International Development Grant
Développement international Desjardins (DID) – IYIP Internships 2015-2017
Project Number: CA-3-D000976001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $391,839.00
Start Date: July 31, 2015
End Date: March 31, 2017
Duration: 1.7 years
Project Description
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. Développement international Desjardins’s (DID) initiative provides 22 interns with opportunities to work in five countries: Haiti Panama Tanzania Uganda and Zambia. The internships are implemented in close collaboration with local partners specifically community finance institutions which play a major role in the social and economic development of their communities. The internships cover the following areas: development of financial services for small businesses communications and marketing accounting human resources gender equality and technologies as well as assisting partners in diversifying professionalizing and strengthening their skills including their services in different sectors.
Expected Results
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.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2017) include: (1) 22 interns (11 female and 11 male) were recruited and sent abroad for a seven-month placement in the following sectors: finance accounting computer science marketing gender equality communications and human resources. The interns all received pre departure training which focused on such things as safety and security ethics crosscutting themes communications and meetings with former interns; (2) the interns carried out various activities to support DID’s local partners including developing an automated monthly statement creating tools and publications to ensure the success of the new communication strategy and updating a register of capital assets; (3) of the 22 interns recruited 21 of them (10 female and 11 male ) successfully completed their placement. Six partners (100%) stated that the young interns had a significant impact on their development efforts; (4) upon their return to Canada 15 interns (8 female and 7 male) took reintegration training which included the provision of a notebook for thoughts on the experience gained abroad and how to reinvest what they had learned in their chosen occupation a meeting with DID employees and assistance with their job search; (5) 21 interns (10 female and 11 male) conducted outreach activities to encourage Canadians to get involved including presentations at universities; (6) at the end of their placement 21 interns (10 female and 11 male) indicated that they were more confident in their ability to find employment after the placement; and (7) 19 interns (7 female and 12 male) found a job eight of them (3 female and 5 male) in international development. Out of the eight interns six (2 female and 4 male) got a job with DID.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
DID - Développement international Desjardins
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
YFMInternaAssistPartnershp&Programing Br
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Donor country personnel
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Call for Proposals