FAQs

Organizations
Interns

Organizations

1. What does an open call for proposals mean? What does reviewed on an ongoing basis mean?

Organizations will be able to submit a proposal for a duration of 1, 2, or 3 years. This will allow Canadian organizations to: 2. How will proposals be assessed?

Proposals will be assessed by a thorough analysis against criteria that respond to the employability of young Canadians and international development results. Details are provided in the Application guidelines.

The proposal is assessed by the project officer, the IYIP team, CPB's specialists (health, education, governance, equality between women and men, environment), CIDA's bilateral and field representatives and Regional Directors and presented to two committees: Directorate Program Review Committee and to a Branch Program Review Committee.

3. What are the requirements for equality between women and men?

In the application form, all applicants need to provide an analysis of the major issues specific to its project related to equality between men and women, including gender sensitive recruitment of interns, gender pre-departure training, and internship activities that promote equality between men and women. For assistance in making this assessment, you may wish to consult CIDA's policy on Equality Between Women and Men.

4. What are the requirements for the environment?

CIDA requires all applicants to assess environmental effects associated with the activities they are proposing, regardless of the sectoral focus. If no such justification is provided in the application, the applicant must provide an acceptable explanation. For assistance in making this assessment, you may wish to consult the Environmental Handbook for Community Development Initiatives.

5. What is the minimum and maximum number of internships per year?

The minimum number of internships per Canadian partner organization per year is 5; and the maximum number of internships per year is 20.

6. If we submit 5 internships, are we guaranteed to receive funding for all 5?

No, funding is not guaranteed. If one or more of the 5 internships proposed do not meet the assessment criteria then the organization's application will be rejected.

7. If our application is rejected, how long must we wait before we can resubmit an application for internship funding?

CPOs can resubmit whenever their revised proposal is ready.

8. Why are geographic / sector focus and country concentration encouraged?

As you may know, the 2007 and 2008 federal budgets set out an agenda for Canada's development assistance programs to make them more focused, more efficient and more accountable. CIDA focuses on 5 sectors and a list of target countries.

9. Which countries and regions are eligible for IYIP funding?

To meet CIDA's mandate, IYIP accepts proposals in CIDA's priority countries. In order to make Canada's Official Development Assistance more focused, more efficient and more accountable, CIDA encourages all proposals to have a sectoral and country focus. See the list of Regions and Countries where CIDA funds projects.

Organizations must keep in mind CIDA's commitment to doubling aid to Africa, the engagement in the Americas, and CIDA's list of countries of focus. IYIP is also committed to ensuring the safety and security of all its interns; therefore some of CIDA's eligible countries are not eligible for the International Youth Internship Program.

If you are unsure of the eligibility of a country, please contact an IYIP officer for more information.

10. What are the cost-sharing requirements for the 2009-2014 IYIP program?

No cost-sharing is required for the 2009-2014 program. CIDA will contribute $15,000 per internship and any additional cost will be assumed by the organizations. Please see section 12.3 of the Guidelines and Application Form for more information.

11. What are the eligible direct costs that are covered by CIDA funding?

Eligible direct costs are those that can be attributed directly to an intern, with no intermediate calculation or ambiguity; and must come from a Canadian source. A causal link between the cost and the intern must exist in order to be eligible. Please see section 12.5 of the Guidelines and Application Form for more information.

12. What is Partners@CIDA?

Partners@CIDA is a new web portal for organizations doing business with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Organizations create and manage their own unique Organizations Profile. All organizations interested in doing business with CIDA will need to create a profile on Partners@CIDA. Eventually, they will be able to submit funding proposals using this new system. Partners@CIDA will allow for more efficient two-way communication between CIDA and its partners.

For more information, please visit Partners@CIDA.

13. Can multiple faculties/departments from a single University submit separate proposals?

No. While multiple faculties/departments may wish to submit proposals to IYIP, CIDA will sign only one Contribution Agreement with a lead University applicant. It is important to involve the International Liaison Officer (ILO), if applicable, in the proposal submission.

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Interns

1. When are internship positions posted on the website?

The 2009-2014 will work on a continuous funding approach. As a result of this new approach, internship positions can be posted at any time during the year.

2. When do the internships start?

The actual start date of the overseas portion of the internship will vary from organization to organization. The start date for the internship may be affected by several factors, including:

• When the Canadian partner organization receives approval from CIDA and begins its recruitment process;
• The duration of the recruitment process by the Canadian partner organization;
• When the host organization needs the intern to begin;
• How long it takes to complete pre-departure activities (obtaining visas, pre-departure training, language training, etc).

3. What is CIDA's role in the IYIP?

CIDA is one of 11 federal departments that participate in the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES). CIDA funds selected Canadian partner organizations (CPOs) to deliver IYIP projects in accordance with agreed administrative and financial procedures. The Canadian partner organizations are ultimately responsible for the implementation of the program (i.e. finances, intern selection, pre-departure training and debriefing, overseas support, job search support, etc).

One of CIDA's priority concerns is the personal security of participants who go abroad as part of the IYIP. CIDA works with Canadian partner organizations to ensure that no youth are placed in countries where they might face undue risk.

