Volunteer Role Overview – Youth Engagement and Social Inclusion

Working at VSO

VSO is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes volunteering as a powerful and practical way to tackle poverty and inequality. Our purpose is to create lasting change through volunteering.

At VSO, we believe that sustainable development is achieved not by delivering aid, but by working alongside volunteers and partners to empower people in some of the world’s poorest and most fragile regions. We recognize that people in developing countries have the desire, courage, and determination to shape their own futures.

Through our Volunteering for Development (VfD) approach, VSO places the most marginalised people first. Grounded in evidence and learning, this approach builds active citizenship, supports community-led change, and delivers sustainable development outcomes that continue long after projects or funding cycles end.

Role Overview

The Volunteer will provide strategic guidance and technical support on youth engagement, community and stakeholder participation, social inclusion, and gender equality to a cluster of Civil Society Groups (CSGs) and networks across Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Geita, and Mara.

By strengthening the capacity of CSGs, the role aims to ensure meaningful participation of young people, women, and marginalized groups in leadership, advocacy, and decision-making processes. The position supports locally led development by embedding inclusive, participatory approaches within partner organisations.

Key Objectives

  • Strengthen Civil Society Groups’ capacity to engage youth and marginalized communities effectively.
  • Promote inclusive leadership, advocacy, and decision-making within community structures.
  • Support the integration of gender equality and social inclusion principles into CSG strategies and activities.
  • Foster collaborative partnerships between community stakeholders and civil society networks.

Ideal Applicant Profile

The ideal applicant will demonstrate:

  • Proven experience in youth engagement, gender equality, and social inclusion initiatives.
  • Strong skills in community mobilization and stakeholder engagement.
  • Ability to provide technical guidance, mentorship, and capacity-building support to Civil Society Groups.
  • Experience applying participatory and locally led development approaches.
  • High levels of adaptability, collaboration, and cultural sensitivity.

Equal Opportunities

VSO is committed to promoting equal opportunities and values a diverse workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates, including those from underrepresented and marginalized backgrounds.

VSO reserves the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications is received.

Allowance and Accommodation

  • All volunteers receive an allowance paid in local currency, intended to meet reasonable living expenses within the country of placement. The allowance is not designed to support remittances or savings.
  • Accommodation provided by VSO is simple but comfortable, reflecting the communities in which we work.

Recruitment Disclaimer

VSO is committed to a fair, transparent, and merit-based recruitment process. VSO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing, or other fees at any stage of recruitment.

Any request for payment made in VSO’s name is fraudulent and should be disregarded. Suspicious communications should be reported to recruitment@vsoint.org.

About VSO

VSO is the world’s leading development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty and exclusion. By bringing people together to share skills, experience, and ideas, VSO delivers practical, sustainable solutions that help millions of people improve their lives and livelihoods.

See: Why it is Important to always Update your CV to Match the Job Description.