Business Development Advisor

Assignment Type:

Canadian International Volunteer

Eligibility Requirements:

Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada only

Assignment ID:

VA-107363

Assignment Title:

Business Development Advisor

Partner:

Farm Radio International – Ghana

Country:

Ghana

Duration:

6 months

Time Commitment:

Full time

Assignment Context

Are you passionate about strengthening sustainable development through strategic partnerships and resource mobilization? Then this role is for you!

As the Business Development Advisor with Farm Radio International, Ghana in Accra, you will play a key role in enhancing business development efforts, supporting program design, and identifying funding opportunities. You will work closely with local partners and the Farm Radio team to build strong proposals and foster partnerships that advance gender equality, youth inclusion, and environmental sustainability.

Apply today to have an impact in development programs in Ghana!

Roles and Responsibilities

• Identify and track relevant funding opportunities, including open calls, grants, and donor partnerships
• Support the development of high-quality concept notes, proposals, and business cases
• Strengthen internal systems and strategies for business development and resource mobilization
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, partners, and donors
• Provide strategic input into program development to align with donor priorities

• Participate in pre-assignment training
• Participate in at least 3 public engagement initiatives with Canadian audiences before, during, or within 6 months after the end of the assignment. Volunteers will be equipped with the tools, training, funds, and support to achieve these goals. Volunteers must also report on each of their public engagement activities through our Volunteer Information Portal. Virtual chats and individual check-ins can be booked with the Senior Public Engagement Officer throughout the course of their assignment and during the 6 months following its completion to seek guidance and support with their public engagement activities.
• Canadian volunteers are required to do at least one activity that contributes to meeting a fundraising target of $1,500. The minimum requirement is met by each volunteer using our Volunteer Information Portal to report having sent one message to their network about their volunteer assignment that includes the link to the WUSC Shared Impact Fund webpage. This message also counts as one of their three required public engagement activities. Volunteers will be supported with the tools, training, and resources to achieve the fundraising goal.
• Submit reports as required by the partner organization and by WUSC.

Experience and Qualifications

• Degree or studies in business development, international relations, economics, or a related field
• Experience in resource mobilization, including identifying funding opportunities and developing grant proposals
• Strong understanding of donor landscape, partnership building, and funding mechanisms
• Proven ability to support program development aligned with donor priorities and strategic goals
• International experience or experience working in cross-cultural environments is considered an asset; fluency in English required
• Flexibility, adaptability, excellent interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity
• Experience with group facilitation and trainings, including content development considered an asset
• Experience living and working internationally considered an asset
• Written and oral fluency in English.

Project Description

Volunteering for development is one of the important ways in which WUSC pursues its mission. The IGNI+E project, funded by Global Affairs Canada, supports over 70 partner organizations to advance gender equality and the economic empowerment of 1.2 million youth around the world. IGNI+E harnesses the knowledge, capacity and expertise of skilled Canadians through volunteer assignments and public engagement activities to assist partners in improving their performance, advocating for gender equality, and implementing more sustainable, innovative and inclusive initiatives and services for poor and marginalised youth, particularly young women. Overseas, our volunteers collaborate with a wide variety of partners, including enterprise and social enterprise development incubators, skills training centres, women’s organizations, and youth groups. In Canada, WUSC works with institutions and individuals to identify, prepare, and support volunteers who travel overseas to support our partners. Our network in Canada also works with WUSC to raise awareness among Canadians to inspire greater action on global development issues. Our collective focus is on sustainable and inclusive changes to create a better world for youth.

Partner Description

Farm Radio International (FRI) is a Canadian non-profit organization at the forefront of ICT-enabled extensions and communications for scale. FRI’s interactive rural radio approach addresses the information, communication and extension needs of millions of small-scale farmers, rural entrepreneurs and citizens. FRI’s core expertise is collaborative, results-based program development combining radio and mobile phones, and other ICTs and face-to-face interaction. FRI has developed a series of interactive radio-based approaches tailored to achieve different outcomes: awareness, knowledge; market linkages; adoption of good practice; and changes in attitude and behavior.

Support Package

• Support and guidance from the WUSC Volunteer Mobilization Team prior to departure and from the WUSC Country Team while on assignment
• Pre-departure training to learn about the volunteering for development program, gain practical skills for living and working in an intercultural context and network with other volunteers
• In-country orientation upon arrival in country of assignment
• Language training in country of assignment, where required
• Modest monthly living and accommodation allowance
• Airfare to and from the assignment country
• Visa/work permit
• Pre-departure medical exam
• Health insurance
• Vaccinations and antimalarial medication
• Criminal record verification
• Vacation leave entitlement
• Debriefing after completion of assignment
• An incredible opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to global development, enhance your professional skills and participate in an experience of a lifetime!

WUSC’s Safeguarding Policy

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion and sexual exploitation and abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to sign off on the WUSC Code of Conduct and the Self-Disclosure Form. International and national volunteers will also be required to submit a criminal record verification.

WUSC is a signatory to the Cooperation Canada Leaders’ Pledge on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Misconduct. The pledge represents the shared commitment as Canada’s global development and humanitarian leaders to ensure the full implementation of practices and policies that will protect and respond to our own staff, volunteers and the communities we serve. We are committed to creating safe and respectful workplaces and programs that promote gender equality and are free from gender-based violence, including by addressing and responding to all abuse of power, holding people to account, and protecting the vulnerable. Read the full pledge.