Project Title: Fostering Opportunities for Youth Through IDRC Supported Research: A Partnership with the Youth Economic Opportunities Network (YEO Network)

IDRC Project Number: Grant No. 108942-001

Subtitle: YEO Network Global South Scholar Bursary

Researchers/Bursaries 2018: Eleonora Alejandra Nun Buitran John Hewitt Maria Victoria Fazio Marianna Viollaz Martha Veruschka Zilveti Myriam Margarita Beneke Sanfeliu Sebastian Siseles

Researchers/Bursaries 2019: Celina de Sola Fidel de Rooy Guillermo Antonio Cruces Maria del Pilar Castillo Valencia Marleentje Dekker

By: Making Cents International, Inc.

Report Type: Final Technical Report

August 1, 2018-January 31, 2020 Submitted Date: Tuesday, February 04, 2020 Global South Scholars & Researchers 2018 Global Youth Economic Opportunities Summit September 25-27, 2018 in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America

Eleonora Alejandra Nun Buitran, Chile, Fundación Espacio Público, Sociologist MPP Email: [email protected]

John Hewitt, , Fundación CAATEC, Consultant Email: [email protected]

Maria Victoria Fazio, Washington, D.C., Inter-American Development Bank, Labor Market Specialist, Labor Markets & Social Security Division, Social Sector Email: [email protected]

Marianna Viollaz, México, Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económica (CIDE), México, Associate Professor Email: [email protected]

Martha Veruschka Zilveti, , Fundación Capital, Vice President of Youth Group, Business & Partnerships Development Email: [email protected]

Myriam Margarita Beneke Sanfeliu, , Center for Research and Statistics, Fundación Salvadoreña para el Desarrollo Económico y Social (FUSADES), Director, Center for Research & Statistics Email: [email protected]

Sebastian Siseles, Argentina, Freelancer.com, Director, International Email: [email protected]

2019 Global Youth Economic Opportunities Summit October 1-4, 2019 in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America

Celina de Sola, El Salvador, Glasswing International, Co-Founder Email: [email protected]

Fidel de Rooy, Costa Rica, FLASCO Costa Rica, Social Researcher & Communications Specialist Email: [email protected]

Guillermo Antonio Cruces, Argentina, Center for Distributive & Labor Studies (CEDLAS), Universidad de la Plata in Argentina (UNLP), Deputy Director [email protected]

Maria del Pilar Castillo Valencia, Colombia, Universidad del Valle, Professor Email: [email protected] Marleentje Dekker, The Netherlands, Inclusive Development in Africa, Leiden University The Netherlands, Professor Email: [email protected]

Executive Summary The Youth Economic Opportunities Network (YEO Network) collaborated with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) from August 1, 2018 to January 31, 2020, with the objective to support the inclusion of Global South Scholars and researchers (herein referred to collectively as “grantees”) at the annual Global Youth Economic Opportunities (GYEO) Summit in Washington, DC. The partnership leveraged the YEO Network’s year-round learning events to advance collaboration, and knowledge exchange for the youth development community through webinars and online dissemination of IDRC grantee research, tools, and other resources relevant to youth economic opportunities. Below is a summary of what the YEO Network, IDRC, and the grantees accomplished throughout the duration of the agreement.

The 18-month partnership between the IDRC and the YEO Network supported 11 Global South Scholars to participate in the 2018 and 2019 GYEO Summits, and thus leveraged YEO Network activities, resources, and online platforms for IDRC supported research. Together, the 2018 and 2019 GYEO Summit agendas included four breakout sessions, presented mainly by IDRC grantees, that delved deeper into the core obstacles and challenges many Latin American youth are facing such as violence, gang recruitment, fragile gig economies, and living in territories plagued and stigmatized by contextualized violence. Their presentations provoked lively discussions that offered alternative solutions to a global issue, and generated innovative ideas to improve the efficiency of the scholars’ programs or projects. A significant number of participants attended the breakout sessions which received highly positive feedback from participants through the Summit surveys.

Additionally, the agreement provided the opportunity for IDRC to be a Bronze Level Sponsor at the 2018 GYEO Summit, and a Summit Partner at the 2019 GYEO Summit. These sponsorships provided high-level visibility to both IDRC’s work to support Global South Scholars and researchers, and the YEO Network’s “Global South Scholar Bursary,” as an initiative aimed at the inclusion of Global South contributions to the youth economic opportunities sector.

