The Women’s Mentorship Program (WMP), delivered by the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF Canada), connects women credit union managers from around the world with Canadian credit unions for a transformative learning and leadership exchange.
Since 2002, the program has empowered nearly 300 women from 21 countries, helping them develop leadership skills, strengthen their co-operatives, and create mentorship networks that continue to grow long after the program ends.
Now entering its 21st year, the 2026 edition builds on that legacy with a renewed focus on leadership continuity and co-operative connection—aligning with the International Year of Co-operatives 2025–2026 and CDF Canada’s mission to create sustainable, inclusive impact through co-operation.
What Does It Mean to Be a Host?
Hosting a participant in the Women’s Mentorship Program means opening your credit union’s doors to an international colleague—an emerging woman leader from the global credit union sector —and welcoming her into your credit union for a 10-day professional placement.
In practical terms, hosting involves:
- Welcoming a participant into your credit union for approximately 10 days (spring 2026).
- Providing professional immersion, including meetings with management and staff, observation of daily operations, and discussions on leadership, member service, governance, and community engagement.
- Assigning a mentor or host team to accompany the participant, answer questions, and share insights.
- Encouraging community and cultural exchange, whether through a staff home-stay or informal local experiences that foster connection and friendship.
- Tracking your staff time and in-kind support, which CDF recognizes and reports to Global Affairs Canada as part of the program’s partnership contribution.
CDF Canada provides full logistical support, pre-departure orientation, and host guidance materials. Hosts also join a short virtual briefing session before placements begin to prepare for a meaningful experience.
Why It Matters
Hosting a participant in the Women’s Mentorship Program is a powerful investment in growth, leadership, and impact—both for your organization and for the women whose lives you help transform.
By participating, your credit union brings the co-operative principle of “Co-operation among Co-operatives” to life while advancing key elements of your Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) goals.
For Canadian hosts, the benefits extend well beyond mentorship:
- Professional Development for Staff: Employees gain practical experience in coaching, cross-cultural communication, and leadership — skills that strengthen team cohesion and adaptability.
- Purpose-Driven Engagement: Hosting reinforces your organization’s social purpose and commitment to global citizenship, engaging staff in meaningful, values-aligned experiences.
- ESG and Co-operative Leadership: Participation directly contributes to your credit union’s Social and Governance priorities by advancing women’s leadership, global inclusion, and community development.
- Innovation Through Perspective: Exposure to international co-operative contexts sparks new ideas, encourages reflective practice, and strengthens operational and member-service approaches.
- Recognition and Visibility: As a host, your credit union is profiled among Canada’s co-operative leaders advancing global solidarity and sustainable development.
“Having a participant in our credit union changed the way we see our work. It reminded us that leadership and learning go both ways—and that co-operation truly has no borders.”
“This experience connected directly to our values and ESG priorities—especially around diversity, inclusion, and global citizenship. Our staff developed new leadership and mentorship skills, and we saw firsthand how co-operation can drive sustainable impact.”
“Hosting a participant through the Women’s Mentorship Program re-energized our team. It gave our staff a renewed sense of purpose and reminded us that the co-operative model can create change far beyond our own community. It was a professional development experience unlike any other.”
For participants, the impact is equally profound—while hosts build leadership at home, participants gain the tools to strengthen their co-operatives abroad.
Through the Women’s Mentorship Program, women credit union managers from the global south gain access to practical tools, networks, and inspiration that strengthen both their leadership and their co-operatives at home.
Through the program, participants:
- Strengthen Leadership Capacity: Learn from Canadian credit union peers and mentors through direct, hands-on experience with governance, financial management, member engagement, and strategic decision-making.
- Gain Global Perspective: Observe diverse models of co-operative management and discover new approaches to problem-solving, innovation, and service delivery.
- Build Confidence and Connection: Develop the self-assurance to lead change and create supportive peer networks that last well beyond the program.
- Multiply Impact: Upon returning home, participants share what they’ve learned with colleagues, often mentoring other women and influencing systemic improvements within their co-operatives and communities.
Many alumnae have gone on to lead national co-operative federations, create mentorship networks, and drive gender equality initiatives within their sectors — proving that mentorship has a ripple effect far beyond the program itself.
Program Details
The Women’s Mentorship Program brings together international credit union managers for three weeks of immersive learning and exchange in Canada. The experience combines in-class training, hands-on mentorship, and peer connection — culminating in a practical leadership journey that benefits both participants and hosts.
Program Format:
- Participants begin their experience with in-class training in Ottawa where they explore topics such as governance, financial management, leadership, member engagement, and co-operative principles.
- They then travel to their host credit unions across Canada for a 10-day mentorship placement, working alongside credit union leaders and staff.
- After the placement, they return to Ottawa to reflect on their learning and take part in final leadership training modules, designed to equip them with tools to replicate mentorship and leadership training in their home countries.
Placement Duration:
- The in-credit union placement lasts approximately 10 days, from May 31st to June 9th.
- Participants are carefully matched with host credit unions whose size, structure, and operations align with their professional goals.
- Host Placement: Hosts welcome participants into their credit unions for a 10-day professional placement.
- CDF Support: CDF Canada provides full logistical support, including orientation, participant travel arrangements, and program materials.
- Home Hosting: Once a credit union placement is confirmed, CDF Canada works with the host credit union to arrange home hosting with a staff member or member of the local credit union community, ensuring a welcoming and culturally rich experience for participants.
- Mentorship Planning: Hosts are asked to design a meaningful learning agenda, assign a staff mentor, and track in-kind contributions (time and engagement) for recognition and reporting purposes.
CDF Provides:
- Pre-placement briefings and support materials for hosts
- Participant travel, visa, and accommodation coordination
- Dedicated CDF liaison support throughout the placement
- Recognition in CDF Canada’s communications and impact reporting
This structure ensures that hosts and participants alike experience a true exchange of co-operative learning — one that builds leadership, global solidarity, and lasting professional connection.
How to Get Involved
- Express Your Interest
Complete our short [Host Expression of Interest Form] or email [email protected] to let us know you’d like to learn more about hosting a participant in the 2026 Women’s Mentorship Program. - Learn More
We will schedule a brief conversation to discuss expectations, logistics, and the support available for hosts—and/or invite you to one of our Host Information Sessions, where you can ask questions and hear directly from previous hosts about their experiences. - Prepare & Participate
Before your participant arrives, CDF Canada will provide host materials, orientation resources, and guidance to ensure a meaningful and rewarding mentorship experience for everyone involved.
Together, hosts and participants create a living example of global co-operation—where leadership, learning, and shared values come full circle.
Join us in building a global network of mentorship and impact by becoming a WMP host!