1. Introduction to VSO

VSO is the world’s leading international non-governmental organisation that works through volunteers to create a fair world for everyone.

Our work centers on those who are left out by society – those living in extreme poverty or with disability and illness. Those who face discrimination and violence because of their gender, sexuality, or social status. Those who are at risk from disaster, disease, and conflict. But they are not passive beneficiaries of aid; they are the “primary actors” at the heart of our efforts. From their perspective, we define the issues, opportunities, and solutions that drive sustainable, local-led change. These individuals are the key agents of their own transformation.

2. Our Approach

Our Volunteering for Development (VfD) method supports the most vulnerable and marginalised to achieve their rights and bring about lasting change to create a fair world for everyone. Rooted in addressing the fundamental causes of - marginalisation and vulnerability, our three core approaches – social inclusion and gender, social accountability, and resilience – guide our work in inclusive education, health, and resilient livelihoods.

Our Volunteering for Development method recognises the importance of relationships in forging a shared understanding and commitment and building collective action to lasting change. With most of our volunteers being national, we build blended teams of community, national, and international volunteers, uniting diverse perspectives, and experiences to generate insight, innovation, and action that tackles the complex issues faced by our communities. This kindles the potential for active citizenship worldwide, encouraging people to step forward and lead the change that fosters a fair world for all.

3. Project background and contextual information

The ACTIVE Extension Project is a multi-country programme across 14 countries in Asia & Africa focused on strengthening the capacity of Civil Society Groups (CSGs) by fostering volunteering and civic engagement while simultaneously improving the accountability capacity and practice of duty bearers and service providers; making the system responsive to their collective needs through volunteering for development interventions.

ACTIVE supports CSGs to lead their own development pathways, engage in civic and policy spaces, and build inclusive systems that reflect community priorities. Empower them to foster inclusion, apply participatory practices, strengthen accountability, build resilience, adapt to risks, mobilise resources and secure fundings for sustain the development impacts.

Volunteering plays a role of collective catalyst—where volunteers accompany CSGs in building confidence, fostering peer learnings, and accessing tools and networks. Volunteers do not deliver services but contribute to locally led development by enabling CSGs to organise, collaborate, and advocate—always centring their voice, pace, and leadership.

Role purpose

To strengthen capacity of Civil Society Groups (CSGs) in leading their own organisational and operational development by co-developing inclusive tools, frameworks, and learning resources tailored to their diverse context in Kalangala, Uganda.

The volunteer will provide demand-driven technical support that strengthens strategic planning, inclusive governance, shared leadership, reflective practices and adaptive management. As part of the global volunteer network, this volunteer role acts as a resource person, provides targeted and flexible technical support to the selected in country CSGs, offering regular coaching and mentoring. This role works alongside the local partner and VSO team to tailor support to each CSG’s context, readiness, and common issues/priorities.

Safeguarding level

Level 1:

This post will have no direct contact/access to children and vulnerable adults; the post holder will be expected to have full commitment to always uphold VSO’s safeguarding policy.

4. Role outputs

• Co-develop tools, frameworks, and resources for CSGs to assess their organisational and operational capacity needs
• Support CSGs to develop their own internal capacity strengthening plans based on priorities they identify and co-create tailored learning resources that are inclusive, accessible, and adaptable to diverse CSG contexts.
• Provide tailored technical capacity strengthening initiatives and organisational development interventions, coaching and mentoring that are designed based on the specific needs and aspirations of the CSGs, ensuring they are demand-driven and context-specific to strengthen strategic planning, inclusive governance, shared leadership, reflective practices, and adaptive management.
• Co-facilitate community of practices, learning exchanges and joint reflection spaces between CSGs to strengthen organisational and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with the Partner and VSO teams to ensure coherent support to CSGs.

5. Experience and skills required for this volunteer placement

• Expertise in organisation design and organisation development / organisational and operational capacity strengthening, inclusive governance and leadership practices.
• Proven ability to strengthen capacity for CSGs, embed inclusive, accountable, resilient, participatory and sustainable practices.
• Experience facilitating participatory self-assessment processes, enabling CSGs to identify priorities and lead their own capacity strengthening plans.
• Skilled in co-designing and contextualising technical and learning resources, ensuring accessibility for grassroots groups with varied literacy, digital access, and inclusion needs.
• Digital and data literacy, including competence in integration of digital platform for organisational strengthening.
• Skilled in facilitation, coaching, and mentoring, with the ability to create safe, inclusive spaces where all voices—especially marginalised groups—are heard, valued, and empowered.
• Commitment to VSO’s Volunteering for Development approach, mission, values, safeguarding policies, Code of Conduct, and demonstrated VSO behavioural competencies.

• Co-develop tools, frameworks, and resources for CSGs to assess their organisational and operational capacity needs
• Support CSGs to develop their own internal capacity strengthening plans based on priorities they identify and co-create tailored learning resources that are inclusive, accessible, and adaptable to diverse CSG contexts.
• Provide tailored technical capacity strengthening initiatives and organisational development interventions, coaching and mentoring that are designed based on the specific needs and aspirations of the CSGs, ensuring they are demand-driven and context-specific to strengthen strategic planning, inclusive governance, shared leadership, reflective practices, and adaptive management.
• Co-facilitate community of practices, learning exchanges and joint reflection spaces between CSGs to strengthen organisational and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with the Partner and VSO teams to ensure coherent support to CSGs.

• Expertise in organisation design and organisation development / organisational and operational capacity strengthening, inclusive governance and leadership practices.
• Proven ability to strengthen capacity for CSGs, embed inclusive, accountable, resilient, participatory and sustainable practices.
• Experience facilitating participatory self-assessment processes, enabling CSGs to identify priorities and lead their own capacity strengthening plans.
• Skilled in co-designing and contextualising technical and learning resources, ensuring accessibility for grassroots groups with varied literacy, digital access, and inclusion needs.
• Digital and data literacy, including competence in integration of digital platform for organisational strengthening.
• Skilled in facilitation, coaching, and mentoring, with the ability to create safe, inclusive spaces where all voices—especially marginalised groups—are heard, valued, and empowered.
• Commitment to VSO’s Volunteering for Development approach, mission, values, safeguarding policies, Code of Conduct, and demonstrated VSO behavioural competencies.

• Expertise in organisation design and organisation development / organisational and operational capacity strengthening, inclusive governance and leadership practices.
• Proven ability to strengthen capacity for CSGs, embed inclusive, accountable, resilient, participatory and sustainable practices.
• Experience facilitating participatory self-assessment processes, enabling CSGs to identify priorities and lead their own capacity strengthening plans.
• Skilled in co-designing and contextualising technical and learning resources, ensuring accessibility for grassroots groups with varied literacy, digital access, and inclusion needs.
• Digital and data literacy, including competence in integration of digital platform for organisational strengthening.
• Skilled in facilitation, coaching, and mentoring, with the ability to create safe, inclusive spaces where all voices—especially marginalised groups—are heard, valued, and empowered.
• Commitment to VSO’s Volunteering for Development approach, mission, values, safeguarding policies, Code of Conduct, and demonstrated VSO behavioural competencies.