< Back Atlantic Council for International Cooperation Celebrates and Welcomes Canada’s Recognition of the State of Palestine Atlantic Council for International Cooperation Sep 24, 2025 The Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC) celebrates and welcomes the Government of Canada’s historic decision, announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney on September 21, 2025, to recognize the State of Palestine. This recognition, made in coordination with the governments of the United Kingdom and Australia, reflects a long-overdue commitment to international law, human rights, and the dignity of the Palestinian people, and represents an important step toward lasting peace and justice in the region. In his statement, Prime Minister Carney affirmed that Canada’s recognition is firmly aligned with the principles of self-determination and fundamental human rights reflected in the United Nations Charter, and consistent with Canada’s longstanding policy of supporting a two-state solution. This coordinated recognition underscores the urgent need to preserve the possibility of a viable, sovereign, and democratic Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel. "This decision marks a significant milestone for Canada and for global solidarity," said Heather Dicks, ACIC Board Chair. "We celebrate and welcome this recognition, and we urge the Government of Canada to build on this momentum, leading by advocating for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and guaranteeing effective humanitarian aid reaches those in need." ACIC calls on the Government of Canada to work with international partners to: Press for an immediate and permanent ceasefire; Guarantee unrestricted and effective humanitarian access to Gaza; Support international accountability mechanisms for violations of international humanitarian law; Advance peacebuilding initiatives that uphold dignity, security, and justice for all people in the region. As a coalition rooted in global solidarity, ACIC affirms that recognition of Palestinian statehood is a vital first step, but peace requires continued commitment to justice and human rights. Canada’s recognition, while historic, must be followed by concrete measures that ensure the protection of civilians, the delivery of effective humanitarian aid, and the realization of a just and sustainable peace. About ACIC The Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC) is a coalition of more than 50 organizations and individuals working in global cooperation and solidarity from across Atlantic Canada. ACIC supports its members in building more equitable, just, and sustainable communities at home and around the world. Contact: Mateo Gomez Angulo, ACIC Communications Officer communications@acic-caci.org Previous Next

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Bright Kwame Fiaga Founder and President International Council for Immigration, Entrepreneurship and Employment (ICIEE) About Bright Bright Kwame FIAGA is the Founder and President of the International Council for Immigration, Entrepreneurship and Employment (CIIEE International), and President of the National Commission of Inquiry and Investigation of the Consumers League of Togo (LCT). Winner of the Pan-African Young Exceptional African Award, Bright is a dedicated entrepreneur and an active member of both Togolese and African civil society. He is deeply involved in advocacy and awareness-raising efforts with the African Consumer Organization (OAC), and is an alumnus of the Africa Youth and Governance Convergence (AYGC) in both 2019 and 2023. Bright believes that civil society is the best space for preparing the next generation of citizens to live impactful lives. Since 2018, he has served as the Peace and Security Officer of the AfriKa Youth Movement (AYM), Togo hub. With over twelve years of experience in entrepreneurship and business management, Bright provides professional advice and entrepreneurial training to youth and women in his community. Recognized for his commitment, in 2018 he was selected by the U.S. Embassy in Togo to participate in the country’s first high-level international conference on social enterprises. Bright is especially passionate about the issue of irregular migration. “The sea has made too many mothers cry in Africa and elsewhere,” he says. Since 2017, he has actively worked to discourage risky and illegal migration, raising awareness among young people about the dangers of irregular immigration and the benefits of safe, informed, and responsible pathways. In December 2023, he founded CIIEE International, through which he continues to champion youth entrepreneurship and legal migration strategies. In July 2024, he received an international honorary distinction for his work in Nairobi, Kenya.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Kirsten Larson PhD Researcher Irish Centre for Human Rights (ICHR), University of Galway About Kirsten Kirsten Larson is a second-year PhD researcher at the Irish Centre for Human Rights (ICHR), University of Galway. She previously served as a research assistant to Siobhán Mullally, the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children. Kirsten holds a BA in Human Rights and Social Justice with a minor in Law from Carleton University, Canada, and an LLM in International Human Rights from the ICHR. Her doctoral research focuses on child trafficking in the context of armed conflict, with a particular focus on Northeast Syria.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Joseph Fitkowski Project Alumnus International Youth Internship Program About Joseph Joseph Fitkowski is an alumnus of the 2024 International Youth Internship Program, and served in Nairobi, Kenya with Colleges and Institutes Canada. A graduate of Dalhousie University's Master of Arts in Political Science (2023) and Western University's Master of Arts in History (2020) programs, he has always been interested and fascinated by how governments, institutions, and individuals create and propagate narratives, and how policy, especially those in illiberal regimes or those facing democratic backsliding, is framed in historical contexts. He has recently relocated to St. John's, and is excited to return to the East Coast.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Shadi Mousavi About Shadi

