Development assistant Jobs in Vancouver, BC

This Volunteer Placement is Located in: Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salam, Tanzania

Start Date: August 2026

Placement Length: 5 months

Language Requirements: English Level 4-Advanced

Eligibility: Open to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada only

The Volunteer’s Role

Join us as a Business Development Advisor and leverage your expertise to empower women’s involvement in the mining value chain. You'll play a pivotal role in boosting their investment readiness and forging strong, sustainable partnerships with major mining companies in Geita. In partnership with the Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce in Mwanza and Geita, you will support the SHARE Project’s mission to build the capacity of women entrepreneurs. This exciting initiative aims to enhance their participation in mining, improve value addition in agriculture and food processing, and create impactful linkages with leading mining companies.

As a volunteer, you will:

• Carry out a needs assessment for women entrepreneurs involved in mining-related value chains
• Discover investment opportunities and assist women in achieving investment readiness
• Provide training on business development, financial management, and preparing for investment
• Assist women in enhancing product quality, packaging, and adherence to standards
• Identify potential linkages between women entrepreneurs and major mining companies

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Economics, Development Studies, or a related discipline

Essential Background:

• Excellent facilitation and training abilities
• Proficiency in business advisory and investment readiness
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement and building partnerships
• Capable of working with diverse groups, including women entrepreneurs in informal sectors
• Holder of a degree in Business Administration, Economics, Development Studies, or a related discipline

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)

Partner: Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce (TWCC)

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!