Le NOWblog du RCCDI

Vu que ce sont les membres qui gèrent et font fonctionner le RCCDI, l'organisme se doit de répondre à leurs préoccupations. Depuis l'automne de 2004, la communauté des consultants en développement a exprimé les soucis suivants:

• L'efficacité de l'aide canadienne au développement;
• L'image et la réputation de l'aide et de l'expertise canadiennes;
• La gestion des contrats et l'approvisionnement;
• L'accès à des marchés plus vastes;
• L'accès à l'assurance santé pour les spécialistes du développement de retour d'un poste à l'étranger;
• L'éligibilité à la pension de vieillesse pour les personnes ayant vécu à l'étranger
• Les possibilités pour les jeunes voulant accéder au marché du travail;
• L'Afghanistan
• Et l'assurance de groupe.

Le RCCDI s'active à trouver des solutions à ces questions au moyen des efforts de ses membres. Comme toute organisation de bénévoles, ce que vous en retirez est fonction de ce que vous y mettez. Cette section de notre site vous permet de revoir les sujets, de repérer les progrès, d'ajouter vos commentaires et d'exprimer vos préoccupations. Nous vous exhortons de nous accompagner: portez-vous volontaire, ou envoyez-nous un message sur les sujets qui vous tiennent à cœur.

Forums	Topics	Last Post
The effectiveness of Canadian Official Development / L'efficacité de l'aide canadienne au développement Development consultants are deeply concerned about Canadas role in the world. They agree that Canadas: international presence has suffered, and wish to be engaged in improving Canadas reputation in development assistance. Members expressed concern that the delivery agents for Canadian ODA  the Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Executing Agencies, represented by the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) and CAIDC  were not consulted in the development of the current Government policy. On trouve chez les consultants canadiens en développement une profonde inquiétude au sujet du röle du Canada dans le monde. Ils sont d'accord avec l'énoncé que la présence du Canada a souffert (voir note au bas de la page) et ils souhaitent s'engager dans le but d'améliorer la réputation du Canada eu égard à l'aide au développement. Les inquiétudes qu'expriment les membres portent sur le fait que les agents de mise en Suvre de l'aide publique canadienne au développement n'ont pas été consultés dans la mise au point de la politique canadienne actuelle dans ce domaine (les ONG, les agences d'exécution représentées par manufacturiers et exportateurs canadien et le RCCDI.	37	Jun 23, 2010 5:12 PM By: CAIDC ADMIN Topic: Canada Should Withdraw fr...
The image and reputation of Canadian development / L'image et la réputation de l'aide et de l'experti CAIDC volunteers remain active in advocating for an improved profile and greater use of Canadian development expertise, through on going discussions with CIDA, Trade Canada and the Canadian Offices of Liaison with the International Finance Institutions (OLIFIs), and by working jointly with other private sector development actors, such as the CME. Are Canadians competitive internationally?	10	Jun 24, 2010 9:25 AM By: CAIDC ADMIN Topic: CIDA President on Leaders...
Afghanistan / Afghanistan CIDA has recently established a Task Force to deal with Afghanistan. As at the end of September 2007 the unit was to be fully operational. To date the majority of CIDAs financing has been to contribute to multilateral projects however it is their intent to become more actively involved in projects. Afghanistan raises several development issues: should CIDA only focus its development in Kandahar, complementing Canadas military since that is the Canadian Governments chosen focus, if and how development and the military can collaborate and support the others efforts; how can development be done without contributing to the continued growth of opium poppies; how to do development in a country with corrupt warlords and government. Should Canada continue to provide (effectively non-accountable) budgetary support to a corrupt government for example paying policemen's salaries? Obviously there are many more issues; you are invited to comment on the above and any others. Discussion Leaders: Tom Body plutob@shaw.ca and Larry Hendricks hendricks@sympatico.ca	57	Dec 07, 2009 12:20 PM By: CAIDC ADMIN Topic: Americans Are Deeply Invo...
