Project profile — Canadian Co-operative Association Internships – IYIP Internships 2015-2017

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. The Canadian Cooperative Association’s International Youth Internship Program 2015-2017 provides 26 Canadian youth with internships over a two-year period. The interns work in Kenya, Malawi, Mongolia, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda on food security and sustainable economic growth initiatives. The work of the interns supports partner co-operatives and their members to undertake activities in housing, agriculture and finance to meet shelter, food and financial needs, including operating micro, small and medium enterprises.

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 March 2017 include: (1) interns have reported developing their communication, marketing, monitoring, evaluation, or gender training skills through the first three months of their placement; (2) 24 Canadian interns (20 female and 4 male) were recruited from the international development and co-operative sector; (3) 24 interns completed the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) pre-departure training and orientation sessions; (4) 24 interns are actively engaged in their field placements, and have submitted updated work plans to CCA for the duration of their placements; and (5) interns have already begun conducting job search both in Canada and the local country, and enlisting career counselling and job search support.