Job Description

This Volunteer Placement is Located in: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Start Date: January 2027

Placement Length: 5 months

Language Requirements: English Level 5-Fluent

Eligibility: Open to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada only

The Volunteer’s Role

Are you passionate about strengthening local organizations, building meaningful partnerships, and securing resources that create lasting social impact? This is an exciting opportunity to support a leading Ethiopian organization working to improve the lives of vulnerable communities and children.

As a Partnership & Resource Mobilization Advisor, you will collaborate with our partner, Hiwot Ethiopia in Addis Ababa to strengthen fundraising strategies, expand donor and partner engagement, enhance organizational systems, and build staff capacity in resource mobilization and performance measurement.

Through your expertise, you will help unlock new funding opportunities, improve program effectiveness, and contribute to sustainable development initiatives that create long-term impact across Ethiopia.

If you're ready to share your skills, strengthen local capacity, and support sustainable community development, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and help create lasting impact.

As a volunteer, you will:

• Strengthen Hiwot Ethiopia's resource mobilization strategy by identifying funding opportunities and cultivating relationships with donors, partners, and key stakeholders.
• Lead the development of compelling grant proposals, concept notes, budgets, and funding applications to support priority programs and initiatives.
• Enhance monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) systems by improving results frameworks, indicators, data collection tools, and reporting mechanisms.
• Support organizational learning through beneficiary feedback systems, lessons learned, and evidence-based approaches that improve program quality and impact.
• Strengthen internal policies and guidelines by supporting the review and enhancement of organizational MEAL frameworks, reporting processes, and compliance practices.

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in International Development, Development Studies, Business Administration, Communications, Economics, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.

Essential Background:

• 2+ years of experience in fundraising, resource mobilization, grant writing, donor relations, or partnership development.
• Experience designing or implementing monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) systems, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Demonstrated success developing funding proposals, concept notes, donor reports, or business development documents.
• Experience strengthening organizational capacity, systems, processes, or program performance within nonprofit, development, or social impact organizations.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across multicultural teams and partner organizations.

What’s in it for YOU? A life-changing experience!

About Us

Cuso International (Cuso) is an international cooperation and development organization based in Canada that works to create social and economic opportunities for equity-deserving groups. Building on over sixty years of impactful work, we address global challenges by tackling the root causes of inequality. Working alongside our partners, we are focused on efforts to improve economic resilience, advance equity and inclusion for all, and deliver progress on climate action. We believe that by sharing skills, we can build better futures. Guided by our values of courage, inclusion, sustainability and accountability, Cuso combines innovative strategies and enduring partnerships to create lasting, meaningful change in communities across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada.

Project: Sharing Canadian Expertise for Inclusive Development and Gender Equality (SHARE)

Partner: Rejoice Africa

Benefits

Volunteer Support and Requirements

Support Package

Cuso International provides a comprehensive support package to ensure volunteers maintain a modest and healthy lifestyle aligned with local standards. This includes:

• Monthly living allowance
• Accommodation
• Health insurance (including required vaccinations and antimalarial medication)
• Round-trip airfare and visa/work permit costs
• Pre-placement, in-country and reintegration training (along with access to self-directed materials and online resources)
• Ongoing local support
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program during and after placement

Selection and Screening

If you are shortlisted, you will need to:

• Confirm passport or permanent resident details for travel
• Provide two professional references
• Complete a language assessment during the initial phone interview
• Pass a police check and medical clearance before departure
• Comply with anti-terrorism checks
• Agree to uphold the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) policy and Code of Conduct

Residency and Citizenship: Candidates are responsible for confirming how volunteering internationally may affect their citizenship or residency status. Canadian Permanent Residents should verify requirements with Immigration Canada before travel.

Inclusion and Accessibility: Cuso International welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and equity-deserving groups. We provide reasonable accommodations throughout recruitment and placement. If you have accessibility needs, please contact us for support.

Ready to Make a Difference? Apply to volunteer today!