Lastly, through engagement with the YEO Network, IDRC conducted an ApplyIt! Webinar on August 15, 2019, titled “Youth Economic Opportunities in Central America.” The webinar shared lessons and evidence to improve policies and programs to be more effective in reducing youth violence, and economic exclusion, by questioning traditional assumptions and proposing new ways to frame and address this challenge. The speakers were Fidel de Rooy of La Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLASCO) Costa Rica, Ana Miranda of National Scientific & Technical Research Council (CONICET) as well as the University of Buenos Aires, and Guadalupe Leiva Choriego of La Fundación Salvador del Mundo FUSALMO El Salvador, and the webinar was moderated by Alejandra Vargas Garcia of IDRC.

During the webinar, IDRC announced Vidas Sitiadas/Besieged Lives, an applied research program aimed at building informed evidence in order to support and improve policies addressing economic opportunities of young people from contexts marked by various violence phenomena in several Latin American countries. It was an ideal opportunity to include the program into a cohesive, global conversation on youth and violence. The recorded webinar and additional information of the webinar is on the YEO.org website: https://youtheconomicopportunities.org/event/11533/youth-economic- opportunities-and-violence-central-america.

Research Problem The objective of the partnership between the IDRC and Making Cents International’s YEO Network was to support the inclusion of Global South scholars by inviting them to participate and present findings on youth employment and economic opportunities at the 2018 and 2019 GYEO Summits in Washington, DC. This was in response to enhance further the visibility of IDRC’s supported research as well as its stakeholders that focused on youth employment in the Latin American region.

Some of the projects, programs, or institutions that partnered with or were supported by IDRC had limited funding or resources to attend and participate in global events with the aim of presenting their work, interacting with other actors in the Latin American region, and expanding their collaboration efforts with the wider youth development community. Additionally, the goal was to identify other spaces and opportunities where IDRC grantees could share their research, tools, and other resources that are relevant to youth economic opportunities. The YEO Network and the GYEO Summit served as the principal platforms where IDRC grantees could engage with a wider global community to gain further recognition for their research and projects, thus helping close the research opportunity gap between developed and developing countries.

Based off some of the statements, conversations, and reflections shared by the IDRC grantees, the Summit was a special chance to converse directly with other actors involved in similar work from different regions of the world. As one Fellow shared:

“Our breakout session was especially useful in expository terms, as it was possible to also invite two other projects as part of the regional program to share core lessons and challenges of implementing local solutions that seek to tackle the path of economic possibilities for young people living in territories highly stigmatized by contextual violence. It was, therefore, a unique opportunity to share the diverse reality of multiple local contexts. FLACSO Costa Rica especially appreciates spaces like these, in which we are not only offered the possibility to show our work but also to speak together with allies from other countries that help us draw a regional panorama without losing the focus on local contexts.” – Fidel de Rooy, Social Researcher & Communications Specialist, FLASCO Costa Rica, Global South Scholar 2019

The 2018 and 2019 GYEO Summits helped the Scholars to build their network, gain recognition for future collaboration, and promote their work. Building a connection with more than 500 experts and innovators from over 60 countries allowed the exchange of ideas and information from diverse viewpoints that proved to be an effective learning experience. Progress of Project Milestones Currently, the progress of milestones is on schedule in accordance with the agreement. The remaining milestones will occur after the submission of the Final Technical and Final Financial Reports. Below are the milestones completed thus far with due dates and submission dates, along with the Centre’s payment amount where applicable.

Milestone Due Date Submitted by Centre Payment Amount Commencement Official YEO Network to the N/A Commencement Date: Centre July 31, 2018 Initial Payment August 1, 2018 The Centre CAD 58,000 First Technical Progress August 1, 2019 August 2, 2019, YEO N/A Report Network First Financial Report August 1, 2019 August 2, 2019, YEO N/A Network Payment by the Centre, One month after September 5, 2019, the CAD 36,762 Following Acceptance receipt of satisfactory Centre of First Technical reports Progress Report and Satisfactory Financial Report Final Technical Report On or before work YEO Network to the N/A completion date Centre Final Financial Report On or no more than 30 YEO Network to the N/A Covering All Funds days after work Centre completion date Final Payment by the 30 Days After Receipt Pending Pending Centre, Following of Satisfactory Final Acceptance of the Final Reports Technical Report, and Satisfactory Final Financial Report

