Agreement; and
• appointed an independent investment firm to provide investment advice.

The audit recommended that:

• the maximum investment in bonds should be less than or equal to 88%; and
• the Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures should be revised to ensure the preservation of the principal amount of the Fund.

The Foundation will undertake another compliance audit in FY 2009-10 to attest to the other sections of the Conditional Grant Agreement. The cost of the compliance audit will be $50,000.

As per the Conditional Grant Agreement, and to ensure compliance with that agreement, a compliance audit of the Foundation, at the expense of DFAIT, will be conducted in the last quarter of 2008-09. The audit will include environmental effects, a review of the effectiveness and adequacy of internal controls, and verification of performance information, propriety, and compliance with this agreement and the Act.

The Foundation also undertakes independent audits as part of its annual reporting cycle.

URL to Recipient's Site: www.asiapacific.ca

URL to Recipient's Annual Report: www.asiapacific.ca/analysis/pubs/index.cfm#35

Name of Recipient: Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)

Start Date: January 30, 2003

End Date: N/A

Total Funding: $30 million

Description: CIGI supports world-leading research in the area of global governance, particularly in the area of global economic and financial governance, and furthers Canada's interest in having a stable and well-governed global economic system by bringing together academics, policy analysts and researchers from around the world to discuss and carry out research on current topics and trends.

Strategic Outcome: CANADA'S INTERNATIONAL AGENDA-The international agenda is shaped to Canada's benefit and advantage in accordance with Canadian interests and values.

Program Activity: Diplomacy and Advocacy

Summary of Results Achieved by the Recipient: (from Annual Report 2008)

• Published 29 papers and reports and 11 books, and hosted 105 public events, workshops and conferences.
• Focused efforts on the food crisis, emerging powers such as China and India, the G8 and G20 summits and reform, and climate change.
• Further developed strategic global networks to raise the quality of CIGI policy research.

($ millions)

Actual Spending 2006-07	Actual Spending 2007-08	Planned Spending 2008-09	Total Authorities 2008-09	Actual Spending 2008-09	Variance Between Planned and Actual Spending
-1	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1

Comment on Variance: N/A

Significant Evaluation Findings and URL(s) to Last Evaluation(s)/Future Plans: A positive evaluation, with main recommendations focused on the need for a strategic plan and improved management for results. This CIGI-funded evaluation is not posted online.

Significant Audit Findings and URL(s) to Last Audit(s)/Future Plans: N/A

URL to Recipient's Site: www.cigionline.org

URL to Recipient's Annual Report: www.cigionline.org/about/annual-report

Name of Recipient: Forum of Federations

Start Date: March 29, 2001

End Date: March 31, 2011

Total Funding: $30 million²

Description: The conditional grant provided by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) to the Forum of Federations provides concrete help to the Forum's efforts to promote programs of mutual cooperation and affords Canada the opportunity to play a more prominent role in shaping federalism worldwide. These programs are designed to help develop best practices in countries with federal systems of government, provide expertise and promote exchanges with other countries interested in federal approaches, and help Canada to assume an international leadership role on work related to federal political systems. The Forum's independence, and its ability to draw on both Canadian experience and international resources, is the best existing mechanism internationally to provide this exploration of federalism. This grant also covers Canada's annual $50,000 contribution as a member of the Forum's Strategic Council, an advisory body to the Forum's Board of Directors consisting of partner governments that have signed a framework arrangement with the Forum.

Funding of Forum activities reaffirms to the world Canada's commitment to the Forum, thus encouraging other governments to partner with the Forum, further promoting its internationalization. The drawdown nature of the grant anticipates an increase in funding from other partner governments that will diminish Canada's financial commitment in the future as the sole or principal source of funding, while concurrently sending a clear message to foreign governments that Canada supports the important work of the Forum and is committed to its becoming a global organisation. The pursuit of internationalization will help to further the Forum's reputation and prominence by integrating a broader base of federal experiences and continuing to attract high-quality international personnel.

On the domestic front, the Forum reflects a core value of our national political identity: Canada's commitment to open federalism. Now that the Forum has established its credibility on the international stage, we anticipate that its neutral status and expertise could continue to pave the way for further activities in the domestic arena, including as a source of ideas on flexible federalism through its new Canada Program.

Strategic Outcome: CANADA'S INTERNATIONAL AGENDA-The international agenda is shaped to Canada's benefit and advantage in accordance with Canadian interests and values.

