Canada-Africa Development Corps
Whether you've thought about teaching overseas, volunteering abroad, or just want to travel to interesting places, the Canada-Africa Development Corps offers an unforgettable introduction to travel that makes a difference. You'll get firsthand experience at community service, while learning more about CADRA's approach to fighting poverty.
The Canada-Africa Development Corps places Canadian professionals with grassroots organizations in Africa to provide skills training to non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Volunteers are placed with NGOs as consultants to train specific staff members in their personal area(s) of expertise. By providing technical assistance through skills training, volunteers help NGOs build their capacity and achieve their overall mission.
Successful volunteer placements leave NGO staff members with skills they will utilize long after the volunteer leaves. By focusing on skills transfer, the Canada-Africa Development Corps promotes the sustainable development of community based NGOs.
Volunteer placements are based on requests for volunteers from NGOs and the volunteer's professional background.
Placements are usually 3-12 months in length, although some shorter assignments are available for senior professionals.
Please click here to download an application and reference form. For more information about volunteering through CADRA please send e-mail to volunteer@Canada-Africa.org.
Eligibility
The Canada-Africa Development Corps places professionals whose experience allows them to train other professionals in their field. The Canada-Africa Development Corps might be a suitable match for you if:
You have professional experience in one of the following fields:
- Agriculture
- Computer Technology
- Education
- Fundraising
- Healthcare
- Mental Health
- Micro Credit
- Organizational Development and Strategic Planning
- Public Health
- Small Business
- Social Work
You fulfill the proper language requirement:
- Fluency in English and/or French
Please note: the Canada-Africa Development Corps is not a program for recent college graduates. However, in exceptional cases recent college graduates may have relevant skills and may be considered; for example, volunteers in their early/mid-twenties who have significant experience in computer training, grant writing/fundraising and public health education.
If you feel that you have specific skills that would be useful to our NGO partners and are willing to volunteer for a minimum of three months, please e-mail us, briefly outlining your relevant professional and developing world experience.
Recent college graduates should consider volunteering through our African Partners Program.
Assignment Length
The length of a volunteer placement is based on the NGO's timeline, the volunteer's availability, and the volunteer's professional background.
The average volunteer assignment is three to four months in length; however placements range from two months to one year. Volunteers who demonstrate extremely high level of expertise in their field and who have vast international travel experience may be considered for a one month placement. Younger volunteers with limited professional experience are required to make a commitment of at least three months.
Application Process
The application process helps CADRA staff assess which applicants can provide a good match for our NGO partners' needs. Sometimes, however, while applicants are highly qualified within their profession, their skills do not meet our NGO partners' current needs.
CADRA assesses an applicant's compatibility with our program through the written application, interview, references, and the need for the applicant's skills. We must receive an application and three references at least three months before the intended placement departure date. The placement process usually takes from three to five months.
Application Outline
- Applicant submits an application. Applicants may download an application or request application materials by e-mailing us directly.
- The applicant sends out reference forms to three references. References should be returned directly to CADRA.
- CADRA staff reviews applications. Within two weeks of reviewing an application, a CADRA staff member will contact applicants to let them know if they have qualifications for an interview.
- CADRA staff interviews the qualified applicant to get a sense of their professional and international travel experience. Interviews are conducted by telephone or in Ottawa if the applicant lives in the area.
- Upon receiving all three references CADRA staff makes a decision about whether or not to accept the applicant. Once the applicant is accepted, CADRA contacts our NGO partners to ascertain their interest and ability to host the volunteer based on the volunteer's skills and timeline. Organizations usually express an interest in applicants.
- In some circumstances, applicants may not receive a volunteer placement if there is no suitable NGO interested in receiving a given volunteer. Volunteers are notified as soon as possible when this situation arises.
- Once the NGO has accepted the volunteer, we set up a three way conversation between the volunteer, the NGO and CADRA in order to develop the details of the assignment.
Before you Leave
Once a match has been made between a volunteer and an NGO, the following logistics are facilitated and developed by CADRA staff, the volunteer, and the NGO:
Work plan
Before the volunteer departs, CADRA sets up a three way e-mail conversation between the host NGO, the volunteer and the CADRA staff. Through this conversation and other correspondence all three parties come to an agreement as to the nature of the volunteer's work assignment. All three parties then sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which outlines the details of the work plan.