Synthesis of Development Outcomes One of the main results from the collaboration between the YEO Network and IDRC was 11 grantees presenting their research at one of the largest convenings of its kind in North America for youth development experts and innovators. Additionally, IDRC invited local institutions from the region to co- host an ApplyIt! Webinar which opened new avenues to valuable relationships, and innovative solutions for marginalized, underemployed youth in . Lastly, IDRC leveraged the event and the webinar to increase visibility of not only its own work in Latin America, but also the work and research of its partners throughout Latin America, e.g., FLASCO Costa Rica, Fundación Espacio Público (Chile), Glasswing International (El Salvador), and Center for Research and Statistics, Fundación Salvadoreña para el Desarrollo Económico y Social, FUSADES (El Salvador). Additional main outcomes are listed below:

1) Global South Scholars participation at the 2018 and 2019 GYEO Summits: Four IDRC- sponsored breakout sessions were included in the 2018 and 2019 GYEO Summit agendas. Presented mainly by IDRC grantees, these initiatives helped bring greater visibility to their research and the work of their institutions before a global audience of more than 500 attendees from over 60 countries.

2) Financial, and Logistical Support: 11 scholars attended the GYEO Summits in 2018 and 2019 through the financial support provided by the grant, and coordinated by the YEO Network. As stipulated in the grant, the YEO Network paid directly or reimbursed as cash grantees’ health insurance, flights, M&IE, lodging, and transportation purchases.

3) IDRC Sponsorship of the GYEO Summit: The YEO Network recognized IDRC as a Bronze Level Sponsor at the 2018 GYEO Summit, and a Summit Partner (Bronze equivalent) at the 2019 GYEO Summit. Both Sponsorships provided high-level visibility to both IDRC’s work to support Global South Scholars and researchers. Benefits included on-screen recognition in all plenary sessions; recognition in all 2018 and 2019 Summit promo-emails; sponsor profile in the Summit event app; banner ad display in the Summit event app; exhibitor table space for the dissemination of IDRC materials, and networking with Summit attendees.

4) ApplyIt! Webinar Co-hosted by IDRC: On August 15, 2019, the YEO Network and IDRC co- hosted a webinar titled, “Youth Economic Opportunities and Violence in Central America.” The webinar shared lessons, and evidence to improve policies and programs to be more effective in reducing youth violence and economic exclusion by questioning traditional assumptions, and proposing new ways to frame and address this challenge. The YEO Network coordinated and facilitated the promotion of the webinar through its social media platforms, which has a combined 25,800 followers on Facebook and Twitter. After the webinar, the YEO Network highlighted it in its newsletter to its 35,000 subscribers as well as on the https://youtheconomicopportunities.org website, which has over 27,000 unique users from 183 countries. Methodology For both the 2018 and 2019 GYEO Summits, Making Cents staff and Summit volunteers distributed surveys during all sessions, then collected them at their conclusion. Some attendees completed surveys via the GYEO Summit mobile app. The surveys serve as a tool for session presenters to reflect on the format and style of their presentation, and the specific information speakers presented to attendees. There were a total of seven questions. Five questions asked attendees to rate between 1-5 how much they agreed with the provided statement (Strongly Agree - 5, Strongly Disagree - 1), and two questions that required open-ended responses. Highlighted below are all the survey results for the breakout sessions IDRC grantees participated in:

2019 GYEO Summit Breakout Session #1: Youth, Violence, & Economic Opportunities in Latin America: Breaking Stigmas, Building Effective Solutions Speakers: Carolina Robino, International Development Research Centre, Senior Program Specialist Celina de Sola, Glasswing International, Co-Founder & VP of Programs Fidel de Rooy, FLASCO Costa Rica, Social Researcher & Communications Specialist Maria del Pilar Castillo Valencia, Universidad del Valle, Colombia, Professor

18 survey responses:

Question Average Score I acquired new knowledge by participating in this session 3.8 I acquired new skills by participating in this session 3.4 The topic covered was relevant to me 4.1 I plan on using some of what I have learned during this session in my work 3.7 Attending this session has strengthened my capacity to carry out my work 3.8

What are the three most valuable takeaways that you had from this session?  Upskill earlier; Economic opportunities does not equal violence prevention  Learning about new initiatives and projects in Central America; how violence can be countered in Latin America  Speakers from the field, great charts/graphics, useful links  The influence of stigma and how it plays in perpetuating violence; the section regarding how poverty contributes to youth violence  A new knowledge about work in Latin America

