International Development Grant
Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO) - Volunteer Sending 2015-2020
Project Number: CA-3-D001071001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Regional Focus:
Maximum Contribution: $22,005,287.00
Start Date: April 17, 2015
End Date: May 31, 2020
Duration: 5.1 years
Project Description
This volunteer cooperation project supports more than 1 749 short-term volunteer assignments and contributes to the improved economic and social well-being of beneficiaries in 17 developing countries. The project aims to improve the capacity of 60 local partners and more than a thousand clients among their networks to deliver sustainable development results. The local partners are local institutions public sector agencies and regional economic associations. The project also aims to: (1) support inclusive private sector development primarily in the manufacturing tourism and hospitality agribusiness and microfinance sectors; and (2) support democratic governance strengthening public management systems and capacities at both national and municipal levels. The establishment or improvement of business trade and knowledge-sharing linkages among local partners are supported by activities centred around lead countries in each geographic region. The project also supports an outreach component to engage highly-skilled Canadian women and men as Volunteer Advisors; and to increase awareness of Canada’s efforts to address development priorities among Canadians.
Expected Results
The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: (1) increased capacity of developing country partners to deliver sustainable development results in response to local needs by making use of the skills and expertise of qualified Canadian volunteers ; and (2) enhanced Canadians’ participation in Canada’s sustainable development efforts.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2020) include: (1) 1 863 (exceeding the project’s target of 1 749) volunteer assignments (1 447 North-South including 1 426 in-person and 21 virtual 14 South-North 14 South-South) were delivered which contributed to stronger and more effective public and private sector institutions while promoting sustainable economic development and governance with 690 organizations in 17 countries across five regions: East Africa West Africa the Americas Asia and Caribbean; (2) 605 volunteer advisors (of which 188 were women) have contributed their expertise in a broad range of economic and social development sectors exceeding the project’s target of 530 and have trained 32 591 (of which 16 710 (51%) were women) exceeding the project’s target of 30 000; (3) the majority of assignments fell into the broad sector of Sustainable Economic Growth (78%) followed by Democracy (18%) and Food Security (4%); (4) among those trained the percentage of beneficiaries who stated an improvement in their social well-being was 90% and in their economic conditions was 79% as a result of developing country partner projects; (5) 93% of developing country partners reported an increase in their skills knowledge or abilities due to volunteer placements; and (6) over 11 000 000 Canadians were informed about the project through the organization's communication channels.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
CESO - Canadian Executive Service Organization
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