United Nations Association in Canada - International Internships 2013-2014

The United Nations Association in Canada (S065696) coordinated 18 internships (12 F and 6 M) in six (6) countries (Peru Columbia Nepal Bangladesh Ethiopia and Tanzania). Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2014): Increased the interns’ employability in which 17 of 19 Junior Professional Consultants (JPCs) have obtained gainful employment in their field as a direct result of participating in the UNPP IYIP Programme. Ten JPCs (53%) have secured paid extensions with their UN host agency; seven were offered a unique access and exposure to an international UN country office and a competitive advantage within the broader labour market. The project also strengthened the professional hard and soft skills of the JPCs such as their capacity for solution-seeking knowledge-sharing working in multicultural environments tackling critical global issues and activities within a challenging set of defined and/or shifting responsibilities and communicating successfully on significant development issues. JPCs assisted host organizations to improve their planning monitoring and evaluation of existing and new development projects. They also applied their new skills energy and capacity to projects programmes and strategies designed to achieve international development goals and objectives. They also contributed to the delivery of improved services and supported the unique and priority needs expressed by the host communities; and they were able to transfer relevant knowledge and skills to local country staff.