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Judyannet Muchiri Policy and Research Officer Inter-Council Network About Judyannet Judyannet Muchiri (she/her) is a feminist scholar–activist with experience in Canada’s international cooperation sector and the non-profit sector in Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Uganda working on, researching and writing on gender equality, digital advocacy and civic participation. Currently, she is completing a PhD in Sociology, overseeing policy work at the Inter-Council Network (ICN), and co-leading the Africa Community Engagement (ACE) Hub.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION James Parsons Executive Director Canadian Partnerships Division at Global Affairs Canada About James James joined the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in 2000 and has spent his career in international assistance focused on bilateral programs in Africa and Asia, as well as in the Peace and Stabilization Operations Programs. He previously served as Head of Cooperation at the Office of the High Commission of Canada in Kigali, Rwanda, and has lived and studied in Thailand and Indonesia, focusing on Indigenous Peoples’ issues. James holds a Master's Degree in Environmental Studies from York University, and a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Resource Studies with a Minor in Native Studies from Trent University. Since 2023, James has worked for the Canadian Partnerships Division, where he currently serves as Executive Director.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Eileen Alma Executive Director Coady Institute, St. Francis Xavier University About Eileen Eileen Alma is the Executive Director at Coady Institute, St. Francis Xavier University and held this position since June 1, 2022. She previously held the position of Director, International Centre for Women’s Leadership at Coady Institute, overseeing programming and partnerships on women’s leadership and gender equality nationally and internationally including initiatives for Indigenous women leaders and communities, and the development of the Circle of Abundance program initiative. Eileen has more than 30 years of interdisciplinary experience in international program development, management, research and practice. Prior to joining Coady Institute, Eileen worked with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) for twenty years, as Program Officer in Social and Economic Policy areas as well as with the Embassy of Ethiopia in Canada. Eileen currently serves on the Board of Directors for Cooperation Canada. She is also a facilitator with Hope for Mental Health NS. She has served on technical committees for ICARDA, CGIAR and review committees for SSHRC and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Eileen holds a Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Management (ethno-political) and a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from Royal Roads University.

IDW Youth Funding 2024 To celebrate International Development Week (IDW), ACIC is excited to offer funding for youth (ages 15-30) to host their own events! Events can be around any theme broadly related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but they must take place during the week of February 5th-11th and, of course, meet provincial public health guidelines. About Eligibility Criteria Application Process Important Dates About the Program To celebrate International Development Week (IDW), ACIC is excited to offer funding for youth (ages 15-30) to host their own events! Events can be around any theme broadly related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but they must take place during the week of February 5th-11th and, of course, meet provincial public health guidelines. Events can be around any theme broadly related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but they must take place during the week of February 5th-11th to add to International Development Week celebrations across the country. You can host the event as an individual, or a group, in your school, university, online, in partnership with a local business. Successful candidates will receive up $300 to put towards their event. Event objectives are to: Create awareness of the SDGs and IDW in Atlantic Canada Support and celebrate local youth and community members who are using innovative methods to positively impact their communities at home and/or abroad Create opportunities for youth to gain skills in engagement, facilitation, event planning, and more! Application Process For more information contact Jackie at 902.431.2311 or jackie@acic-caci.org Important Dates Eligibility Criteria Application criteria: Youth must be between the ages of 15 to 30, living in Atlantic Canada (NS, PEI, NB, NL) The event must take place between Feb 5th and 11th, 2024 The event will clearly be related to one, or more, of the Sustainable Development Goals The event must clearly outline who will attend, the objectives of the event, and how the event will meet these objectives The event will be creative and interactive to ensure good participation of those attending Show how youth planning the event will ensure good attendance Application Details Learn More

