International Development Week 2025: Theme, History, Significance And How To Celebrate

Last Updated:February 05, 2025, 11:03 IST

International Development Week aims to raise awareness of global development and to showcase the ways in which people have helped eradicate poverty and move towards a more wealthy, inclusive and peaceful world.

International Development Week is being observed from Sunday, February 2 to Saturday, February 8. (Image: Shutterstock)

International Development Week 2025: During the first full week of February, the International Development Week (IDW) is celebrated. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of global development and to showcase the ways in which people have helped eradicate poverty and move towards a more wealthy, inclusive and peaceful world. This tradition, which started more than 20 years ago, was exclusive to Canada and later gained global recognition.

International Development Week 2025: Date And Theme

In 2025, the International Development Week is being observed from Sunday, February 2 to Saturday, February 8 as per the official website. The theme for this year is — Building a better world together.

The week is a special chance to educate, uplift, engage and commemorate people’s contributions to worldwide development.

International Development Week 2025: History

The Canadian International Development Agency launched Development Day in October 1988. This was a section of the global peace-promoting Education to Development Programme. To commemorate International Development Week, Global Affairs Canada took up the custom and worked with Canadian NGOs.

The beginning of this distinctive custom dates back to 1991. International Development Week has been celebrated annually throughout the first full week of February ever since. People around the world gather throughout this week to educate, motivate and engage others in global development initiatives.

The general public, schools, community organisations, the corporate and charitable sectors, civil society and Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa and its missions around the world, all get involved during the International Development Week.

International Development Week 2025: Significance

The Land of Maple Leaf is the place where International Development Week is held every year to encourage world peace and progress. The week’s message is to mobilise people to take action in support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) foresee a safe, peaceful society devoid of hunger, poverty and inequality. Additional objectives include universal health coverage, full employment and access to high-quality education. The SDGs include environmental conservation, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

Moreover, the day is observed to commemorate those who have shown exceptional commitment to global aid. The resolution of an international issue has benefited from these contributions. The International Development Week promotes global citizens’ active participation in the SDGs.

International Development Week 2025: How To Celebrate

Every year, IDW activities vary greatly from region to province. Civil society or community organisations invite guest speakers from the international assistance sector to talk to a political representative about the significance of countries’ involvement in foreign assistance. Students at schools and colleges participate in discussions about international assistance and global issues.

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