Professionalizing Development Consulting / CAIDC's mandate includes fostering excellence in international development consulting. As it is difficult to foster excellence without measurement and feedback systems, the CAIDC Board worked to develop a member run evaluation system for development consultants. In 2005, the Board of Directors of CAIDC mandated a committee to develop a general consultant evaluation form and develop an evaluation and dispute resolution mechanism for development consulting services that would enhance the quality and professionalism of CAIDC Members and discussed this with CIDA and CAC. some consultants have adopted the form (and adapted it to their particular area) and are using it to collect feedback from their clients. They state it is useful as you can provide new potential clients with references using the form.	7	Jun 19, 2009 2:19 PM By: CAIDC ADMIN Topic: New Development Architect...
Access to wider markets / At the beginning of the year CAIDC sent out over 50 letters to Government Departments, NGOs, the Offices of Liaison with International Financial Institutions (OLIFIs), Canadian representatives at the UN, and others to promote the expertise of Canadian development consultants. This effort has resulted in over 30 development consulting assignments being advertised through CAIDCs listserve between January 1st and March 31. Discussion Leader: Keith Ogilvie kogilvieAssoc@shaw.ca	19	Jun 19, 2009 3:27 PM By: CAIDC ADMIN Topic: NPSIA Intern Program
Contracting and Procurement / La gestion des contrats et l'approvisionnement Consultants nationwide have actively volunteered to provide feedback and advice on procurement and contracting of professional services to both CIDA and Consulting and Audit Canada (CAC). CAIDC members produced comments on CIDAs Study on Standing Offers (link) and the new CIDA-CAC contracting arrangement (link), as well as a follow up study on the CIDA-CAC arrangement. CAIDCs report on member satisfaction with the CAC-CIDA arrangement (link), which raised concerns about transparency, fairness, timeliness, and value for money, was approved by members at the AGM and sent to CIDAs President in January. In recent meetings with CIDA CAIDC was informed that CIDA is reopening this issue and conducting a new study on the contracting of professional services. They will be seeking CAIDCs views. Discussion Leader: Richard Beattie ra.beattie@sympatico.ca Les consultants èa travers le Canada se sont porté volontaires pour fournir du feedback et des conseils sur l'approvisionnement et la mise sous contrat de services professionnels aussi bien par l'ACDI que par conseil et vérification Canada (CVC). Les membres du RCCDI ont fourni des commentaires sur l'étude qu'a faite l'ACDI sur les offres permanentes (voir le lien), le nouveau contrat entre l'ACDI et le CVC (voir le lien) et enfin sur l'étude qui a suivi le contrat entre l'ACDI et le CVC. Le rapport du RCCDI sur le niveau de satisfaction de ses membres au sujet de l'entente ACDI-CVC (voir le lien) laquelle a soulevé des inquiétudes concernant la transparence, l'équité, l'opportunité et la valeur en terme de cout-bénéfice a été approuvé par les membres lors de l'AGA et envoyé au président de l'ACDI en janvier 2006. Lors de rencontres récentes avec l'ACDI, l'ACDI a informé le RCCDI que le sujet est remis à l'étude et fera l'objet de nouvelles études sur les services professionnels. Ils vont chercher l'opinion du RCCDI sur ce sujet.	38	Feb 19, 2010 12:15 PM By: CAIDC ADMIN Topic: Report on CIDA Management...
