Every February, Canada’s international development community comes together for International Development Week (IDW) to shine a light on the important contributions this country and its people are making to Canada’s efforts to eradicate poverty and build a more peaceful, more inclusive, and more prosperous world.

Alinea is proud to be a partner in Canada’s development efforts. This IDW, I’m reflecting on how our project teams work every day to contribute to the creation and delivery of long-lasting change globally. The call to action of this year’s IDW to Go for the goals is an opportunity for me to consider how our organization is striving to support the achievement of the UN Development Goals, while also considering the barriers and challenges to surmount to achieving the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This past year, we brought new programs on board to Alinea that will help us get closer to meeting the 2030 targets. This included two projects that will see us deliver technical assistance globally across multiple sectors in countries around the world.

Climate action is at the core of one of Alinea’s new projects which will focus on mitigation and adaptation in Africa. The Expert Deployment Mechanism for Climate Action in Africa Project (EDM-CAA) provides targeted, short-term technical assistance and capacity building in support of the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement across the region- focusing on increasing women’s capabilities to fully participate as active agents of change. With this project, we’ll go for Goal 5, Gender Equity, and Goal 13, Climate Action, and contribute to other goals such as Responsible Consumption and Production and Sustainable Cities and Communities.

The Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) Project was announced in 2019 by Global Affairs Canada as part of its Expert Deployment Mechanism approach and Alinea was proud to be named the implementing partner for the project.

TAP enables leaders from a diversity of sectors, backgrounds, gender, and cultural identities from regions across the country to share their expertise globally. A key component of TAP will be the opportunity for individual experts to share their placement experiences with Canadians through public engagement facilitated by project activities, resulting in an increase of awareness and engagement of our national effort as partners and global citizens in support of Canada’s International assistance efforts. At the heart of this project at SDGs 1, No Poverty, 5, Gender Equality, 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth and 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

From empowering women in industry in Ghana- to strengthening disaster preparedness in the Asia Pacific, Alinea’s project scope targets gender equality outcomes in ninety percent of our work.

Our team continues to grow globally with offices in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, with field offices in more than 20 countries. In 2021, Alinea added new experts to our team with specializations in biodiversity conservation, climate finance and gender-responsive, socially inclusive climate solutions.

At Alinea, we continue to work every day to create a positive impact through new and innovative ideas in international development in an effort to execute and aim to eradicate poverty as part of the global challenge set out by the Agenda for Sustainable Development. Wherever we are in the world this IDW, Alinea staff and partners are proud of Canada’s team as we Go for the goals, which we acknowledge would not be possible if not for Global Affairs Canada and our funding organizations globally.

Le Président d’Alinea, Robert Francis, explique comment nous allons visez les objectifs

Chaque année, en février, la communauté canadienne du développement international se réunit à l’occasion de la Semaine du développement international (SDI) pour mettre en lumière les importantes contributions de ce pays et de ses habitants aux efforts déployés par le Canada pour éradiquer la pauvreté et construire un monde plus pacifique, plus inclusif et plus prospère.

Alinea est fière d’être un partenaire des efforts de développement du Canada. À l’occasion de la Semaine Internationale du Développement, je réfléchis à la façon dont nos équipes de projet travaillent chaque jour pour contribuer à la création et à la mise en œuvre de changements durables à l’échelle mondiale. L’appel à l’action de la SDI de cette année, qui vise à atteindre les objectifs, me donne l’occasion de réfléchir à la façon dont notre organisation s’efforce de soutenir la réalisation des objectifs de développement des Nations Unies, tout en considérant les obstacles et les défis à surmonter pour atteindre les cibles de l’Agenda 2030 pour le développement durable.

L’année dernière, nous avons intégré à Alinea de nouveaux programmes qui nous aideront à nous rapprocher des objectifs de 2030. Il s’agit notamment de deux projets qui nous permettront de fournir une assistance technique globale dans de multiples secteurs et dans des pays du monde entier.

L’action climatique est au cœur de l’un des nouveaux projets d’Alinea, qui se concentrera sur l’atténuation et l’adaptation en Afrique. Le Projet de Mécanisme de Déploiement d’Experts pour l’Action Climatique en Afrique (EDM-CAA) fournit une assistance technique et un renforcement des capacités ciblés et à court terme pour soutenir la mise en œuvre de l’accord de Paris sur le climat dans la région, en se concentrant sur le renforcement des capacités des femmes à participer pleinement en tant qu’agents actifs du changement. Ce projet nous permettra d’atteindre l’objectif 5, l’égalité des sexes, et l’objectif 13, l’action climatique, et de contribuer à d’autres objectifs tels que la consommation et la production responsables et les villes et communautés durables.

Le projet de Partenariat d’assistance technique (PAT) a été annoncé en 2019 par Affaires mondiales Canada dans le cadre de son approche de mécanisme de déploiement d’experts et Alinea était fière d’être nommée partenaire de mise en œuvre du projet. Le PAT permet à des leaders issus d’une diversité de secteurs, de milieux, de sexes et d’identités culturelles, provenant de régions de tout le pays, de partager leur expertise à l’échelle mondiale. Un élément clé du PATa la possibilité pour les experts individuels de partager leurs expériences de placement avec les Canadiens par le biais d’un engagement public facilité par les activités du projet, ce qui entraînera une augmentation de la sensibilisation et de l’engagement de notre effort national en tant que partenaires et citoyens du monde à l’appui des efforts d’aide internationale du Canada. Au cœur de ce projet se trouvent les ODD 1, l’élimination de la pauvreté, 5, l’égalité des sexes, 8, le travail décent et la croissance économique et 16, la paix, la justice et des institutions fortes.

