Project profile — ACIC International Youth Internship Program

• Jamaica (15.00%)
• Uganda (10.00%)
• Gambia (9.00%)
• Bolivia (10.00%)
• Kenya (10.00%)
• Ghana (10.00%)
• Bhutan (14.00%)
• Haiti (11.00%)
• South Africa (11.00%)

• Basic Education: Basic life skills for youth and adults (11230) (2.50%)
• Basic Health: Health education (12261) (12.00%)
• Reproductive health care:
Reproductive health care (13020) (7.50%)
STD control including HIV/AIDS (13040) (7.50%)
• Public sector policy and administrative management:
Public sector policy and administrative management (15110) (5.00%)
Human rights (15160) (8.00%)
• Communication: Information and communication technology (ICT) (22040) (5.00%)
• Banking And Financial Services: Education/training in banking and financial services (24081) (7.50%)
• Agricultural development:
Agricultural development (31120) (15.00%)
Agricultural education/training (31181) (15.00%)
Livestock/veterinary services (31195) (5.50%)
• General Environmental Protection: Environmental education/training (41081) (7.00%)
• Developmental Food Aid/Food Security Assistance: Food aid/food security programs (52010) (2.50%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (significant objective)
• Participatory development and good governance (not targeted)
• Trade development (significant objective)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (significant objective)
• Youth Issues (significant objective)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

This project is part of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) International Youth Internship Program (IYIP), funded by the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES). The IYIP contributes to the YES by providing a large spectrum of Canadian graduates with valuable international development work experience abroad, needed to launch successful careers. The Atlantic Council for International Cooperation offers 40 Canadian interns internships in nine countries: Bhutan, Bolivia, Gambia, Ghana, Haiti, Jamaica, South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda. The internships focus on increasing food security, stimulating sustainable economic growth and capacity-building. Interns assist in preparing educational and communications materials, facilitating and designing workshops, organizing events and managing projects.

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access by Canadian interns (young men and women) to Canadian labour market opportunities, including in the field of international development; and (2) increased engagement of Canadian interns (young men and women) as global citizens in supporting international development in Canada and abroad.

Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2017) include: (1) 40 interns (31 female and 9 male) have been recruited and sent abroad for a six months internship in the following sectors: gender, food security, democracy, micro-finance and poverty-reduction, health and education. Prior to their departure, interns received training on multiple operational aspects, including health and safety, competencies of inter-culturally effective persons, culture shock and public engagement activities; (2) out of the 40 interns, 38 interns (30 female and 8 male) have successfully completed their internship and have contributed to the international development efforts of local partners; (3) upon their return to Canada, 35 interns (27 female and 8 male) participated in debrief and re-integration sessions. These sessions included how to share the experience with family, professional and community, identify and articulate intercultural competencies, and job search; (4) 38 interns facilitated public engagement activities in Canada, including workshops and talks facilitated with staff and volunteers of the Canadian organization; and presentations in high schools; and (5) at the end of their internship, 36 interns (28 female and 8 male) reported an increased level of confidence in their ability to secure employment post-internship. 21 interns have found a job, including 12 interns in the field of international development.

• Proactive disclosure