How can similar organizations adapt the program in the settings?  Community based approaches

Breakout Session #2: Connecting School to Work: How Work-Based Learning (WBL) Improves Job Opportunities for Youth Speakers: Marleen Dekker, INCLUDE Knowledge Platform, Coordinator of the INCLUDE Secretariat Guillermo Cruces, Center for Distributive, Labor and Social Studies (CEDLAS), Deputy Director

15 survey responses:

Question Average Score I acquired new knowledge by participating in this session 4.1 I acquired new skills by participating in this session 3.5 The topic covered was relevant to me 4.4 I plan on using some of what I have learned during this session in my work 4 Attending this session has strengthened my capacity to carry out my work 3.6

What are the three most valuable takeaways that you had from this session?  It's important to connect schools to the private sector  The most successful programs integrate training with other forms of support; WBL requires buy- in from the private sector and often requires incentives for businesses; gaps remain in providing WBL experience (and retention) to rural youth  Looking forward to the WBL synthesis literature reviews  Interaction between policy, implementations, and research  The importance of collaboration between stakeholders  It is clear that internships are valuable experiences, paid or not; secondary education is increasingly becoming a more important path to work (great in Central America)  Definition of the continuum of work-based learning activities; importance of changing perception of the purpose of secondary education; how we need to prepare youth for informal sector or entrepreneurship rather than formal employment sector  It would have been useful to have more on the ground examples; and a clearer understanding of Seeding Labor Markets as it seemed limited to food and agriculture

How can similar organizations adapt the program in their settings?  Work with what exists, not against it (be flexible in including self-employment skills in WBL programs); Understand A. Community needs, B. Community norms, and C. What youth want to aspire to  Co-planning; Collaboration; Exchanges; and Co-funding  Implement internships as much as they can

2018 GYEO Summit Breakout Session #3: The Gig Economy: Challenges and Opportunities for Latin American Youth Speakers: John Hewitt, Fundación CAATEC, Consultant Maria Victoria Fazio, Inter-American Development Bank, Labor Market Specialist, Labor Markets & Social Security Division, Social Sector Marianna Viollaz, Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económica (CIDE), México, Associate Professor Sebastian Siseles, Argentina, Freelancer.com, Director, International

21 survey responses:

Question Average Score I acquired new knowledge by participating in this session 4.1 I acquired new skills by participating in this session 2.9 The topic covered was relevant to me 4.4 I plan on using some of what I have learned during this session in my work 3.8 Attending this session has strengthened my capacity to carry out my work 3.2

What are the three most valuable takeaways that you had from this session?

 Strength of gig economies; millions of youth not working or studying  Workforce development programs can help train youth in skills needed in the gig economies  How to protect youth in gig economy  Impact and prevalence of gig economy on employment opportunities  Technology is key in gig economy  Ways to integrate soft/life skills with technical skills training  Government policy needs to protect gig-worker access to social protections  Improve skills access of workers to obtain high quality tech jobs in gig economy

How can similar organizations adapt the program in their settings?  Any organizations that work with or in informal economy should definitely look at these slides

Breakout Session #4: Youth Economic Opportunities and Violence in Latin America and the : Unpacking the Relationship and Exploring Solutions Speakers Eleonora Alejandra Nun Buitran, Fundación Espacio Público, Sociologist MPP Martha Veruschka Zilveti, Fundación Capital, Vice President of Youth Group, Business & Partnerships Development Myriam Margarita Beneke Sanfeliu, El Salvador, Center for Research and Statistics, Fundación Salvadoreña para el Desarrollo Económico y Social (FUSADES), Director, Center for Research & Statistics

1 survey response:

Question Average Score I acquired new knowledge by participating in this session 4 I acquired new skills by participating in this session 3 The topic covered was relevant to me 5 I plan on using some of what I have learned during this session in my work 3 Attending this session has strengthened my capacity to carry out my work 3

No additional Comments Project Outputs In total, 11 bursaries attended the GYEO Summit in 2018 and 2019. Six scholars attended the GYEO Summit on September 25-27, 2018, and five scholars attended the Summit on October 1-4, 2019. Additionally, the grant included enough funding for registrations that allowed IDRC staff to attend both Summits. IDRC staff attendance provided the space for the identification, exchange, and exploration of future alliances with other regional and local institutions or actors to develop initiatives that will support policies for young people in contexts of violence, and underemployment.

