Frequently Asked Questions

Young Diplomats of Canada (YDC) is a non-partisan, non-profit, youth-led organization that equips and empowers young leaders to contribute to and participate in global decision-making spaces. Our operations are focused on our core mission of building Canada’s next generation of global leaders, through which we aim to be a trusted partner in supporting Canadian youth to access international decision making spaces, with the goal of meaningfully shaping both global and domestic public policy.

YDC develops the global leadership potential of young Canadians through hands-on training programs and key partnerships that give our delegates exclusive access to high-level geopolitical events and summits.

We seek young leaders in Canada who are passionate about issues affecting youth, innovative, ambitious, eager to learn and demonstrate the ability to be good team players. We want to give our delegates the opportunity to engage in international summits and the space to develop their professional skills and gain tools that are valuable to both their career and personal goals.

• Keen interest in their communities, public engagement, youth advocacy, and international affairs

• Positivity and ability to function well within a diverse team

• Academic, professional or volunteer background related to summit theme(s)

• Substantial leadership and teamwork skills

• Strong written, communication and interpersonal skills

• Proven ability to take the initiative in researching and connecting with stakeholders, other youth organizations and partners

• Organization skills and availability

YDC has a two-step recruitment process: an online application, followed by an interview for select applicants. You may read more about each step on our apply page.

We aim to provide opportunities for youth in Canada. Therefore, we require that applicants be younger than 30 and at least 18 years of age at the time of application. Please note that eligibility for delegations can vary depending on the host country of a summit. Please refer to the age requirement indicated on each application.

All applicants must be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident.

Due to requirements set by summit hosts, only Canadian citizens are eligible to participate in advocacy delegations (Y7 and Y20). Occasionally, other delegations may have specific citizenship/residency requirements set by summit hosts. Please review eligibility requirements for the specific delegation(s) you are applying to.

Yes. We recognize that each YDC Delegation brings together a unique makeup of professions, skill sets, and abilities. We consider whether your blend of experiences and credentials is suited for a particular summit. We encourage you to apply for any YDC opportunities you feel suit your academic and professional background. In your application, be sure to highlight how your candidacy aligns with the theme(s) and priorities of the delegation(s) you are applying to.

YDC works to offer as many opportunities to as many young people as possible. As such, once selected as a delegate, you will no longer be eligible to apply to future YDC delegations.

YDC sends delegations to three types of summits:

Advocacy delegations

• Youth 7 and Youth 20

• The core activity of advocacy delegations is to negotiate with other Y7 and Y20 delegations to draft policy recommendations to G7 and G20 leaders.

ECOSOC delegations

• UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF)

• ECOSOC delegations may engage with the forums they attend in various ways, including submitting written statements, oral interventions, or organizing side and parallel events

Observer delegations

• Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Trade Organization (WTO)

• Observer delegations are a unique opportunity for the delegates to observe, learn from, and participate in high-level discussions on international trade, finance, and comparative public policy

Beginning as soon as you are selected and continuing beyond the end of the international summit, we expect a considerable commitment from YDC delegates. As part of their responsibilities as delegates, YDC requires delegations to complete at least two deliverables: the first is the mandatory final report and the second can be decided collectively by the delegation within the different options offered by YDC. As a general rule, all deliverables should be completed within 6 weeks of the event you attend. The weekly time commitment varies depending on the delegation type.

Advocacy delegations

YDC’s advocacy delegations require a comparably high time commitment. Throughout their commitment, delegates will be expected to devote between 3 and 10 hours per week to the delegation, plus fully participating in all mandatory elements of the summit.

ECOSOC delegations

YDC’s ECOSOC delegations are considered a medium time commitment. Throughout their commitment, delegates will be expected to devote between 2 and 5 hours per week to the delegation, plus fully participating in the summit for the duration of the delegation’s time there.

Observer delegations

YDC’s observer delegations require a low time commitment. Throughout their commitment, delegates will be expected to devote between 3 and 5 hours per week to the delegation, plus fully attending the full event for its whole duration.

The Head Delegate (HD) is the main point of contact between the delegation and the YDC Executive. The HD is also in charge of organizing all pre-summit conference calls, in-person meetings, and other administrative requirements for the delegates. The HD is the chief spokesperson of the YDC Delegation at meetings with important stakeholders including Canadian and foreign ministers, embassies, media, and other institutions.

The Communications Coordinator (CC) is responsible for promoting the activities of the delegation through diverse communication channels prior to, during and after the Forum. The CC serves as the liaison between the delegation and the YDC Communications Team, and creates and distributes relevant media content, such as press releases, op-eds, blog posts, and social media posts.

Participation costs are likely to be covered. However, delegates are responsible for all other costs, including ground transportation, accommodation, and flight costs. Note that most delegations typically share accommodation (hotel, AirBnB, time-share) and ground transportation (taxis) to reduce costs and enjoy a team environment.

Unfortunately, we do not offer other bursaries/grants or any type of financial assistance at this time. We understand that traveling to these events can be costly, and as a diverse, volunteer, youth-led organization, we are in the process of improving the financial and general accessibility of our offerings through fundraising and sponsorship.

YDC will provide fundraising support and tools to each delegate, as requested, and will notify candidates/delegates if further support is available.

There are a ton of excellent organizations in Canada that promote and run engagement opportunities for young people. The Young Diplomats of Canada created a Youth Organization Database to democratize youth engagement across Canada.

Explore the Youth Organizations Database today.

Follow us on the following social media platform to get all the latest updates on future opportunities and to see what our delegates are up to:

LinkedIn

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

In order to be considered for a YDC delegation, candidates must:

• Be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident

• Due to requirements set by summit hosts, only Canadian citizens are eligible to participate in advocacy delegations (Y7 and Y20). Occasionally, other delegations may have specific citizenship/residency requirements set by summit hosts. Please review eligibility requirements for the specific delegation(s) you are applying to.

• Be between the ages of 18 and 30 at the time their application is submitted

  • Please note that age requirements may differ from the above for specific summits, based on the host country/organization’s requirements.

• Submit a fully completed application through our official application form

  • Any incomplete applications or applications that do not adhere to the guidelines outlined in the form may be eliminated from consideration.

• Please note that we only accept delegation applications submitted through our official channels, and cannot consider expressions of interest submitted by email or other means.

• Submit a complete application by the due date outlined in the official application form

  • Due to the high volume of applications submitted for YDC delegations, we are unable to consider applications submitted after our deadline.

Please reach out to the YDC Recruitment team by email at recruitment@youngdiplomats.ca.