4. If I turn 31 during my internship, am I still eligible to apply for the program?

Yes. You must meet all the eligibility criteria at the time of signing your contract with your Canadian partner organization. So, if you are 30 at the time of signing your contract, you are still eligible.

5. What does underemployed or unemployed mean?

Underemployed can be interpreted as: an individual working in his/her field of study but only on a part-time basis (less than 35 hours per work week); or an individual working on a full or part-time basis in an area that is not related to his/her field of study.

An individual is considered unemployed if he/she is not performing any activities for which he/she is receiving remuneration at the time he/she signed the contract with his/her Canadian partner organization.

6. If I am currently receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, may I still apply?

Yes, you may apply. However, you cannot be in receipt of Employment Insurance (EI) benefits while participating in the program. If accepted to the program, EI recipients have to voluntarily withdraw from EI by the time they sign their agreement with their Canadian partner organization. These individuals should consult their EI agent, for more information.

7. If I have student loans, can I still participate in the program? Would I be able to receive interest relief?

You can still participate in the International Youth Internship Program if you have student loans. Some students with government loans may be eligible for interest relief during their internship. Your Canadian partner organization will provide you with a letter to support your application for interest relief. For more information, please visit CanLearn.

8. What does youth who are out-of-school mean?

"Out of school" means you have no co-ops, theses, or terms left to complete to satisfy your degree requirements, regardless of whether you are an undergraduate, Masters, or PhD student. If you are in your last year of studies, you may apply as long as you have graduated by the time you sign your contract with your Canadian partner organization. Law graduates who have no yet been called to the Bar are considered eligible, even if they are registered in a Bar Admission Program.

9. What does youth for whom this would be the first paid career-related international experience mean?

Priority will be given to individuals who have not already had an opportunity to work abroad in an area related to their field of study, regardless of the duration. Individuals who have never worked abroad, or who have worked abroad in areas not related to their field of study are encouraged to apply.

10. Why can I only participate once in the Career Focus Program of the Youth Employment Strategy?

The purpose of Career Focus is to provide a work experience that facilitates the transition to the labour market. Given the skills level of this target group, the number of work experience available under the YES, and the number of young people needing experience, Canadian youth are limited to one Career Focus work experience opportunity.

11. Can I participate in the program if I am not a Canadian citizen, and not a permanent resident of Canada?

No. All interns of the IYIP must be either Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, as they must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Even if you hold a valid work permit in Canada, you are not eligible to apply.

12. Do I need to have a post-secondary degree or diploma in order to participate?

Yes. To participate in a Career Focus Program of the Youth Employment Strategy, the participant must be a post-secondary graduate of a degree or diploma program from universities; colleges; post-secondary schools of technology; post-secondary institutes; or a CEGEP (collège d'enseignement général et professionnel).

13. How do I apply? Where do I find the application form for IYIP?

• Make sure you are eligible by reviewing the eligibility criteria;
• Consult Internships by Organization to review the internships posted by Canadian partner organizations.
• Visit the website of the Canadian partner organization and review the information provided on its website;
• Follow the application instructions provided on the Canadian partner organization's website and submit your application accordingly.

Since each Canadian partner organization posted on our website does its own recruiting, the application procedure and deadline dates will vary from one organization to another. Please do not submit your application directly to CIDA.

14. Am I allowed to apply for more than one internship position?

Yes, you may apply for more than one internship position.

15. How long are the internships?

Internships are 6 to 12 months long and include a minimum of 5 months working in a developing country. Please note, that the IYIP does not offer short summer internships.

16. Who are the host organizations that provide these international experiences?

Canadian partner organizations implement their projects through long-term relationships they have built with overseas organizations. These overseas partners are the ones that host interns for the program. CIDA and its field offices analyze each of the proposed internships and the capacity of host organizations, as identified by the Canadian partner organization.

View the current internship postings sorted by overseas host organization.

17. In which countries does IYIP have internships?

To meet CIDA's mandate, our internships are based in the Regions and Countries where CIDA funds projects.

You may also view the current internships posted by country.

18. Will I be paid for this internship?

Each intern receives a living allowance to contribute towards the basic expenses of the internship. CIDA allocates up to $15,000 per internship to Canadian partner organizations to cover your living allowance, travel costs (i.e. flight, visas), pre-departure training, the organization's administrative costs, and other eligible expenses. Please note that up to $3,000 may be used by your Canadian partner organization for administrative costs. Your allowance can vary depending on the length of the internship, travel costs, costs of living in the host country, the Canadian partner organization and your own contribution.

Interns may be requested to contribute to the cost of the internship. Canadian partner organizations cannot request a cash contribution from an intern superior to its own cash contribution and under no circumstances should the intern's contribution exceed $1,000. An intern's inability to contribute cannot be a barrier to participation in the program.

19. Is the living allowance taxable?

The living allowance is taxable in Canada. An intern's employment status will determine the type of allowance he/she receives, which will affect their tax return. The employment status can vary from one organization to the next. The status will also determine whether the organization/intern must contribute to Employment Insurance. Employment status and taxation issues should be discussed carefully between the intern and Canadian partner organization at the time of drafting their agreement. For more information on taxation issues visit the Canada Revenue Agency.