Centre for International Studies and Cooperation - Volunteer Cooperation 2020-2028

This project supports 1 130 placements and aims to improve the economic and social well-being of the poorest most marginalized and vulnerable people especially women and young women in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. In addition to increasing Canadians' participation in international development and global gender equality issues this project works to improve the performance of more than 100 partner organizations in developing countries and their ability to address the gender challenges and relationships that hinder women and young women from reaching their full potential. The project also supports partners (women's chambers of commerce groups of economic actors etc.) and opinion leaders (journalists religious leaders actors singer-songwriters etc.) who influence social imaging with regards to the place of women in economic activities. Project activities include: (1) providing training to volunteers on the economic empowerment of women and young women and their rights while promoting the co-creation of innovative solutions adapted to local contexts and their diversities; (2) developing and implementing plans to improve the performance of local partners; (3) providing training to key market actors and civil society organizations to design and deliver sustainable products and services tailored to the needs of women and young women as well as to participate in policy dialogue for the empowerment of women and young women; and (4) providing financial and technical support to innovative initiatives for women's and young women's economic empowerment and feminist entrepreneurship.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased participation of Canadians in international development and global gender equality issues; and (2) increased performance of developing country partners in implementing inclusive innovative and environmentally sustainable initiatives aimed at economically empowering women through the realization of their rights.