Brief Description:

This assignment is located in : Abomey Calavi, Atlantique Department, Benin

Start date: July 2026

Assignment duration: 5 months

Language requirements: French

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

Role of the volunteer cooperator
Join us as a Women's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Advisor, where your passion for empowering women can truly make a difference! Immerse yourself in an exciting opportunity to champion women-led initiatives and play a pivotal role in building entrepreneurial skills, improving financial literacy, and enhancing strategic decision-making. Collaborate with a dedicated local partner to design and deliver dynamic, hands-on learning experiences that inspire women to launch, grow, and sustain their own businesses. This isn't just a volunteer role; it's a chance to drive change, foster collaboration, and create a dynamic and lasting impact within the community! If you're driven by a desire to strengthen women's economic empowerment, this is the perfect opportunity for you!

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

Supporting the partner organization in implementing its economic empowerment strategy, integrating financial education to strengthen women's capacity in resource management and decision-making.
Design and deliver training modules on business creation, financial education, strategic planning and management.
Participate in the training of trainers and participants in entrepreneurship using a participatory approach.
Support the implementation of post-training monitoring and support mechanisms for evaluating results and adjusting strategies to ensure a lasting impact of women's initiatives.
Prepare the reports required by the partner organization and by Cuso
Essential academic skills:

Hold a university degree in entrepreneurship, international development, management and/or equivalent.
Good training capacity
Essential professional skills:

At least three years of work experience in entrepreneurship
Ability to work with limited resources and as a team member;
About Us
Cuso International (Cuso) is a Canadian-based international cooperation and development organization working to create social and economic opportunities for groups deserving of equity. With over sixty years of experience, we address global challenges by tackling the root causes of inequality. In collaboration with our partners, we focus on efforts to enhance economic resilience, promote equity and inclusion for all, and advance climate action. We believe that by sharing our skills and expertise, we can build a better future. Guided by its values ​​of courage, inclusion, sustainability, and accountability, Cuso combines innovative strategies and long-term partnerships to create meaningful and lasting change in communities across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada.

Project:

Partner: CIA (ITISA-AVENTIS Consortium)

Benefits
Support for volunteer cooperants and requirements
All support measures

Cuso offers a comprehensive set of support measures to ensure that volunteer cooperants lead a modest and healthy life, in accordance with local standards. This support includes:

Monthly allowance
Accommodation
Health insurance (including mandatory vaccinations and antimalarial medication)
Return airfare and visa/work permit fees
Training: before assignment, in the country and upon reintegration (with access to online resources and self-study materials)
Ongoing local support
Access to the employee assistance program during and after the assignment
Selection and pre-selection

If you are shortlisted, you will need to:

Confirm your passport or permanent resident card details for the trip
Provide two professional references and one personal reference.
Take a language assessment test during the initial telephone interview
Successfully pass a criminal record check and a medical examination before departure
Submit to anti-terrorism checks
Agree to abide by the policy and
Residency and Citizenship: Applicants are required to verify how an overseas assignment as a volunteer cooperant may affect their citizenship or residency status. Canadian permanent residents must verify the requirements with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) before travelling.

Inclusion and accessibility: Cuso welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds and groups deserving of equity. We provide reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment and placement process. If you have any accessibility needs, please contact us for assistance.

Ready to make a difference? Apply today to become a volunteer cooperator!

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