Housing
The host NGO is responsible for arranging living accommodations before the volunteer arrives. The volunteer is responsible for the cost of room and board.
Plane Ticket
CADRA pays for the lowest reasonable roundtrip airfare from the volunteer's home city to the arrival destination for an itinerary that is based on the start and end dates of the assignment. The ticket can be purchased through CADRA's travel agent, or volunteers can purchase the ticket themselves, through another travel agent, on-line or directly from the airline. CADRA will arrange for reimbursement after receiving the itinerary and receipt.
Visa
Volunteers are responsible for obtaining a visa to their host country and conducting the research to find out if one is needed. Volunteers are also financially responsible for any fees that may be associated with obtaining a visa. Please be aware that visa fees to some locations can be costly.
Immunizations
Volunteers are responsible for organizing and paying for immunizations, vaccinations and anti-malarial medication (if needed).
Health Insurance
All CADRA Volunteers receive SOS International Assistance, which provides referrals to approved doctors and in the event of an emergency, pays for the volunteer to be evacuated to the nearest medical facility. Volunteers must have their own health insurance that covers them for any injury or sickness contracted while overseas. Please note: SOS International Assistance does not pay for the costs of medical care.
Country Specific Research
Volunteers are responsible for conducting their own research about the country they are visiting. Knowledge of their host country's language, culture, and NGO work culture will aid volunteers when in the field.
In the Field
While you are in the field you may expect the following:
Arrival
Volunteers are usually met by staff members or representatives of the NGO at the airport.
Work Schedule
The volunteer settles into a full time (40hrs/wk) work routine and is responsible for sticking to their work assignment while in the field.
Creation of Updated Work Plan
After the volunteer has completed their first week in the field s/he is responsible for sending CADRA staff an updated version of their work plan. Sometimes volunteers arrive to a host NGO only to realize their work duties should be altered. The "one week updated work plan" allows a volunteer to take into account the realities of their new surroundings, while still providing a timeline and duties for which the volunteer is accountable.
Sample Work Plan
Week 1: Settle in.
Gather information, meet with staff members and understand scope of program and projects.
Determine staff member(s) with who the volunteer will be working.
Determine goals of the volunteer assignment.
Provide CADRA with updated work plan.
Week 2-4: Work with staff member x on data base development in mornings.
Work with staff member x on proposal writing techniques in afternoon.
Week 4-6: Work with staff member x on data base development in mornings.
Work with staff member x on proposal writing techniques in afternoon.
Work with staff member x on presentation of fundraising workshop.
Week 6-8: Present three fundraising workshops to all staff members.
Work with staff member x on data base development in mornings.
Wrap up with staff member x on proposal writing techniques in afternoon.
Checking In
The volunteer is responsible for providing updates on progress of work assignment to CADRA staff once every two weeks.
Social Support
The volunteer is responsible for providing her/his own entertainment or social activities on weekends and evenings.
On your Return
Recently Returned CADRA Volunteers
Evaluating the Assignment
Once the volunteer has completed their assignment, both the host NGO and the volunteer complete an evaluation of the volunteer's experience.
Essay
CADRA asks volunteers to write a one page reflection of their volunteer assignment.
Costs
CADRA pays for the lowest available roundtrip airfare between the volunteer's home city and volunteer assignment location.
CADRA provides SOS International Assistance for the duration of the volunteer's work assignment. Our SOS International Assistance covers medical evacuations and provides free medical referrals, but does not cover the cost of treatment while overseas.
Volunteers are responsible for all in-country living expenses, such as room, board, and local travel expenses. The volunteer is also responsible for all pre-departure expenses, such as a visa and medical expenses such as immunizations, anti-malarials and health insurance.
Partial cost-of-living stipends are available to volunteers who lack the financial resources to fully cover the room and board expenses of a volunteer assignment in Africa. As CADRA is a not-for-profit organization, we ask volunteers to apply for a stipend only if their ability to volunteer in Africa is truly contingent on receiving financial support. CADRA staff review requests for stipends once volunteers have received their work assignment.