De l’autonomisation des femmes dans l’industrie au Ghana au renforcement de la préparation aux catastrophes dans la région Asie-Pacifique, les projets d’Alinea visent à atteindre des résultats en matière d’égalité des sexes dans 90 % de notre travail. Notre équipe continue de s’agrandir à l’échelle mondiale avec des bureaux au Canada, en Australie et au Royaume-Uni, et des bureaux de terrain dans plus de 20 pays. En 2021, Alinea a ajouté de nouveaux experts à notre équipe avec des spécialisations dans la conservation de la biodiversité, le financement du climat et les solutions climatiques sensibles au genre et socialement inclusives.

Chez Alinea, nous continuons à travailler chaque jour pour créer un impact positif grâce à des idées nouvelles et innovantes dans le domaine du développement international, dans le but d’exécuter et de viser l’éradication de la pauvreté dans le cadre du défi mondial défini par l’Agenda pour le développement durable. Où que nous soyons dans le monde cette année, le personnel et les partenaires d’Alinea sont fiers de l’équipe canadienne alors que nous allons vers les objectifs, qui, nous le reconnaissons, ne seraient pas possibles sans Affaires mondiales Canada et nos organisations de financement dans le monde.

alinea’s whistleblower policy

1.1 Purpose

The following Whistleblower Policy has been established to provide guidance to Alinea International employees and sub-contractors on how to deal with known or suspected improper conduct within the organization. The objectives of this Policy are to:

Create awareness of the Policy and available whistleblower protections
Act as a reference guide to potential whistleblowers wishing to make a disclosure
Define the structure of the whistleblower system, including reporting and investigation procedures, whistleblower protections, and confidentiality, among others
Improve the communication and transparency in the processes associated with whistleblowing and assure protection against derogatory consequences, namely reprisals and detrimental action
Complement the current communication channels between employees, sub-contractors and immediate managers, and hierarchical channels flowing to the President and Senior Management team
Provide guidance to all parties involved in either whistleblowing or whistleblower protection.

1.2 Scope

Alinea requires all employees and sub-contractors to observe high standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities. All employees and sub-contractors of Alinea are required to comply with applicable laws and regulations of Canada and the countries where we operate. Any allegations of known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources will be dealt with in accordance with this Policy, and reasonable steps will be taken to protect those who come forward with allegations. Alinea’s Whistleblower Policy covers both internal and external whistleblowing, and establishes the controls and procedures for dealing with allegations of malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is intended to encourage employees and sub-contractors to report known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources and to enable Alinea’s Senior Management team to address and correct inappropriate action. It is the responsibility of all Board of Directors’ members, the Senior Management team, employees and sub-contractors to report concerns about known or suspected malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is applicable to all employees and sub-contractors of Alinea International.

1.3 Reporting Procedures

Alinea recognizes the value of transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices and supports the making of disclosures that reveal improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. Our internal controls and operating procedures are intended to detect and prevent malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. As detailed in Alinea’s Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals, employees and sub-contractors are encouraged to share complaints and/or concerns regarding ethical or legal violations with their immediate managers. If the employee or sub-contractor is not comfortable speaking with their immediate manager or is not satisfied with the response, they are encouraged to speak with the Gatineau or Calgary Office Managers, the Vice Presidents or, as required, the Chief Financial Officer. All members of the Senior Management team are required to report complaints and/or concerns about suspected ethical or legal violations in writing to Alinea’s Ethics Committee who has the responsibility to investigate all reported complaints and/or concerns. In the event that the complaint and/or concern is about the President, it should be raised by the employee or sub-contractor to their immediate manager or the Ethics Committee who will determine how the investigation will proceed. All reports will be promptly investigated and appropriate corrective measures will be taken if warranted by the investigation. Alinea’s Ethics Committee is responsible for acknowledging receipt of the suspected violation and notifying the whistleblower of the outcome of the investigation. Anyone filing a written complaint concerning suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation. Personal grievances or complaints related to employment are not covered under Alinea’s Whistleblowing Policy. For cases such as this, employees and sub-contractors are advised to first refer to Alineas Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals when considering a disclosure under the Whistleblowing Policy. Any allegations that prove not to be substantiated and which prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.

1.4 Confidentiality

Maintaining confidentiality is crucial to ensure reprisals are not made against the whistleblower. Alinea is committed to safeguarding the identity of the whistleblower and to protecting the whistleblower against detrimental action taken in reprisal for allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. The Ethics Committee is responsible for ensuring whistleblowers are protected from direct and indirect detrimental action, and that the culture of the workplace is supportive of suspected allegations being made. Any employee who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment.

1.5 Review

Alinea is committed to implementing ‘best practice’ policies and procedures for dealing with allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources (as defined by this Policy) and the management and protection of whistleblowers making allegation(s). This Policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it meets the objectives of relevant legislation and remains effective for Alinea, and may be changed at the discretion of the Board of Directors at any time. For allegations of fraud, securities law, or human rights concerns, or when you are not satisfied or uncomfortable with following the Company’s open door policy, individuals should contact the Company’s Ethics Committee directly.

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International Development Week: President Robert Francis on how Alinea International will Go for the Goals