Brief Description:

This assignment is located in : Cotonou, Littoral Department, Benin

Start date: April 2026

Assignment duration: 5 months

Language requirements: French

Eligibility: Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada only

Role of the volunteer cooperator
Our partner DEDRAS is a professional community development organization. It specializes in providing social services to vulnerable and impoverished populations. It has the capacity to work proactively and productively in both rural and remote areas, as well as in peri-urban and urban areas, in order to reach all segments of society.

The main objective of the mandate is to support the partner organization DEDRAS NGO in:

• the development and implementation of advocacy activities with local authorities and in connection with the mission of the SHARE project; that is to say, access for women and young people to the market, adaptation to climate change at all levels, in particular;

• the development and implementation of support strategies for schools where the partner is involved, in integrating gender sensitivity into climate change adaptation activities.

The volunteer will be required to carry out the following activities:

Conduct a needs assessment in terms of leadership and advocacy strengthening with local authorities, identifying stakeholders and existing practices
Organize and implement co-construction sessions of knowledge and practices with the partner organization
Monitor and support the partner organization in its leadership and advocacy activities
Conduct with the partner organization a diagnostic of its vocational training centers / intervention schools and their degree of integration of gender sensitivity in climate change adaptation and other related programs.
Supporting the partner organization in developing gender awareness programs for climate change adaptation and management
Supporting the partner organization in the planning and integration of gender awareness programs in climate change adaptation and management
Essential academic skills:

Hold a degree in gender studies, political science, social sciences, law, human rights, communications and journalism, sustainable development, community development, or any other relevant field.
Demonstrate experience in developing training programs and advocacy strategies, and planning advocacy activities.
Essential professional skills:

Experience in gender-related issues and project development skills, including capacity building and advocacy.
Ability to work with limited resources and as part of a team

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

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