Canada-Kiribati relations
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Bilateral relations
In Kiribati, Canada is represented by the High Commission of Canada in New Zealand.
Kiribati does not have an official representative accredited to Canada however, the High Commissioner of the Republic of Kiribati, based in New York City (U.S.A.), represents Kiribati to Canada. About 15 people who live in Canada are born in Kiribati according to the 2021 Canadian census.
Canada enjoys pleasant bilateral relations with Kiribati, formerly called the Gilbert Islands. Canada and Kiribati share memberships in international organizations, such as the Commonwealth, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the World Health Organization.
Canada and Kiribati share interests with respect to fisheries management, and both are parties to the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement. Canada is also a dialogue partner of the Pacific Islands Forum, to which Kiribati belongs.
Trade relations
Canada’s limited trade relations with Kiribati are managed by the Trade Commissioner Service, New Zealand. In 2022, total bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Kiribati was $590,108. Canadian merchandise exports amounted to $18,757, comprising mainly of machinery parts. Imports amounted to $571,351 and were mostly for machinery parts.
Development
Canada supports small and community-focused projects in Kiribati through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). Canada has contributed over $859,000 to organizations implementing CFLI in Kiribati through the funding of 25 projects from 2012 to 2022.
Kiribati has also been a beneficiary of the following projects in the Pacific islands region:
The Kiwa Initiative (2020 to 2026) is a $79 million multi-donor Pan-Pacific regional initiative funded by Canada, France, the European Union, Australia and New Zealand. Since March 2020, Canada has contributed a total of $16 million to the Kiwa initiative through a Contribution Arrangement with the Agence française de développement (AFD). The Kiwa initiative strengthens capacities of local and national authorities and civil society organizations to design and implement small to large-scale biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation projects at local, national and regional levels through granting/funding facilities.
The Canadian Trade and Investment Facility for Development (CTIF) (2018 to 2025) is a demand-driven $11.6 million technical assistance facility designed to support poverty reduction and women’s empowerment.
The Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative (PCRAFI) (2018 to 2023) is a project implemented by the World Bank, and to which Canada contributed $1.5 million. The PCRAFI seeks to provide the Pacific island countries with disaster risk assessment and financing tools, including sovereign insurance, for enhanced disaster risk management and climate change adaptation.
The Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) (2021 to 2023) is a project implemented by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), to which Canada contributed $9.5 million. It aims to support Pacific Small Island Developing States and others in securing and structuring finance for priority climate projects by cultivating a network of highly trained, embedded climate finance advisors.
The Small Islands Food and Water Project (SIFWaP) (2019 to 2025) is a $12 million project implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). It is funded by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP) to which Canada has contributed $255 million since 2009. It aims to increase food, nutrition, and water security in local communities and enhance livelihood opportunities.
The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission’s (WCPFC) Special Requirements Fund has received contributions of $68,000 to $100,000 from Canada in recent years. It aims to support capacity-building among the members of the Commission such as Kiribati.
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Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Kiribati work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
- Commonwealth
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
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