Fundraising and Communications Volunteer

6 month volunteer placement with benefits

Based in Gulu, Northern Uganda

African Revival is a UK-based registered charity focused on increasing the quality of education in Zambia, Uganda, and South Sudan. For our office in Uganda, we are now seeking a Fundraising and Communications Volunteers (FCV) with exceptional writing skills to support our expanding fundraising strategy in collaboration with our UK head office.

African Revival's work has three elements: school management, school environment, and school performance. Together these three areas form a holistic whole for enhancing the quality of education in the supported primary schools. Our aim is to work with the local communities and schools to develop a shared school development strategy for a period of 3-4 years. African Revival then supports the realisation of the strategy and assists the communities to develop their school into a centre of excellence. We are currently working with more than 45 schools with the aim of expanding our outreach through both local and international strategic partnerships over the next 5 years.

It is expected that within 3 years we will have an annual GBP budget of 2 million for our operations in Southern Zambia, Northern Uganda and South Sudan. The Fundraising and Communications Volunteer will be directly responsible for enabling the UK fundraising team to have the most up-to-date information for both existing and new projects, whilst also supporting in-country fundraising efforts.

The FCVs will also be responsible for writing up and submitting donor reports to the UK HQ to ensure compliance with donor requirements. Part of the report writing will entail mentoring of a local staff member on reporting and documentation. Documentation (photos and videos) can form part of the reporting whereby skills in photography and shooting and editing videos are desirable.

The role is currently temporary (set at 6 months) but it is envisioned that the position will become an integral part of the implementation of a cohesive and effective fundraising and communication strategy which may lead to an extension in the contract.

Start Date

We expect that the volunteers are able to take up their positions before end of March and preferably sooner. However, flexibility will be extended to exceptional candidates.

Hours of Work

Monday to Friday but flexibility is required. It is necessary that the Fundraising and Communications Officer is willing and able to spend occasional nights at project sites under very basic conditions.

Location; African Revival's offices in Gulu, but with extensive travel to projects in Northern Uganda.

Reporting: The Fundraising and Communications Officer will report to the in-country Programme Manager but will also liaise with the UK Executive Director.

Benefits: This is an unpaid position. However, African Revival will reimburse cost of flight and insurance for the FCV. Shared accommodation is also provided for at the African Revival house in Gulu

Job Specifications

1) Tasks and Responsibilities

• To be actively involved in the selection process of new schools including assisting to gather baseline data to African Revival's set Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation (MLE) plan.
• To work with local staff on monitoring and evaluation (collection and analysis of data as well as presentation of the data as narratives)
• To formulate project concept notes in liaison with the Programmes Manager and Country Director for UK Board approval.
• To provide input into the UK fundraising strategy and provide regular updates to the UK fundraising sub-committee under the Board of Trustees.
• To submit proposals to relevant UK Trusts and Foundations in conjunction with the UK fundraising team using AR's fundraising matrix.
• To support the UK office with information tailored towards social media like facebook, twitter, worldeka, website etc.
• To produce short videos for youtube and our website.
• To submit mid-term and end reports of projects to set deadlines. Part of this would be mentoring the M&E officer in Uganda on report writing.
• To liaise with local authorities and other agencies to ensure co-ordination of fundraising activities and avoid duplication, representing African Revival at external meetings as necessary.
• Any other duties as assigned by the Line Manager

2) Skills & Experience

Essential

• A relevant degree (English, Marketing, Media and Communications, Journalism)
• Exceptional writing skills and an understanding of writing for varied audiences
• Demonstrated ability to gather data and turn these into compelling narratives
• Comfortable working to targets and deadlines
• Willingness to live and work with a small multicultural team in a rural location
• Experience of living and working in a developing country
• Fluency in spoken and written English
• Strong team player with excellent interpersonal skills
• Hardworking and conscientious
• Outgoing and enthusiastic
• Dedicated to raising the standard of education in Africa

Desirable

• Successful track record of fundraising from trusts and foundations
• Experience of primary education systems within Southern Africa
• Experience in website design, video editing and production for marketing purposes
• Knowledge of photoshop and Indesign