This Volunteer Placement is Located in: Medellín, Medellin, Colombia
Start Date: December 2026
Placement Length: 5 months
Language Requirements: Spanish Level 4-Advanced
Please submit a Spanish Resume and Statement of Interest
Eligibility: Open to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada only
The Volunteer’s Role
Cuso International is seeking two volunteers eager to join our international volunteer program, aimed at fostering the growth and empowerment of women, girls, and individuals facing poverty and vulnerability in Colombia.
The current role will support identifying relevant stakeholders, especially private sector companies. The aim is to support the identification of skills needs among Canadian private companies, to align technical and vocational training with these needs and thereby promote young people’s access to decent employment.
In this role, we seek to strengthen our partners in adapting to the new market realities, transitioning to become economic facilitation agents and demonstrating results that are economically meaningful (for example, employment, competitiveness, supplier readiness), rethinking their value propositions in commercial terms, and fostering the potential for new partnerships.
As a volunteer, your duties will include:
- Skills Needs Assessment with Private Sector Partners - Carry out surveys among local businesses to identify skill shortages and compare these findings with current training programs. Modify vocational and technical training curricula accordingly based on the survey results.
- Capacity-Building Workshops for Partner Organizations - Deliver training focused on financial facilitation and engaging the private sector. Enable partners to redefine their value propositions and effectively measure significant economic outcomes.
- Business Linkages and Partnership Development - Host networking events to identify and explore collaboration opportunities. Assist in supplier development initiatives aimed at disadvantaged groups and foster employment opportunities for women and youth.
- Monitoring and Learning Framework Focused on Economic Outcomes - Create indicators to track job creation and resilience among vulnerable populations. Train partners in collecting and analyzing data related to youth and women's access to decent employment, facilitating program improvements and demonstrating impact.
Essential Qualifications:
- A degree in Business Administration or related fields, specializing in strategic planning, the development of business strategies, and the establishment of synergies and institutional partnerships.
Essential Background:
- Expertise in strategic planning, business strategy creation, and the development of synergies and institutional partnerships.
- Familiarity with marketing, along with experience in the private sector.
- Proven ability to build relationships within the private sector.
- Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
What’s in it for YOU? A life-changing experience!
About Us
Cuso International (Cuso) is an international cooperation and development organization based in Canada that works to create social and economic opportunities for equity-deserving groups. Building on over sixty years of impactful work, we address global challenges by tackling the root causes of inequality. Working alongside our partners, we are focused on efforts to improve economic resilience, advance equity and inclusion for all, and deliver progress on climate action. We believe that by sharing skills, we can build better futures. Guided by our values of courage, inclusion, sustainability and accountability, Cuso combines innovative strategies and enduring partnerships to create lasting, meaningful change in communities across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada.
Project: Sharing Canadian Expertise for Inclusive Development and Gender Equality (SHARE)
Benefits
Volunteer Support and Requirements
Support Package
Cuso International provides a comprehensive support package to ensure volunteers maintain a modest and healthy lifestyle aligned with local standards. This includes:
- Monthly living allowance
- Accommodation
- Health insurance (including required vaccinations and antimalarial medication)
- Round-trip airfare and visa/work permit costs
- Pre-placement, in-country and reintegration training (along with access to self-directed materials and online resources)
- Ongoing local support
- Access to the Employee Assistance Program during and after placement
Selection and Screening
If you are shortlisted, you will need to:
- Confirm passport or permanent resident details for travel
- Provide two professional references and one personal reference
- Complete a language assessment during the initial phone interview
- Pass a police check and medical clearance before departure
- Comply with anti-terrorism checks
- Agree to uphold the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) policy and Code of Conduct
Residency and Citizenship: Candidates are responsible for confirming how volunteering internationally may affect their citizenship or residency status. Canadian Permanent Residents should verify requirements with Immigration Canada before travel.
Inclusion and Accessibility: Cuso International welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and equity-deserving groups. We provide reasonable accommodations throughout recruitment and placement. If you have accessibility needs, please contact us for support.
Ready to Make a Difference? Apply to volunteer today!