The six scholars from the GYEO Summit 2018 presented two breakout sessions. The first session, “The Gig Economy: Challenges and Opportunities for Latin American Youth,” addressed the obstacles and benefits of youth joining the gig community in Latin America. The list of presenters, as well as copies of their presentations, can be found on the YEO website: https://youtheconomicopportunities.org/resource/10043/gig-economy-challenges-and-opportunities- latin-american-youth

The second session, “Youth Economic Opportunities and Violence in Latin America and the Caribbean: Unpacking the Relationship and Exploring Solutions,” discussed violence, trauma, and other disruptive elements that many youth throughout Latin America face in addition to unemployment. The list of presenters, as well as copies of their presentations, can also be found on the YEO website: https://youtheconomicopportunities.org/resource/10028/youth-economic-opportunities-and-violence- latin-america-and-caribbean-unpacking. The Summit website agenda, the paper agendas at the event, and the Summit mobile app featured both breakout sessions to build interest and attention in addition to highlighting the Global South Scholar speaker profiles.

In 2019, five scholars presented in two breakout sessions at the GYEO Summit. Two scholars participated in a 90-minute deep-dive breakout session alongside Laterite, The Education Development Center (EDC), and RTI International on the first day. Titled, “Connecting School to Work: How Work- Based Learning (WBL) Improves Job Opportunities for Youth,” the session discussed how Work-Based Learning (WBL) is instrumental in improving youth transitions from school to work, and brought together insights from both practice and research, offering new evidence on WBL in low and middle- income countries, in particular in contexts of high informality. The presentation is on the YEO.org website along with the other 43 breakout sessions that occurred during the Summit: https://youtheconomicopportunities.org/resource/12882/connecting-school-work-how-work-based- learning-wbl-improves-job-opportunities-youth

The second session brought together IDRC, Universidad del Valle, FLASCO Costa Rica, and Glasswing International to present, “Youth, Violence & Economic Opportunities in Latin America: Breaking Territorial Stigmas, Building Effective Solutions.” The 45-minute session examined IDRC’s partnership with FLACSO Costa Rica in support of particular projects that study the relationships between youth economic opportunities, and violence in five different Latin American countries. The project, which consists of nine local initiatives in the Latin American region, is testing solutions to resolve these problems. In addition to IDRC and Costa Rica FLASCO coordinating the program, Glasswing International in El Salvador, and the Universidad del Valle in Colombia carried out the proposed solutions for testing. Specifically, the session discussed how violence, and youth opportunities interact, and how to address the high violence/low opportunities equilibrium in the region. Presenters included evidence derived from the project that aim to improve policies, and programs to be more effective in reducing youth violence and exclusion. The presentation is also on the YEO.org website: https://youtheconomicopportunities.org/resource/12927/youth-violence-economic-opportunities- central-america-breaking-territorial-stigmas

In addition to the YEO Network sharing with its community the presentations on its websites to maintain the mutual exchange of information between presenters and attendees, information regarding the background of each speaker (Global South Scholar) was accessible through the Summit mobile app during the event. Breakout session and speaker information featured on both the Summit and Registration websites helped contribute to building additional opportunities for the Scholars to grow their network, gain recognition for their impact, and promote their work to new partners for future collaboration.

To bring the 11 scholars to Washington D.C. to attend the GYEO Summits, the YEO Network coordinated all aspects of logistical and travel support. As stipulated in the grant, the YEO Network paid directly or reimbursed as cash grantees’ health insurance, flights, M&IE, lodging, and transportation purchases. The Senior Associate coordinated directly with each grantee, and provided additional information and support for breakout session preparation and Summit orientation prior to and during the event. Financial support helped relieve the burden of travel costs that they, or their professional institutions, may not have been able to cover with their own funds. In sum, combined logistical and financial support provided the Global South scholars a unique opportunity to present at a global convening, and collaborate with other institutions in the youth economic opportunities sector. Without the additional funding, the Global South Scholars may not have been able to pay registration to attend due to financial restraints.