Access to Health Care / Accès à l'assurance santé CAIDC members are concerned about their coverage under Canadian health care. As you likely know, the Income Tax Act, paragraph 250 (1) (d) deems resident any Canadians working overseas on a project funded by CIDA, no matter who employs the Canadian, or who else funds the project. As a result, many of our members are deemed resident for tax purposes while living and working overseas, and pay their taxes exactly as if they were still resident in the province they left. Many of them are surprised, therefore, when they return to Canada and discover that neither they nor their family is covered by Canadian health insurance. Some have reported waiting six months for their coverage to be reinstated. Our members, like members of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, and CIDA, are usually covered by private health insurance while they are working abroad. Our understanding is that the Federal Civil Service continues to pay insurance for its employees until they are once again covered by their provincial health insurance, and CIDA also includes a clause in most of its contracts for executing agencies requiring them to provide health insurance for employees working overseas throughout the term of the contract plus the waiting period. However, our members can be contracted for a multitude of international development organizations  bilateral, multilateral and non-governmental  and their coverage usually ends when the contract ends. As this usually coincides with their return to Canada they are thus without coverage for the duration of the waiting period. We believe that it is unfair to deem Canadians resident for tax purposes and then deny them services for which they have paid. CAIDC would like to see all provinces set up provisions to allow Canadians working overseas but deemed fiscally resident (and their families) to be immediately reinstated into their provincial health insurance systems when they return to Canada. Les members du RCCDI s'inquiètent de leur couverture selon les regimes canadiens d'assurance santé. Comme vous le savez probablement, la loi sur l'impöt au paragraphe 250 (1) (d) considère pour résident tout Canadien qui travaille à l'étranger sur un projet de l'ACDI quel que soit l'employeur du Canadien ou tout autre bayeur de fonds impliqué dans le projet. Comme résultat, plusieurs de nos membres sont considérés résidents à des fins fiscales lorsqu'ils vivent et travaillent à l'étranger ce qui fait qu'ils paient leurs impots comme s'ils étaient toujours résidents de la province qu'ils ont laissée. Avec raison, plusieurs sont surpris lors de leur retour au Canada, de découvrir qu'aussi bien eux-memes que les membres de leur famille ne sont plus couverts par l'assurance santé canadienne. Certains ont rapporté avoir attendu six mois pour que la couverture soit réinstallée. Nos membres tout comme les memb4res du ministère des Affaires étrangère et du commerce international et de l'ACDI, bénéficient habituellement d'une assurance santé privée lors de leur travail à l'étranger. Nous avons compris que la fonction publique fédérale continue à payer les primes d'assurance de ses employés jusqu'à ce qu'ils réintègrent le programme provincial d'assurance santé; aussi l'ACDI inclut dans la plupart des contrats destinés aux agences d'exécution une clause qui exige qu'ils fournissent de l'assurance santé pour les employés qu'ils envoient à l'étranger tout au long de la durée du contrat plus la période d'attente. Toutefois, nos membres peuvent être sous contrat pour un grand nombre d'organisations internationales de développement  latérales, multilatérales et non gouvernementales  et leur couverture prend fin habituellement en même temps que le contrat. Comme cette situation coïncide avec leur retour au Canada, ils ne sont plus couverts durant la période d'attente. Nous croyons qu'il est injuste de considérer les Canadiens résidents pour les fins d'impöt pour ensuite leur refuser des services qui leur sont dus et pour lesquels ils ont payé. Le RCCDI souhaite que toutes les provinces prévoient allouer pour tous les Canadiens qui travaillent à l'étranger mais qui sont considérés résidents sur le plan fiscal qu'ils soient immédiatement réintégrés à leur retour dans le système d'assurance santé provincial	26	Mar 26, 2008 1:50 PM By: CAIDC ADMIN Topic: Reply from YK Health Mini...
