1.0 Introduction

This document presents the findings and conclusions of an evaluation study of the Community Economic Development Internship Program (CEDIP) and the Community Economic Development Opportunity (CEDO) program. The overall purpose of the evaluation is to assess the relevance, design, success and monitoring of both programs. The evidence was collected through key informant interviews and a survey of Western Canada Business Service Network (WCBSN) representatives.

1.1 Structure of Report

This report is structured as follows:

Section 1 contains this introduction, background information and the evaluation questions;
Section 2 presents the methodology;
Section 3 presents the evaluation findings by issue;
Section 4 outlines the key conclusions; and
Section 5 presents the recommendations.

1.2 Background

WCBSN

The mandate of Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is to promote the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada and to advance the interests of the west in national economic policy. These are in part achieved through WD's Western Canada Business Service Network, which has over 100 points of service including Community Futures Development Corporations, Women's Enterprise Initiative Organizations, Canada Business Service Centres, Francophone Economic Development Organizations and WD offices.

Community Economic Development Internship Program (CEDIP)

The mandate of the CEDIP Program is to hire recent post-secondary graduates to assist the organization with economic development and diversification in their communities. Overall, the CEDIP Program’s objective is to offer meaningful career experience to a recent graduate and to support CFDC and WEI CED activities.

Furthermore, the program provides additional resources and support to the WCBSN organization. To be eligible, CEDIP interns must have graduated within the past three years from a post-secondary program. The intern must have been unemployed, underemployed, or working in an unrelated field of study. The contract stipulates that a workplan for the graduate had to be established for the intern. One aspect of this workplan is to address how the intern would support the CED activities the WCBSN organization wanted to undertake.

Community Economic Development Opportunity

CEDO is a funding vehicle for services and economic development projects conducted by WCBSN members for WD. Its function is to support community economic development activities, as identified and prioritized by the local communities serviced by the WCBSN member.

1.3 Key Findings of Previous Evaluation of CEDIP

In 1999, an evaluation was conducted of the CEDIP. The key findings of the evaluation were the following:

The program was reaching the objectives at that point, according to findings. The program provided meaningful career experiences to youth. The funding allowed the WCBSN organizations to better meet community needs.
Respondents stated that the services would not have been provided without the CEDIP funding.
The length of the internships was a source of dissatisfaction. Managers said that a one-year term is not sufficient for the interns to be proficient in the job responsibilities or to gain trust in the community. Restricted salary of the interns and short contracts posed challenges to the WCBSN organizations. Funding is considered insufficient.

1.4 Evaluation Issues

The evaluation addresses the following issues:

Relevance

Is there a need for the CEDO? For CEDIP?

Delivery

Are the CEDO projects properly selected?
Are the CEDIP interns properly selected?
Are the CEDO projects relevant for the communities?
Are the CEDIP interns properly supported by WCBSN members?

Results and impacts

Are CEDO and CEDIP projects reaching their objectives? Are they leading to improved research and economic planning? Are the results used?

Monitoring and Accountability

Is the monitoring of CEDO and CEDIP effective?

Alternatives

What could improve CEDIP? CEDO?

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