Support Partnership Development for Groups Affected by Conflict

Activity/project background

Partner: Refugee Welfare Association Cameroon (REWAC) (Local NGO)

Refugee Welfare Association Cameroon (REWAC) is a small indigenous NGO that supports vulnerable populations through three programmatic areas including 1) education, 2) advocacy, and 3) food security. The food security program builds strategic partnerships for food distribution and works with vulnerable populations to reduce food insecurity and increase nutritional quality of available foods.

REWAC is seeking a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to equip its staff with tools, mechanisms and strategies for partnership development and networking to contribute to fundraising and resource mobilization to sustain its activities on food security in the conflict affected zones of the Northwest Region of Cameroon. These skills will be applied by REWAC’s staff in fund raising and the establishment of new organizational relations that could support its food security initiative with focus on increasing food access to children, pregnant and lactating women, the elderly, widows, people living with disabilities, and internally displaced people.

REWAC has not previously worked with a Peace Corps Volunteer or a VSPP. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.

Virtual service engagement and tasks

The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their Host Country Partners:

• Assess the training needs (knowledge and skills) on various topics related to partnerships and resource mobilization (for example: grant sources, application procedures, drafting grant applications and income generation)
• Adapt (as needed) and deliver interactive virtual lessons on some or all the topics using new or existing resources to be provided by Peace Corps Cameroon
• Coordinate ongoing training and session plans with five REWAC staff members

The primary focus of this engagement will be partnership development, although capacity building activities may include topics from the lists below.

Partnership
• Partnership for Development
• Fundraising and Resource Mobilization
• Networking

Income Generation Activity (IGA)
• Market Analysis and Selecting an IGA
• Cost/Benefit Analysis
• Managing an IGA
• Bookkeeping and Marketing
• Introduction to Youth Financial Literacy

Meetings between the VSPP and Host Country Counterpart will take place during normal office hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. West Africa Standard Time (GMT+1). Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The Host Country Counterpart will have access to Zoom and WhatsApp for regular communication and collaboration.

Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0-18), two adults must be present.

Optional additional activities

The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:

  1. To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
  2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
  3. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

Goal 1 will be achieved through the VSPP's engagement and completion of the above tasks. The counterpart and VSPP may also choose to identify an activity that aligns with Goal 2. Additionally, the VSPP may identify a Goal 3 activity to implement during their engagement. See recommendations and tools for Goal 3 activities.

Essential qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in any business management related discipline, international development, or related field

Experience:
• 2 years’ management experience or organizational development experience with a nonprofit organization in any sub-Saharan African Country
• Experience with networking and partnership development for resource mobilization

Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually

Desired qualifications

Education: Masters degree in business administration or any related field

Technical Skills:
• Familiarity with virtual engagement and communication
• Skilled in using Microsoft PowerPoint for presentations

Experience:
• 3 years’ management experience or organizational development experience with nonprofit organization in any sub-Saharan African Country
• 2 years’ experience with networking and partnership development for resource mobilization

Terms and conditions of engagement

VSPPs will be engaging with the host country partner, in coordination with Peace Corps post staff, remotely from the US. They should have access to a computer, internet, and telephone in order to enable direct engagement with the Peace Corps overseas office and the Host Country Counterpart assigned by the host country partner.

Orientation with the host country partner will be provided, within the designated virtual service hours, during the first week of virtual service via an online presentation and discussion. The host country partner will provide an overview of its organization, the local context, and how they envision collaborating with the VSPP.

The VSPP will have regular check-ins with their counterpart and bi-weekly check-ins with Peace Corps staff. Spending unstructured time with counterparts can be critical to relationship-building and is encouraged through activities such as coffee chats and informal calls within the weekly 5-15 hours.

Engagement-specific safety and security

The VSPP will receive an orientation on Peace Corps’ Child Protection Policy and how it relates to online engagement along with IT security best practices. The VSPP will be expected to follow safety and security guidelines for online engagement to ensure their safety and that of the Host Country Partner and their counterpart, and any beneficiaries of the engagement.

Supervision requirements

The VSPP will report to a designated Peace Corps staff member. The VSPP will be expected to abide by the Virtual Service Pilot Participant and Donation Agreement and Participant Principles of Engagement. The VSPP will also be expected to check in with the designated host country counterpart as assigned by the host county partner.


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