Safer Spaces 2026 Registration is now open! Join us for ACIC’s Safer Spaces Program 2026, a three-part learning series bringing together members and youth as global actors navigating systems shaped by colonialism, racism, and unequal power. Registration is now open! Join us for ACIC’s Safer Spaces Program 2026, a three-part learning series that brings together members and youth as global actors working within systems shaped by colonialism, racism, and unequal power. The program creates an intentional, safer intergenerational space for members to critically reflect on how systems of power influence the world, and to strengthen collective commitments to justice-centered global solidarity. Through facilitated dialogue, shared reflection, and engagement with lived experience, participants will examine their roles, responsibilities, and opportunities for action within global and local contexts. The program supports members to move beyond awareness toward accountable practice, while building relationships and shared language across generations and experiences. By registering using this form, you are registering for all three parts of our Safer Spaces Program (info below). If you have any questions, please email us at raushni@acic-caci.org . Register by January 16, 2026. Workshop: Understanding Solidarity through an Anti-Racist Lens Hybrid: In-person in Halifax or online | January 23, 10 AM to 1 PM Join us for an in-person or online workshop that introduces core concepts of anti-racism and global solidarity. Together, we will explore how colonialism, race, and whiteness influence international cooperation, and reflect on how power operates across global and local contexts. This session will focus on building shared language, trust, and a foundation for meaningful dialogue throughout the program. Lunch will be provided. Webinar: Power and Perspectives on Solidarity Online | Feb-March 2026 This webinar builds directly on themes and questions identified by participants in Workshop 1, centering what members and youth have named as integral to their work and experiences. Bringing together diverse perspectives, the session foregrounds lived experience and community-rooted knowledge as critical sources of insight. Participants will be invited to listen, reflect, and engage in dialogue on how power, identity, and context shape global solidarity, and what more just and accountable practice can look like across generations and roles. Retreat: Reflection and Application In-person, travel subsidy available | April 2026 This in-person retreat creates space for participants to pause, reflect, and synthesize key learnings from across the Safer Spaces series. Through facilitated discussion and participatory activities, participants will explore how insights from the program can be translated into concrete personal, relational, and organizational action. The session will support participants in identifying next steps for continued learning, accountability, and practice, while strengthening connections across roles, organizations, and generations. Application Details Register by January 16. Apply / Register Now Similar Opportunities Safer Spaces 2026 Join us for ACIC’s Safer Spaces Program 2026, a three-part learning series bringing together members and youth as global actors navigating systems shaped by colonialism, racism, and unequal power. Learn More Members Public Engagement Fund Apply for the Members’ Public Engagement Fund and receive up to $1500 per project to test and carry out your public engagement activity. Currently, we are looking for organizations who want to host a public engagement event during International Development Week. Learn More

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Tsigie Haile Founder and Director Organization for Women in Self-Employment (WISE) About Tsigie Tsigie Haile is the founder and director of the Organization for Women in Self-Employment (WISE), a local non-governmental organization operating in Ethiopia. Tsigie had her BBA from Addis Ababa University and MBA from the Netherlands. She worked for over 20 years at Addis Ababa University, both in the administrative and academic wings, before joining the development sector. After leaving the University, she joined ActionAid Ethiopia and served for four years in the capacity of Human Resource Development Manager. While working at ActionAid, she decided to set up WISE and work with poor women and girls. The organization Tsigie leads, established in 1997, has served over 100,000 low-income women in support of their efforts to become empowered and improve the quality of their lives. WISE is currently a leading organization in women’s economic empowerment in Ethiopia. Tsigie serves in many governing boards and committees of different organizations and has received a number of recognitions for her contribution to poverty reduction and women’s empowerment/gender equality in the country.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Caleigh Wong Veteran Research Partner Centre for Social Innovation and Community Engagement in Military Affairs About Caleigh Caleigh Wong is a critical military studies scholar who has recently completed her Master’s in Political Science from McGill University where she attended as a McCall MacBain Scholar. She has testified on parliamentary studies, spoken to the Prime Minister, and been published in a number of journals on the topic of Canadian military culture and reform failure. Caleigh is the co-founder of the Asian Resilience Collective Canada, a non-profit focused on supporting Asian-Canadian civic engagement, and she currently works as a Veteran Research Partner at the Centre for Social Innovation and Community Engagement in Military Affairs.