Communications specialists

In India, more than 5.1 million people live with HIV and AIDS. In recent years a network of people living with HIV and AIDS has emerged. NMP+ is the Maharastra chapter of this national network and aims to provide a voice for people living with HIV and AIDS at local, regional and national levels to facilitate change in care and support, access to treatment, reducing stigma, and discrimination in society.

One of VSO India’s aims is to support organisations like NMP+ to address the rights and needs of people living with HIV and AIDS and to increase community awareness and combat discrimination. The aim of this placement is to allow NMP+ to develop professionally and strengthen the capacity of the organisation.

What does the role involve?

• Reviewing and setting internal and external communication strategies
• Setting up a management information system
• Ensuring ongoing collection of information for timely donor reporting
• Creating systems for collating information from all projects for communications and reporting.

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll need a degree level qualification and at least two years’ experience in a similar role. Relevant experience in communication including developing communication strategies is essential as is experience developing management information systems. As a flexible and adaptable individual you’ll be able to work individually using initiative as well as part of a team. A positive attitude and good sense of humour is a must for all VSO volunteers.

And the rest...

You’ll be based in Pune, a city of 4.5 million located in the west of India, in the state of Maharastra. Pune experiences three distinct seasons: summer , monsoon and winter. Pune is a major industrial centre, growing rapidly every year. It is home to one of the world's largest two-wheeler manufacturers and has a burgeoning software industry. Pune is well connected by road, rail and air to most major cities in India. Pune is a vibrant cultural city and people from multiple religions and speaking different regional languages reside here. It also hosts various national festivals and cultural events throughout the year.

We’ll ask you to commit to 12-24 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our financial package includes a living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.

The South Asia Partnership Sri Lanka (SAPSRI) is part of a network of development organisations operating across South Asia. In Sri Lanka they focus their work on local governance, by facilitating community participation in the policy and local government issues that affect their lives.

As a management and communications volunteer with SAPSRI, you’ll assist the organisation in setting up and promoting a centre for governance in Colombo. The centre will provide resources for researchers and others who are interested in learning about local governance in Sri Lanka, in order to promote a dialogue between people and policy makers.

What does the role involve?

• Researching and identifying relevant resources for the centre
• Working together with SAPSRI staff to ensure the effective running of the centre
• Developing publications to promote the work of SAPSRI and the Resource Centre 
• Developing media campaigns on governance issues 
• Designing and facilitating workshops 
• Working alongside and training SAPSRI staff in project management and communications

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll need a degree level qualification with a minimum of five years’ experience in a communications role with project management experience. As well as excellent reporting and documentation skills, you’ll need experience in running media and communication campaigns, and have strong written and oral communication skills. Training and facilitation experience is also essential. Good people skills, sensitivity and flexibility are key qualities required for this role as you’ll need to adapt to a slower pace of work, and deal with last minute changes with a good sense of humour.

And the rest...

You’ll be based in Rajagiriya, a residential suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital city. The area has a thriving commercial hub, where you’ll have access to all essential facilities, such as banks, shops and transport links. We’ll ask you to commit to 12-24 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals.

In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our financial package includes a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.

The ANPPCAN Uganda Chapter is part of a Pan-African organisation whose main concern is the status and welfare of children. The Uganda Chapter’s vision is a society that upholds the rights of children, free from child abuse and neglect. The organisation focuses its work on five strategic areas, including organisational development of those institutions responsible for the protection of children, providing direct support services to abused and vulnerable children and delivering advocacy work for child rights and protection. As a marketing and communications adviser with ANPPCAN you’ll develop a marketing strategy to effectively promote the organisation’s work to a wider audience.

What does the role involve?

• Identifying opportunities to raise awareness of ANPPCAN’s activities amongst the local population and key stakeholders 
• Working with staff and external stakeholders to gather materials for case studies and success stories, and develop a mechanism to capture and use such information in the future
• Developing a long-term marketing strategy for ANPPCAN as an integral and key component of the organisation’s overall strategic plan

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll need a degree level qualification in a relevant field and have at least three year’s broad marketing and communications experience. Proven experience of developing marketing or communications strategies is essential. Ideally you will also have managed a team and have PR and media experience. You will need to be creative and resourceful as you’ll be working with limited resources. Flexibility and patience are also important qualities as you’ll need to adapt to living and working in a different culture.

And the rest...

Landlocked Uganda lies across the Equator, bordering Tanzania, Sudan, Congo, Kenya and Rwanda. You’ll be based in the capital city, Kampala, which is less crowded than many other African cities with a population of around 1 million people. There’s a friendly and social atmosphere with a real mix of people from all social, religious and tribal groups. On the social scene, the city has a variety of good restaurants, bars, clubs and cinemas so you shouldn’t have trouble keeping busy in your free time.

We’ll ask you to commit to 12-24 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our support package includes a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.