CIFAL York was established in 2020 to provide a range of learning opportunities and facilitate knowledge sharing between public servants and leaders of the Western Hemisphere to strengthening their capacities, improving the decision-making process and encouraging sustainable development. 

The capacity development activities of the Centre will focus on diversity and inclusion, health, entrepreneurship and economic development, and in integrating the Sustainable Development Goals in academic institutions.

Created in 1959, York is Canada's third largest university – with over 56,000 undergraduate and graduate students in 11 faculties - and is a global leader in interdisciplinary teaching and research committed to the public good. York hosts 25 innovative and collaborative research centres, with strengths in vision and space sciences, history and refugee studies, health, the environment, climate change, sustainability and digital media. York University has established its reputation worldwide with 280 international partnerships and nearly 9,000 international students from 178 countries.