Brief Description:

TYPE OF ASSIGNMENT: Associateship
PARTNER: Social, Economical and Environmental Developers
POSITION ID: 2019-023
LOCATION: Vavuniya, Northern Province, Sri Lanka
DURATION: 2 - 6 Months
EXPECTED DEPARTURE DATE: July 2019 (TBD)
APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 31, 2019

comdu.it is a growing global network of diaspora changemakers committed to the sustainable development of the traditional Tamil homelands in Sri Lanka. Since 2016, we have been committed to helping shift diaspora engagement from charity to sustainability, from aid to economic development, and from sending remittance to building a knowledge economy instead.

Program Description

The Associateship program stream provides new and young professionals with the opportunity to discover, connect, and explore their heritage and history in the North and East of Sri Lanka. Applicants will pre-plan a project prior to their arrival in Sri Lanka, do a high-intensity implementation over a specified period of time on the ground in the Northern and Eastern provinces, and continue evaluation upon their return to Canada.

Partner Description

The Social Economical & Environmental Developers (SEED) aims to fight poverty and overcoming social exclusion of underprivileged groups. Likewise, it includes the promotion of environmental awareness and conservation to support the institutional goals. SEED is working closely with the respective target groups who are involved in the planning and implementation phase, so the projects are in the hands of the target group to enable them take care of it in an independent manner for themselves and their community. For more information, please visit www.seed-ngo.org.

Roles and Responsibilities

-Identify, write, and submit highly customized grant applications and supporting documents for governments, multilateral NGOs, foundations and high net worth donors.
-Develop compelling written proposals, concept notes, and expressions of interest addressing partner’s key areas of focus that are also linked to donor priorities.
-Communicate with programming teams/departments regularly to gather relevant information about programs and impacts to be able to address the interests of donors in proposals and other special projects, as well as updates to status of pending applications.
-Conduct comprehensive research of funder interests and objectives.
-Work closely with management and staff on the creation and delivery of prospect proposals and lead generation and management tools and processes.
-Help produce organization’s annual report for 2017, and assist with updating organisational profile, website, and other assets.
-Contributes to the integration of gender perspectives/considerations and specific women/girls’ rights in all activities.

Qualifications

-Completed undergraduate degree or diploma in International Development Studies, Business, Strategic Communications, or related disciplines.
-Minimum two years experience in grant writing and proposal development or similar.
-Quick learner with a demonstrated ability to think strategically and creatively when developing partnership opportunities.
-Excellent presentation, interpersonal, analytical, and oral and written communication skills.
-Interpersonal skills, including open and honest communication, negotiation, and collaboration.
-Full fluency in English and conversational proficiency in Tamil.
-Strong personal initiative, resourcefulness and capacity to be self-motivated and also work as part of a team.
-Must be driven to improve the lives of marginalized people, and work with them to do so, in a way that is led by them, for them, and is sustainable and achieves their objectives.
-Must be committed to equality, and by extension, open to learning about resilience, diversity and solidarity from the vulnerable communities they are working with.
-Must be able to lead by example by being open minded, humble and embrace opportunities to grow personally.

Preferred but not mandatory qualifications

-Currently in or recently completed graduate degree or postgraduate diploma in International Development Studies, Business, Strategic Communications, or related disciplines.
-Previous experience with non-profit fundraising.
-Knowledge of government and multilateral granting requirements.
-Work experience in vocational institutions, post-secondary institutions, or international organizations.

Volunteer Benefits and Support

-Up to fifty per cent (50%) of all costs subsidized for successful applicants with demonstrated financial need.
-Guidance with booking flights, obtaining visa, accommodations, etc.
-Participation in pre-departure training where you will have the opportunity to learn about our work, gain practical skills for living and working in a lower middle-income country, and meet other volunteers.
-In-country orientation upon arrival.
-Potential tour and briefing of the Northern and Eastern provinces.
-Support and guidance prior to departure and while on assignment in Sri Lanka.
-Return debriefing after completion of assignment, including counselling support.
-The opportunity of a lifetime to provide meaningful assistance to war-impacted communities in the North and East of Sri Lanka.

Eligibility Requirements

-Applicants must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, Germany or host country between the ages of 25 – 40.
-Departure date is contingent upon the timely completion of all administrative requirements (e.g. visa process, medical clearance, vulnerable sector checks, travel documentation).
-Those applicants with demonstrated financial need must raise at least fifty percent (50%) of their placement costs (travel, meals, health insurance, accommodations). Other applicants must raise funds to cover 100% costs of their placement.
-Please read our updated FAQs (https://comdu.it/faq/) before applying!

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