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International Development Week

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International Development Week (IDW) 2026

We celebrated IDW 2026 from February 1 to 7. This year's theme was: Prosperity through Partnership.

What is International Development Week (IDW)?

Each year, on the first full week of February, Canada celebrates IDW. It's a time to understand and be proud of how Canadians help to eradicate poverty worldwide.
Together, we contribute to making our planet more:

IDW is celebrated across Canada with over a hundred events.
Take this opportunity to:

Who is welcome to get involved?

Join us as we come together to learn, share stories and create change for a brighter, more equitable world.

Participate in an IDW activity

Each year there is a wide range of IDW activities from coast to coast.

The Inter-Council Network can help you find ways to participate in IDW. There are eight councils across Canada. Find the one that is right for you:

Organize an IDW activity

Check out the tips, ideas and resources below to plan, organize and share your IDW engagement activity or story.

Are you an educator?

  • Spark a discussion in the classroom on an international assistance topic. For example:
    • access to quality education
    • economic growth at home and around the world
    • gender equality
    • climate change
  • Show a movie that addresses a global issue.
  • Organize an essay contest on global issues.
  • Highlight books and novels available in the school library that touch on global issues.
  • Coordinate a virtual international assistance fair and invite international assistance organizations or experts to participate.

Are you part of civil society or a community organization?

  • Invite a guest speaker working in international assistance to give a video presentation to your organization.
  • Create events for civil society and businesses to come together, share ideas and build partnerships that support trade and development.
  • Share a list of thought-provoking books, novels and movie on global issues.
  • Profile stories or testimonials of coworkers who have international assistance experience.
  • Highlight the stories of partners in the field.
  • Use social media to communicate the importance of Canada’s role in international assistance to a political representative.
  • For more information on how to organize a public engagement activity, visit the Virtual Engagement Resource Centre for All.

Are you a student?

  • Start an IDW club at your school to coordinate IDW celebrations.
  • Invite an international assistance expert to speak to your class virtually.
  • Host a movie screening on a global issue.
  • Coordinate an international assistance fair and invite international assistance organizations to participate.
  • Tell other students about IDW by writing an article or letter to the editor for your student newspaper.
  • Donate your time to a cause or organization that supports international assistance.

Are you a journalist or member of the media?

  • Write an article or prepare a news story on a Canadian who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the cause of international assistance.
  • Highlight a Canadian innovation that contributed to the resolution of an international issue (e.g. insulin, pacemakers, Blue Helmets).
  • Cover an IDW event happening in your region.
  • Send an email to our Media Relations team to help promote international assistance.

Promote your IDW activities

Promote your events on social media using the official hashtag: #IDW2026.

Talk about IDW online

If in-person events are not your thing, you can still celebrate IDW online:

  • Subscribe to and follow Global Affairs Canada – Development on X (Twitter), Facebook and Instagram (see handles below).
  • Share your IDW stories, photos and videos on your personal social media channels using the official hashtag, #IDW2026.

Read about international assistance

Learn more about Canada’s role in delivering international assistance:

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