Eligibility for Old Age Security / L'éligibilité à la pension de vieillesse Some development consultants are having trouble establishing eligibility for the Old Age Security (OAS) Pension, which can make up a significant portion of your total government pension entitlements, depending on your income and savings. As OAS is based on physical residency in Canada, development consulting work overseas may not be included in the number of years required to establish your entitlement. This is true even if you worked on a Government of Canada contract, were deemed resident in Canada for tax purposes, and paid taxes in Canada. In addition, if you are out of the country for more than 182 days in any one year, even in a series of missions with returns to Canada every month or so, you will be deemed non-resident in Canada for that year for the purposes of establishing OAS entitlement. We've checked with a registered financial advisor, and he confirms that all of us working overseas on contracts are putting our OAS entitlements at risk. The situation is different for indeterminate employees of the Government of Canada who go overseas as they do not lose their OAS eligibility. Consultants who have applied for OAS report being asked to provide certified copies of all the pages of all passports over the 30 years required to establish eligibility to prove they were in the country more than six months (181 days) every year. Discussion Leader: Hubert LeBlanc hubert.leblanc@videotron.ca Links to OAS website http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/sc/oas/pension/oldagesecurity.shtml Certains consultants en développement ont de la difficulté à cerner leur éligibilité en vue de la pension de vieillesse; cette difficulté peut gruger une partie importante de la pension en fonction de votre revenu et de votre épargne (???). Comme la pension de vieillesse est fondée sur la résidence physique au Canada, le travail effectué hors du Canada par une personne peut ëtre soustrait des années d'éligibilité. Ceci vaut mëme dans les cas oèu vous avez travaillé à contrat pour le gouvernement, avez été considéré résident du Canada à des fins d'impöt, et avez düment payé vos impots au aCanada. En plus, si vous êtes hors du pays pour plus de 182 jours dans une année, mëme s'il s'agit d'une série de missions avec des allers-retours au Canada fréquents, on vous considérera non résident pour cette année-là pour établir votre droit à la sécurité de vieillesse. Nous avons vérifié auprès d'un conseiller financier enregistré, et il confirme que tous ceux d'entre nous travaillant à l'étranger a contrat mettons nos droits à la sécurité de vieillesse à risque. La situation n'est pas la même pour les employés du gouvernement du Canada à durée indéterminée qui ont vécu à l'étranger puisqu'ils ne perdent pas leur éligibilité pour la sécurité de vieillesse. Les consultants qui ont fait la demande de la sécurité de vieillesse nous informe que le gouvernement leur a demandé de fournir des copies certifiées de toutes les pages de tous leurs passeports depuis quarante années environ pour établir la preuve de leur éligibilité en terme d'une présence de plus de six mois (180 jours par années). Voici le lien au régime de sécurité de vieillesse. http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/sc/oas/pension/oldagesecurity.shtml	3	Dec 27, 2007 2:27 PM By: Anonymous Topic: Response from Government ...
Insurance / L'assurance Insurance is an essential but expensive part of doing business and more and more contractors are requiring proof of insurance to register or bid. Insurance needs for development consultants include travel, out of country medical insurance, theft/fire/ and public liability for your place of business, including your home, and, recently errors and omissions or professional liability insurance. These costs can easily mount up to over $1,000 per month, and errors and omissions is very difficult for some members to get as the insurers do not understand our business and dont know how to evaluate our risk. In addition, members have had problems with maintaining their home insurance if they are away for extended periods and the house is empty. While many consultants are part of professional associations, for example engineers, many others are not part of clearly defined professional groups. CAIDC has been asking our Offices of Liaison with the International Financial Institutions (OLIFIS) to clarify what professional liability/errors and omissions consists of for groups like economists, monitors, evaluators or gender specialists. All contracts contain provisions for non-payment if the work does not satisfy the client, but what other risks are there? Can an evaluator be sued for damages if a project is cancelled due to an unfavourable report? In the case of a suit, how will the technical competence of advice given by a gender specialist be defined? What are the sizes of potential losses? In addition, several members have requested that the association look into cheap group insurance and the Board has formed a committee to investigate. How have you dealt with this in your professional practice? Do you have a good or bad experience to share with your colleagues? Do you receive good rates through an association that CAIDC could explore a partnership with? We would like your feed back. Discussion Leader: Jean-Jo Bellamy jj@Bellamy.net	1	Oct 31, 2007 9:06 AM By: CAIDC ADMIN Topic: Letter from RCCDI and CME...
