Project profile — SUCO - IYIP Internships 2018-2022

This project is part of Global Affairs Canada’s International Youth Internship Program (IYIP), funded by the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy. The IYIP is designed to offer Canadian post-secondary graduates the opportunity to gain professional experience in international development. SUCO sends 112 interns to six countries as part of its Youth, Employment and International Development II project. The interns’ mandates are incorporated into existing projects, implemented by SUCO and its local partners, in the following areas: capacity building in eco-friendly practices for agricultural producers, vegetable production and crop marketing support, communications technology, nutrition, rural entrepreneurship development, social marketing, organizational development, and promotion of gender equality.

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: (1) increased efforts by Canadian youth interns (women and men) to secure employment through their internship experience, including in the field of international development; and (2) increased engagement of Canadian youth interns (women and men) as global citizens who support international development efforts in Canada and abroad.

Results achieved as of April 2023 include: (1) 69 young Canadians completed international development internships in eight countries; (2) 86 young Canadian interns participated in pre-departure training and field activities in international development. They also participated in various activities to help them enter the Canadian job market or continue their studies; and (3) 84% of those who responded to the survey, six months after their internship, found a job, including 15% in the international development field.