Founded in Ottawa in 1975, Inter Pares works with its international counterparts — local and national activist organizations — to help communities confront injustice, implement solutions, develop innovative initiatives, and advocate to communities’ governments. Inter Pares is also committed to engaging Canadians in the struggles for justice and equality that people face around the world.  Inter Pares focuses on issues surrounding women's equality, peace and democracy, economic justice, food sovereignty, health, and migration. Last year, Malaysian authorities arrested, detained, and brutally treated more than 1,800 refugees, including pregnant women, children, and the elderly. In 2018, attacks against human rights defenders protesting corporate abuses increased by 34% worldwide. Inter Pares works with 108 counterparts: 17 in Canada, ten in Central America, four in South America, six in Africa, four in South Asia, and 67 in Southeast Asia. 

Inter Pares’ work to support women’s equality focuses on women’s health, women’s leadership, feminism, violence against women, and women’s rights. Inter Pares works with Likhaan Centre for Women’s Health, a feminist, civil organization. In 2018, 13,068 people were reached by Likhaan Centre through education sessions.  

Inter Pares focuses programs on Peace and Democracy, working towards freedom of expression, human rights, and indigenous and ethnic rights. In 2012, Poder Mestizo was formed by a group of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies. Poder Mestizo is one of 48 grassroots groups supported by Inter Pares. The group provides a platform for youth to express themselves through art, music, dance and social mobilization, as well as contributing to efforts to build peace and justice through awareness programs.  

Inter Pares works to help people in communities where food sovereignty is prevalent. Its focus is agriculture, biodiversity, food policy, and land and food security. In F2018, Inter Pares worked as a counterpart in Tiniguena, overseeing an innovative school garden and meals program. It helped Tiniguena work with 2,000 women farmers, who are providing 5,000 school children from 37 schools with fresh, organic vegetables. 

Inter Pares is a medium-sized charity, with donations of $1.9m in F2018. Inter Pares also received $4.0m in government funding in F2018, making up 66% of total revenue. Its administrative costs are 4% of revenues (excluding investment income), and its fundraising costs are 24% of donations. For every dollar donated, 72 cents go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.  

The charity has funding reserves of $8.4m. This results in a program cost coverage of 151%, meaning that funding reserves can cover 1.5 years of its annual program costs. 

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Inter Pares for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on June 3, 2019 by Parker Thomlinson.