Youth / As CIDA implements "Strengthening Aid Effectiveness" by funnelling more and more Canadian development assistance through UN agencies, development banks and untested recipient government channels, there are fewer opportunities for Canada's private sector development delivery agents (both for profit and not) to create new entry level jobs. In addition, CIDA contracting for "one and only one" consultant, rather than allowing the proposal of teams, and its refusal to allow junior consultants to register in the consultant data base makes it increasingly difficult for young development professionals to garner experience. Discussion Leader: Richard Labelle rlab@sympatico.ca	3	Feb 02, 2010 9:47 AM By: CAIDC ADMIN Topic: The University of Western...
Travel / Our work entails a lot of travel, often to difficult and far off places. Any travel on Canadas behalf is governed by Treasury Board Travel Directives, and increasing members are concerned with changes in the directives and the way they are applied to contractors, which they feel do not take the unique nature of our work into account and nor support the objectives of best value, fairness, openness and competition. First, CAIDC members are concerned about Government of Canada Requests for Proposals (RFPs) stating that costs for travel to the National Capital Region (NCR) would not be reimbursed, but had to be included in the bidder's all inclusive daily rate. This clearly places those distant from the NCR, at a significant disadvantage. Second, members are concerned about changes in the policy concerning travel expenses reimbursable to contractors working for the government. Finally, members are often asked to travel to unstable countries, like Afghanistan, where their insurance policies are invalid, and where the cost of insurance from specialized agencies, is very high. In our opinion, the cost of this insurance, when required, is a reasonable, justifiable out of pocket expense.	6	Oct 09, 2009 11:36 AM By: CAIDC ADMIN Topic: Treasury Board Policy on ...
National Procurement Systems / Systemes nationaux d'approvisionnement Under the Paris Declaration donors committed themselves to harmonize their systems with those of the developing countries. One of the most controversial aspects of this has been increased funds given to developing countries as budgetary support. The recipient government them uses the funds to procure goods and services as needed. The OECD has developed a method for assessing national procurement systems which the World Bank is considering piloting. CIDA has been involved in the process of developing these criteria.	3	Nov 28, 2007 10:34 AM By: CAIDC ADMIN Topic: Assessment Methodology fo...
Gender Equality / Égalité entre hommes et femmes Gender equality is a key development concept and many CAIDC members work as gender specialists. All others require a working knowledge of gender equality concepts. Discussion Leader: Elaine Ward email elaineward@shaw.ca L'égalité entre les hommes et les femmes est un concept clé du développement et plusieurs membres du RCCDI sont des spécialistes de la question. Tous les autres requièrent une connaissance utile du concept de l'égalité entre les hommes et les femmes. Facilitatrice: Elaine Ward courriel elaineward@shaw.ca	6	Jan 08, 2008 3:00 AM By: CAIDC ADMIN Topic: Women, Ink. Booklink #73:...
"Bloopers Award" Best of the Development Out-takes / "Le prix Gaffe" Best of du bestiaire de l'aide Every year we encourage our members to nominate themselves and others for the Annual Canadian Awards for International Development. And every year we receive suggestions from members for alternative awards, which roughly fit the following categories: 1. Finest Event Ever Cancelled 2. Worst Request for Proposal 3. Development Drivel Award 4. Rearranging the Deck Chairs Award 5. Lessons Not Yet Learned Award 6. General (doesn't fit the other categories but demonstrates a superiour level of development impairment) The rules: 1. This is for fun only and CAIDC takes no responsiblity for the postings. 2. Any member can contribute by logging into the site, going to the award of their choice, and clicking on the response button (bottom right corner). 3. Keep it clean and fair, you can quote sources but no ad hominum attacks. 4. Remember, your name is on the submission. Chaque année nous encourageons nos membres à se proposer eux-mêmes ou nommer d'autres personnes pour la Remise annuelle des Prix canadiens de la coopération internationale. Et chaque nous recevons des suggestions des membres pour des prix différents qui répondent plus ou moins à une des catégories suivante: 1. Meilleur événement annullé 2. Pire demande de proposition 3. Prix du charabia du développment 4. Refaire l'ordre des chaises sur le pont 5. Prix des leçons toujours pas apprises 6. Général (n'entre pas dans ces catégories mais dénote néanmoins une incompétence peu commune en aide au développement) Règlements 1. On s'amuse seulement et le RCDDI n'assume aucune responsabilité pour les textes affichés 2. Tout membre peut contribuer en accédant au site, allant ensuite au prix de son choix pour enfin cliquer sur le bouton réponse en bas à droite. 3. Faut que le tout soit propre et libre d'abus; on peut citer mais pas d'attaque ad hominem 4. Souvenez-vous, votre nom paraîtra au texte soumis.	5	Dec 30, 2007 4:50 PM By: CAIDC ADMIN Topic: General Development Impai...
