Volunteer Liaison - South Africa

About CorpsAfrica:

Founded in 2011, CorpsAfrica provides the opportunity for Africans to serve as volunteers in their own countries, along the lines of the Peace Corps model. We train college-educated young Africans and send them to live for up to one year in rural, high-poverty communities to facilitate small-scale, high-impact projects that are identified by local people. CorpsAfrica aims to promote a culture of public service in Africa by giving participants the opportunity to apply their education, skills, and energy toward helping their fellow citizens overcome extreme poverty. www.corpsafrica.org

CorpsAfrica has steadily expanded operations from Morocco to Senegal, Malawi, Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and the Gambia, with offices soon in the Ivory Coast, South Africa, and Nigeria. Having successfully proven the power and effectiveness of the model, CorpsAfrica has begun to receive significant funding from large donors. As we reach a point of significant inflection leading to future expansion, we seek to add motivated, capable, and highly effective staff to join our team.

Overview of the Position:

The Volunteer Liaison Officer will support the Country Director, Deputy Country Director, and Training Officer in coordinating and assisting all CorpsAfrica/SA Trainees and Volunteers throughout their service. The role is responsible for recruiting, training, and managing Volunteers, ensuring their smooth integration into host communities and workplaces, and contributing to initiatives that enhance program quality. The incumbent will serve as a key link between Volunteers, CorpsAfrica/SA staff, and external stakeholders, modeling positive collaboration with community leaders, host families, government officials, and partners to strengthen the overall impact of CorpsAfrica/SA programs


Specific Responsibilities:

1. Volunteer Recruitment (5%)

• In collaborations with the DCD, assist in the screening and shortlisting of the Volunteer Trainees applications in preparation for PST training.
• Assist in conducting interviews, selection and orientation process of Volunteer Trainees jointly with DCD and the Training Unit.

• Facilitate and coordinate successful deployment of new Volunteer Trainees as per the CorpsAfrica guidelines.
• Support Volunteers in dealing with personal problems, crises at home, and site difficulties during their deployment period. 
• Encourage Volunteers development of local support systems and connections of any problematic job-related, security, or health issues that arise at deployment work sites.
• Advise Volunteers on options and assists with any needed administrative actions  in a timely manner.
• Provide clear guidance to Volunteers regarding CorpsAfrica/SA policies and support staff in enforcing those policies in a fair and consistent manner.
• Proactively support in promoting CorpsAfrica values & people culture within Volunteers

• Identify, select and prepare site description forms of all developed sites (using the site development checklist/guidelines) and host families and share with the  Volunteer Trainees during the PST training.
• Provide information sessions to local leaders and host families regarding CorpsAfrica, the role of a Volunteer, ensuring Volunteers add value to the work of community leadership, rather than replacing them.
• Facilitate the signing of MoUs and rental agreements with community leaders and host families with the CD or DCD.

• During PST and ISTs, the VL will join the training team and play a substantial role in planning and executing the PST and ISTs training. 
• In collaboration with the Training unit, the VLs will conduct Volunteers support meetings and provide coaching, counseling and mentoring.
• Provide insight to staff during staff weekly meetings on trainees progress and needs, and participate in formal trainee evaluation.
• Co-facilitate relevant sessions, particularly where experience of a VL is beneficial, and where skills and knowledge are relevant, including intercultural communication sessions during PST, IST1, IST 2  and COS. 
• In collaboration with the Training Team, have regular contact with the various Project Committee’s and community members to build & maintain relationships in order to provide appropriate training support in HCD and ABCD modules.
• Model respectful and constructive engagement with all staff, giving and receiving feedback, seeking opportunities to bring staff and trainees together. 

• Train Volunteers on proposal writing, project management and budgeting during IST training using CorpsAfrica.
• Assist Volunteers and Project Committees in the review, advice and provide feedback on submitted project proposals and budgets.
• Review and provide feedback on submitted project proposals and budgets, and provide recommendations for approval by CorpsAfrica/SA management.
• Provide leadership and coaching to Volunteer and Project Committee’s in ensuring successful delivery of approved project activities and make recommendations for improvement where necessary.
• Conduct site visits every 2 months to assess project implementation progress and utilisation of project funds.

• Coordinate Volunteers weekly planning meetings and progress reports.
• Maintain and approve Volunteer weekly schedules and assignments, and submission to DCD on the 27th of each month for processing of Volunteer monthly stipend. 
• Attend and share Volunteer progress and challenges during weekly staff meetings.
• Maintain regular communication with the DCD and CD regarding any relevant updates or matters from Volunteers.
• Be on-call to manage and support Volunteers and troubleshoot any potential conflict between Volunteers and community members or host families.
• Coordinates and shares with the Executive Assistant the annual leave plan for all Volunteers. 
• Set a positive tone and promote a sense of collaboration, mutual respect, and positive interaction between the Volunteers at all times. 

• In collaboration with the M&E Officer, assist in the timely and accurate submission of Volunteer weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports.
• Assist the M&E Officer in troubleshooting any data quality issues and late submission of supporting documents by Volunteers (i.e. attendance registers, photos etc). 
• Conduct on-site monitoring and support Volunteers in developing performance improvement plans. 

• Identify and maintain good working relationships and collaborations with community stakeholders, governments, business and potential funders.
• Upon availability, represent CorpsAfrica/SA in strategic meetings, conferences and seminars locally, provincial, national, regional and globally as requested by the CD.

• Assist in identifying and timely reporting Volunteers safety and security concerns and issues to the CD or Safety Security Officer. 
• Monitor Volunteer compliance with CorpsAfrica/SA policies, especially related to safety and security.
• Participate in the effective communication and implementation of the Emergency Action Plan.