Development assistant Jobs in Ottawa, ON

This Volunteer Placement is Located in: Lima, Peru

Start Date: July 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

Join Cuso International in an exciting international volunteer program dedicated to advancing the development and empowerment of women, girls, and individuals living in poverty and vulnerable situations in Peru. We are seeking a passionate candidate with the expertise to connect with potential companies that align with the specialized services offered by Cuso International, within the framework of inclusive employment strategies and the Canadian government’s new strategic priorities related to private sector engagement.

The SHARE project plays a vital role in boosting economic resilience in marginalized communities by championing entrepreneurship, employability, TVET systems, and market-driven skills development. It focuses on creating inclusive opportunities for women, youth, LGBTQ+ individuals, migrants, and refugees. This initiative empowers partners to swiftly adapt to market dynamics, enhance employment prospects, increase competitiveness, and forge innovative partnerships by redefining their commercial value propositions.

As a volunteer, your work will encompass:

• Skills Needs Assessment: Conduct consultations with local private sector businesses to identify skill gaps, map them to current training programs, and guide curriculum adjustments for vocational and technical institutions.
• Capacity Building Workshops: Train partners on economic facilitation, market approaches, private sector engagement, and measuring economic impact. Provide coaching on how to measure and demonstrate economically meaningful results.
• Business Linkages and Partnerships: Facilitate networking between partners and companies, support supplier development for disadvantaged groups, and promote partnerships enhancing women’s and youth employment.
• Monitoring and Learning Framework: Develop indicators for employment and competitiveness, train partners on data collection and analysis, and use insights to improve programs and showcase impact.

Essential Qualifications:

• University degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Business Administration, International Development, Corporate Social Responsibility, or a related field

Essential Background:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in projects in a related field
• Familiarity with social and economic development processes in Peru and Latin America
• Understanding of the private sector landscape in Peru and Latin America
• Experience collaborating with Canadian companies
• Awareness of gender equality and social inclusion strategies
• Demonstrated ability to work in multicultural and interdisciplinary 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)

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!