Moreover, IDRC was a Bronze Level Sponsor at the 2018 GYEO Summit, and a Summit Partner at the 2019 GYEO Summit. Benefits as a Bronze Level Sponsor included on-screen recognition in all plenary sessions; recognition in all Summit promo-emails; a sponsor profile in the Summit event app; and a banner ad display in the Summit event app. In 2019, the YEO Network recognized the IDRC as a Summit Partner Level Sponsor (equivalent to Bronze in 2018). Benefits as a Summit Partner included on-screen recognition in all plenary sessions; recognition in all Summit promo-emails; sponsor profile in the Summit event app; banner ad display in the Summit event app; exhibitor table space for the dissemination of IDRC materials, and networking with Summit attendees.

Lastly, IDRC co-hosted an ApplyIt! Webinar titled, “Youth Economic Opportunities in Central America” on August 15, 2019. The webinar shared lessons and evidence to improve policies and programs to be more effective in reducing youth violence, and economic exclusion by questioning traditional assumptions and proposing new ways to frame and address this challenge. The principal learning points outlined by the presenters were: 1) Strategies to overcome youth stigmatization and consider youth as change agents; 2) The role of the private sector to incorporate youth from marginalized highly violent territories and; 3) What works and does not to foster youth economic opportunities in context of urban violence and strategies to scale effective interventions.

The YEO Network disseminated promotional information through its Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn accounts, as well published an announcement of the event in the monthly YEO Newsletter prior to the webinar to increase virtual attendance. The Senior Associate coordinated with each speaker to obtain the webinar description, professional titles and organizations, a brief biography describing their background and research, and decide on the date of the webinar that was convenient for the group. Afterwards, the YEO Newsletter shared a link to the recording of the webinar, speaker information, and summary of the presentation for people to access. This information was used as well to garner more interest in the youth underemployment research conducted across the Latin American region by IDRC and its partners.

To prepare speakers, the Senior Associate scheduled two conference calls to conduct practice-runs, answer questions or address specific concerns, and familiarize the presenters with the AdobeConnect webinar software. On the day of the webinar, the Senior Associate and the presenters connected an hour earlier to go over the webinar script, and make any updates as necessary. The webinar was a success with 112 registrants from 79 companies spanning 30 countries.

Reflecting on the webinar, it was a great opportunity for local institutions from South America to gain global attention by presenting on the YEO Network, which has over 35,000 subscribers. It was a pleasure to work alongside such knowledgeable presenters as they shared the invaluable research they are carrying out that attempts to find permanent solutions for some of the most pressing employment issues faced by young people in Latin America. Furthermore, the partnership enabled the YEO Network to offer a focus on the Latin America region and incorporate important new voices in the global youth employment conversation. Participants were receptive, curious, and engaging as the presenters shared evidence to improve policies and programs to be more effective in reducing youth violence and economic exclusion by questioning traditional assumptions, and by proposing new ways to frame or address this challenge.

It was also a privilege to include the promotion of the Vidas Sitiadas applied research program during the online discussion. The ApplyIt! platform enabled the speakers to tap into a new community and raise visibility for the Vidas Sitiadas program. The conversation that followed generated thoughtful questions regarding the researchers’ work and programmatic goals. Listeners appeared to be eager to learn more about the program, and the information it provided.

Included earlier in this report, the recorded webinar and additional information of the webinar is on the YEO.org website: https://youtheconomicopportunities.org/event/11533/youth-economic-opportunities- and-violence-central-america.

Problems & Challenges There are no significant problems to report that hindered the milestones nor the progress of the objectives identified in the agreement. There was little to no interruption in accomplishing the main goals which entailed including four IDRC-grantee led breakout sessions at the 2018 and 2019 GYEO Summits, hosting a total of 11 Global South Scholars, and co-hosting an ApplyIt! Learning webinar that saw 112 registrants.

One small challenge that the YEO Network team came across was finding additional outlets and platforms outside of its own to support the dissemination of IDRC scholars’ articles, results, and projects. Hence, the YEO Network attempted to incorporate a more comprehensive approach to maintaining communication with scholars and webinar presenters. Grantees and presenters were encouraged to share any information regarding their work or research. One example of this was the announcement of Vidas Sitiadas during the ApplyIt! Webinar, which resulted in higher traffic, and an increase in online visitors. Administrative Reflections & Recommendations The administrative process was relatively straightforward and easy to follow, and explained clearly the main goals of the partnership.

One recommendation to help with the financial reporting is to have specific budget items correspond more closely to the associated category. For example, categorize Air Tickets and M&IE with “International Travel,” rather than “Research,” in the report. However, it is certainly understandable that documenting the information in this manner may be due to IDRC’s internal financial budgeting processes or policies.