CESO – Volunteer cooperation 2020-2027

This project supports 2,905 volunteer placements, and aims to improve the economic and/or social wellbeing of the poorest, most marginalized and vulnerable people, particularly women and girls, with a view to contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals. In addition to increasing the participation of Canadians in international development and key global issues, this project aims to increase the performance of developing country partners to deliver more inclusive, innovative, and environmentally sustainable development initiatives that advance gender equality. This project also works to deliver capacity building through volunteer advisors who act as mentors, advisors or coaches, and become catalysts for partners in the agriculture and tourism sectors of the project countries to realize their full potential. Project activities include: (1) providing technical assistance in strategic planning and leadership to promote innovative practices that advance inclusiveness, gender equality, and women’s economic empowerment; (2) providing technical assistance in production, operations, quality control, financial procedures, human resources management procedures, customer service, and marketing to promote gender equality and women’s economic empowerment; (3) providing technical assistance to create and/or improve gender-sensitive processes, policies, tools and practices; (4) delivering events and campaigns to inform Canadians about international development issues and opportunities to get involved with these issues; and (5) establishing a fund for partners to procure equipment and supplies necessary to implement an innovation meant to accelerate results through improved productivity, efficiency, sales and income for marginalized and vulnerable groups, particularly women.