Program Activity: Diplomacy and Advocacy

Summary of Results Achieved by the Recipient:

Geographic Programming: North America: The Forum's Canada Program examined issues of federal-provincial/state governance related to internal markets and environmental assessment. The Forum continued its work with the Government of Mexico to develop a five-year plan, focusing primarily on the intergovernmental relations and public security sectors. Programming in the United States was limited in this period. South America: Cooperation with the Fiscal Forum of Brazilian States continued, with Brazil becoming an official partner government of the Forum in December 2008. The Forum focused its work with Argentina on issues of fiscal federalism, including revenue sharing, and the foreign relations of constituent units. The situation in Bolivia continues to be monitored. Europe: At the request of Germany, the Forum assisted government officials in benchmarking in federalist states. A joint partnership was established with Expo Zaragoza to co-host a meeting on water governance that was held in Spain in July 2008. In March 2009, the Forum organized a conference on intergovernmental relations and horizontal cooperation together with the Gimenez Abad Foundation, and partnered with the European Union to host a conference on foreign policy of regions and constituent units in Brussels. High-level meetings with government and parliamentary officials were held as part of an exploratory mission to Italy, and a similar mission to Russia was also undertaken. Asia: In Nepal, the Forum is implementing a multi-year program with Swiss and German funds to provide technical advice to the Constituent Assembly on how to design and implement federal government structures, and is providing "Federalism 101" (provision of documents, translations, etc.) support to civil society. The Forum pursued funding of work with civil society in Sri Lanka on "Federalism 101" and service delivery at the local government level, and has identified that engaging female politicians will be an important focus moving forward. The Forum participated in a Government of Canada-sponsored mission to Pakistan that has led to a request for a proposal from the German government; a multi-year program proposal has been submitted to the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs for consideration. Pacific: A three-year program is being developed in Australia based on the new commonwealth government's priorities (including health care, Aboriginal issues and climate change). The Forum continues to monitor the situation in the Philippines, Micronesia, and Indonesia in order to identify potential program opportunities. Middle East: Work in Iraq continued. Africa: The Forum continued to pursue activity in its priority African states: Sudan (federal governance awareness and training, including technical support to the Fiscal and Financial Allocation and Monitoring Commission); Ethiopia (enhancing federalism, with a focus on fiscal federalism and intergovernmental relations and conflict, through academic development, training and policy research, technical assistance and outreach); and Nigeria (intergovernmental relations and service delivery, fiscal federalism and constitutional review).

Global Dialogue Program: The 2008-09 Global Dialogue Program featured two themes: (1) "Diversity and Unity in Federal Countries" (international roundtable); and (2) "Intergovernmental Relations in Federal Countries" (country roundtables). Twelve countries were examined under both headings, including Canada, with the latter theme also including the European Union in its review. Highlights of the various exchanges have been incorporated into country chapters of Volume 7 of the Program's booklet series, entitled Dialogues on Diversity and Unity in Federal Countries, which was published in 2008.

Operations: Arrangements for the continuation of seconded personnel from Switzerland and Germany have been concluded. The German version of the Forum's Federations magazine was introduced in early 2008.

($ millions)

Actual Spending 2006-07	Actual Spending 2007-08	Planned Spending 2008-09	Total Authorities 2008-09	Actual Spending 2008-09	Variance Between Planned and Actual Spending
-1	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1

Comment on Variance: N/A

Significant Evaluation Findings and URL(s) to Last Evaluation(s)/Future Plans: As outlined in the Grant Agreement, an independent third-party evaluation of the Forum's activities was undertaken in 2008. The purpose of this evaluation was to measure the overall performance of the Forum in achieving the outcomes outlined in the Agreement, and to assess the appropriateness and effectiveness of the grant and the fund as a longer-term financing mechanism. The release of the report, originally scheduled to be completed by March 31, 2008, was delayed until June 2008 due to the postponement of the Forum's Board of Directors meeting.

The evaluation was largely positive in tone, although general in scope of analysis. While the evaluation highlighted various ways in which the Forum has successfully broadened its international network and programming, developing a niche role as both a source and a centre for the exchange of knowledge and experience on federal governance, the evaluation failed to raise certain issues and challenges that are pertinent to the Government of Canada's ongoing relationship with the Forum (i.e. the Forum's ability to internationalize both its partnership and funding bases while also ensuring that current partner countries such as Canada are provided an adequate level of domestic programming).

Significant Audit Findings and URL(s) to Last Audit(s)/Future Plans: In consultation with the Office of the Inspector General, the Intergovernmental Relations and Domestic Outreach Bureau determined that an audit of the conditional grant provided to the Forum was not required in 2008-09.

The independent performance (value for money) audit required to ensure the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the Forum's activities has been scheduled for 2009-10. DFAIT had initially suggested that the Forum consider including this component in the third-party evaluation; however, no deadline was identified for this audit. Once completed, the report will be made public and a copy sent to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

URL to Recipient's Site: www.forumfed.org

URL to Recipient's Annual Report: www.forumfed.org/en/about/annualreports.php