Association Québecoise des Organismes de Coopération Internationale

Published purpose

The Project is a Quebec-wide initiative implemented over five years (2026–2031) by the Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale (AQOCI), in collaboration with the Inter-Council Network (ICN). Building on AQOCI’s role as a convenor of over 70 organizations across 14 regions, the Project strengthens inclusive global citizenship engagement and contributes to Canada’s international assistance efforts, with a strong emphasis on gender equality and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It focuses on mobilizing individuals and communities, strengthening organizational capacity, and fostering collective action, while integrating feminist, intersectional, and decolonial approaches and amplifying the voices of historically marginalized groups.  The Project enhances public understanding of global issues through a comprehensive global citizenship education approach that combines awareness-raising, capacity-building, and community mobilization. It places particular emphasis on engaging, underrepresented groups, including youth, Indigenous communities, diaspora groups, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, and people with disabilities, while ensuring outreach across urban, peri-urban, and rural regions of Quebec. These groups are the primary beneficiaries of the Project’s activities, which are designed to foster inclusive participation, strengthen local leadership, and connect local and global issues.  In Quebec, AQOCI serves as a key hub for global citizenship education and international cooperation, working in partnership with civil society organizations, academic institutions, and community actors. Project activities include: (1) increasing awareness of global inequities and development issues through public engagement initiatives and educational activities; (2) building the capacity of partners and change agents through training, knowledge exchange, and collaborative learning spaces; and (3) fostering inclusive participation and collective action through dialogue spaces, co-creation processes, and strengthened pan-Canadian coordination mechanisms that support shared learning and impact.