Building Bridges & Capacity: Policy Internships & Fellowships Dr. Susan Phillips School of Public Policy & Administration Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada

PIAF - Goals Increase mutual understanding and policy capacity in CSOs (& government) Increase mutual understanding and policy capacity in CSOs (& government) Build networks and institutional learning, not just individual learning Build networks and institutional learning, not just individual learning PIAF funded as a pilot project of Voluntary Sector Initiative PIAF funded as a pilot project of Voluntary Sector Initiative Managed by CVSRD in partnership with University of Victoria Managed by CVSRD in partnership with University of Victoria

Format One year pilot (plus one) One year pilot (plus one) Senior public servants / senior CSO staff spend up to 10 months in the ‘other’ Senior public servants / senior CSO staff spend up to 10 months in the ‘other’ National: including regional offices of the Government of Canada National: including regional offices of the Government of Canada Fellows – research Fellows – research Interns - operational Interns - operational

Importance of Partnership Formed a partnership of: Formed a partnership of: –Host Organization –Home Organization –Fellow/Intern Was about networks, not individuals Was about networks, not individuals Means of sharing the learning Means of sharing the learning Competitive application process Competitive application process Fellow/Intern got salary replacement Fellow/Intern got salary replacement

How it Worked Placements of about 10 months Placements of about 10 months Formal Exchange agreements Formal Exchange agreements Staff person at CVSRD to nurture Staff person at CVSRD to nurture Natural cycle: Natural cycle: –Advertise in March-April –Select in June –Start in September –Finish in June

Other Features Orientation and Summer Institute to learn about policy and culture in the ‘other’ Orientation and Summer Institute to learn about policy and culture in the ‘other’ –Could do this for graduate credit Monthly conference calls Monthly conference calls Fellows/Interns had to produce a reflection paper to share the learning Fellows/Interns had to produce a reflection paper to share the learning –Presented at a final Showcase

Assessment Very strong interest Very strong interest –90 inquiries the first year; over 200 the second Very positive experience Very positive experience –Evaluations are wildly enthusiastic Variety of fields, departments and CSOs across the country Variety of fields, departments and CSOs across the country Formed networks: every fellow = 3 (plus.5 student) Formed networks: every fellow = 3 (plus.5 student)

Lessons Valuable means for individual learning and building policy capacity Valuable means for individual learning and building policy capacity –Need to share the learning and build networks Have to commit to doing it for more than a year to make it sustainable and to have real impact Have to commit to doing it for more than a year to make it sustainable and to have real impact

Current Status 2 nd year interest grew 2 nd year interest grew –had over 200 inquiries No money for salary replacements No money for salary replacements –5 Fellows – all from government Is no current funding, project in suspension Is no current funding, project in suspension Is enormous potential Is enormous potential –Could include business, other governments

Lessons Fund salaries Fund salaries –Does not need to be full (65% - 75%) Importance of orientation and other means of learning / connection Importance of orientation and other means of learning / connection Address perceived conflict of interest Address perceived conflict of interest –More perceived than real Check in regularly and problem solve Check in regularly and problem solve

Conclusion PIAF was a useful experiment PIAF was a useful experiment Enormous interest in both government and civil society Enormous interest in both government and civil society Government pilot, but hard sell Government pilot, but hard sell CVSRD is now looking at how to change it into an academic or perhaps an international exchange CVSRD is now looking at how to change it into an academic or perhaps an international exchange –Ideas? Interest in partnership?

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