Troubles in Kenya / The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is deeply concerned about the escalation of violence that has rocked Kenya over the past week. The violence has entered a new phase, says the ICRC's head of the regional delegation in Nairobi, Pascal Cuttat. It broke out in the wake of elections but is now being driven by ethnic divisions, and there is a great risk of further deterioration. According to Cuttat, some people have been killed in horrible circumstances, while others have been left with scars for life. Many have lost all their belongings, and hundreds of thousands of displaced people are living in temporary camps or finding refuge with relatives in other parts of the country. The ICRC calls on all political, administrative, security and local community leaders in Kenya to do their utmost to uphold respect for life and human dignity, and to ensure that the Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies have unimpeded access to all those who require assistance. The violence is causing untold suffering in many communities and spiralling into a succession of attacks, reprisals and counter-reprisals, says Cuttat. The longer this is allowed to continue, the more difficult it will be to return to stability and bring about some form of reconciliation. The ICRC, working with the Kenya Red Cross Society, has been distributing essential household items such as blankets, kitchen sets and mosquito nets as well as emergency food rations. It has also provided the Eldoret and Nakuru hospitals with medical supplies for treating wounded patients and sent a surgical team to Eldoret hospital. In addition, ICRC and Kenya Red Cross staff are working together to ensure that proper water and sanitation facilities are in place in camps for displaced persons. The ICRC is also helping Kenya Red Cross tracing staff to restore contact between persons separated from their families, unaccompanied children and elderly people especially, during the recent events. The ICRC and the Kenya Red Cross are working with police, hospital and morgue officials to ensure that appropriate procedures are followed allowing the eventual identification of bodies so that families can know what happened to their loved ones who have gone missing.	0
Canada Revenue Agency and Taxes on UN Income / Hello, I am consulting mostly with the UN system and keep hearing that this revenue is NOT taxable. However, trying to dig into the CRA web site, I cannot find any tax treaty between Canada and the UN system and my accountant keeps it in as part of my taxable income. Would anybody know of such thing? Or would you know the ruling on income say from UNDP, FAO, World Bank, etc.? Any help in this area would be greatly appreciated. You can respond to this mailing or directly at my contacts below. Thanks a lot. Jean-Jo. Bellamy ------------------------------------ Jean-Joseph Bellamy (Mr.) JJ@Bellamy.net Skype: jjbellamy 1 (613) 254 8455	4	Mar 12, 2010 10:41 AM By: CAIDC ADMIN Topic: UN Exempt Income
CAIDC Conferences / Conférences de RCCDI CAIDC runs an annual conference, and this forum is dedicated to the final reports and overviews of the conference. CAIDC gère une conférence annuelle, et ce forum est dédié à les rapports finales et des synthèses de la conférence.	29	Dec 04, 2009 5:52 PM By: CAIDC ADMIN Topic: Results and Risks in Dev...
Results Based Management / Gestion axée sur les résultats	11	Jun 22, 2009 9:27 AM By: CAIDC ADMIN Topic: RBM Focus Group for Consu...
Ethics / Déontologie	1	Jun 19, 2009 1:55 PM By: CAIDC ADMIN Topic: Code de Déontologie