Overseas Volunteer Opportunity: Malawi

Contribute. Discover. Grow. Volunteer with CDF Canada.

Eligibility criteria:   Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada

Location:   Lilongwe

Start Date: as soon as possible

Duration: 3-6 Months

Language Requirement:   English (Mandatory)

Reporting to:   Country Program Officer

The Project – VOICE for Women and Girls

The VOICE for Women and Girls project is a seven-year initiative (2020 – 2028) aimed at strengthening the performance of developing country partner (DCP) organizations to advance gender equality and economic empowerment of 50,000 women and men from marginalized communities, in particular young women (target: 60% women and girls), in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and Malawi with a focus on action areas of the Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP), namely:

·        Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls, and

·        Growth that Works for Everyone.

The Project responds to the needs identified by women and men of cooperatives and the entire members in the countries of operation and is designed to increase the capacities of individual producers and primary co-operatives to support more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient growth. Supporting institutions, including apex co-operatives, co-operative colleges, and government/regulatory institutions will also be engaged to increase the capacity and prioritization of vulnerable groups.

The Partners you will work with

Cooperative Development Foundation of Canada is working with Malawi Federations of Cooperatives (MAFECO) the national apex body for co-operatives. MAFECO aims to be a vibrant and sustainable national cooperative organization capable of providing quality leadership and services to the cooperative movement in Malawi. The organization has a vision to facilitate and coordinate promotion, development, and growth of sustainable, independent and autonomous cooperatives in a competitive environment.

What you will do – Activities and deliverables

The Volunteer will support the country team to build the capacity of cooperatives through cooperative supporting institutions in addressing climate change and contribute towards Environmental sustainability. For efficient and effective delivery, the volunteer is also expected to work in coordination with the local partner. The volunteer will work directly with the local partner MAFECO in developing/revising training materials and developing a delivery plan.

Your assignment

The volunteer will work hand in hand with the local partner MAFECO to develop training material and tools that the local partner, coops and other institutions can use in addressing issues of climate change while promoting environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the role will capture and tell their volunteer journey during their mandate in Malawi to contribute towards increasing awareness of the volunteer program and international development among Canadian population.

In country mandate deliverables

·       Provide training and facilitation to co-op supporting institutions in Environmental sustainability

·       Develop/update tools that coop supporting institutions can use in training and awareness on Environmental sustainability

·       Support MAFECO  in developing/updating environmental sustainability plan

·       Monitor the progress of Unions and primary co-ops in implementing their environmental sustainability plans

·       Support SACCOs in developing monitoring tools for their environmental sustainability plans

·       Develop innovative initiatives that support women in environmental sustainability

Qualifications

• The successful applicant must possess the following skills, experiences, and personal characteristics: 
• ·       Degree in environmental policy, integrated development studies, or climate change or environmental science or other equivalent qualifications.
• ·       Experience and knowledge in environmental strategy development, understanding of integrated environmental strategies supporting agriculture, soil quality and water sources conservation or climate change.
• ·       Experience in developing concept notes and proposals for small grants.
• ·       Knowledge and skills in facilitation with understanding in adult learning methodologies
• ·       Experience and knowledge of co-operatives. Proven experience in co-operative development in a developing country context will be an asset.
• ·       Formal training in one of the following: environmental impact assessment, environmental studies, environmental science, development studies is a must.
• ·       Knowledge and skill in integrating environment and agriculture and an understanding of natural resources management.
• ·       Ability to break down simple technical information to their simplest form for audience who are less technical to understand and use.
• ·       Excellent facilitation and interpersonal skills
• ·       Excellent capacity to analyze, develop recommendations and capture lessons learned.
• ·       Experience facilitating group learning/training sessions or focus groups.
• ·       Demonstrated ability and interest in communicating and interacting effectively with people of a different culture.
• ·       Must be able to work alone as well as with the local partner or with the BOD of the credit Union.

Support package

This is a voluntary assignment. CDF Canada supports volunteers through the provision of a comprehensive package designed to cover a modest and healthy lifestyle, while allowing for effectiveness in the placement:

·       Return-trip international and/or domestic airfare.

·       Visa-related costs (if needed).

·       International health insurance.

·       Vaccination and health-related costs (if needed).

·       Interpreter and/or translator (if needed and depending on the position and duration of the assignment).

·       Pre-departure support and orientation.

·       Support and orientation during the assignment.

·       Debriefing upon completion of the assignment.

E-volunteering

Depending on the nature of the placement, volunteers are encouraged to provide e-volunteering support to our local partners before or after their placement.

Engaging Canadians

CDF Canada provides technical and logistical support to young and experienced professionals through volunteer assignments to apply and acquire new skills and knowledge in international co-operative development. We ask each volunteer, regardless of the duration of their mandate, to share their experience during and/or at the end of their assignment either in the country of assignment or in Canada. The experience can be shared by providing stories of human interest and photographs that can be used for social media outreach; Participate in events/conferences or other public engagement activities to share their experience to motivate others.