Madagascar: Assistant Volunteer Coordinator - Madagascar

The role of Volunteer Coordinator offers the right candidate a unique and exciting opportunity to work across both office and field environments leading on the implementation of project work within Azafady’s International Volunteering Programmes. The coordinator will work alongside the local and International teams based in the town of Fort Dauphin on the development and marketing of the programmes before spending time in the field leading teams of volunteers in the implementation of these projects and living in basic rural conditions in the beautiful area of Anosy, southeast Madagascar.

The role of the Coordinator is to ensure the smooth functioning of these programmes acting as a key liaison between project teams, Head of Volunteering, guides and the volunteers both in the field and the office base. As part of the International team, the Coordinator is responsible for the well-being of the volunteers for the duration of the scheme.

The Coordinator will also work within the International team providing pre departure logistical advice and support to those volunteers coming to work with us for a year or more in the office base.

In addition, the post will lead on the marketing and social media of these and other programmes programmes in liaison with the team based in the UK.

Duties and responsibilities:

Pioneer and Short term construction volunteers:

Office based:

• Working alongside the Head of Volunteering and Project teams to plan the Pioneer and short termers schedule
• Co-ordinating with project teams and writing project summaries of each project to be undertaken, including its rational and impact as well providing a general overview of Azafady's work
• Working alongside the London and Madagascar based teams providing support to volunteers prior to coming to Madagascar
• Conducting welcome talk, orientation talks and activity briefings to ensure volunteers are fully informed about project work, local culture etc.
• Updating and reviewing all volunteer information including orientation guide, orientation talks and all documentation in the Co-ordinator’s file
• Leading on social media content for the programmes including pioneer blogs, collation of photographs and video
• Support the London team with marketing the programmes
• Providing feedback and copy for reports from the field based projects to the project teams within the office
• Working alongside the project development team in monitoring and evaluating projects
• Lead on the collection, analysis and dissemination of feedback from the programmes

Field based:

• Working alongside the team leader to ensure successful communication between volunteers, project teams, guides and the construction team including debriefs and feedback sessions
• Ensuring support and care are provided to maintain the physical and mental welfare of volunteers
• Providing guidance and intervention to ensure all staff and volunteers act in a positive and culturally and environmentally sensitive way
• Ensuring risk assessments are in place for each activity
• Managing the administration for the programmes including the contingency fund, weekly Log
• Ensuring social media content for the programmes including pioneer blogs, collation of photographs and video is collected

Long term Volunteer Liaison:

• Providing logistical support with hotels, flights etc for new volunteers
• Providing information and advice on a range of pre departure considerations including health, packing, visa’s
• Working within a team providing initial settling in support including airport pick up and orientation
• Providing organizational support on visas, registrations and permits in country
• Provide support in advertising posts

Support for social media and marketing:

• Co-ordination of the quarterly newsletter for donors and adapting to different audiences
• Coordination with the London team and Media specialist on marketing materials across all of the volunteering programmes
• Coordination of all volunteer programme marketing alongside the London team, including targeting of university and associations

Contract type: One year, voluntary post (food and transport paid in the field)

Location: Anosy Region, Madagascar

Reporting to: Director of Programmes and Operations/Head of Volunteering

The successful applicant will:

Practical requirements:

• Have taken part in a similar extended rural volunteering scheme
• Have a positive disposition and be able to motivate teams of volunteers
• Be physically and psychologically robust and able to cope with isolated conditions
• Have experience of or ability to develop marketing skills

Attitude and aptitude

· Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Azafady’s ethos and approach and be a good ambassador for Azafady at all times

· Have passion, curiosity and motivation for the job and the ability to enthuse others

· Have a very positive and engaging approach to working with volunteers at all times

· Have the ability and desire to work with teams from different economic and cultural backgrounds and across multiple language barriers

· Have the ability and desire to build capacity and share skills across cultures

· Demonstrate proven ability to recognise and appropriately deal with challenging situations

· Demonstrate an awareness of and comfort with increased social and professional responsibility, working at all times with cultural sensitivity and respect

· Demonstrate the ability, social skills and confidence to give clear guidance and support to other members of the team in respect of the philosophy and procedures of Azafady in order to protect both their safety and the reputation of the NGO

· Be punctual and be able to work to tight deadlines in an organised manner and to a high standard

· Have a flexible and patient attitude with excellent problem-solving skills

· Be able to work both independently and as part of a team

Practicalities

· Be able to financially support yourself for the duration of the contract

· Hold a first aid certificate

· Be equipped with a suitable laptop computer and tent

Send CV and cover letter to lisa@azafady.org. Short listed applicants will be contacted by email. Interviews will take place with the Madagascar team by phone and with the London team in person.