Civic Service Volunteer - Job Description
Volunteering in Humanitarian Aid Project
Job Title:
Reports to:
Location:
Civic Service Volunteer
Programme Officer
12 Parliament Street, Dublin 2
Comhlámh is the Irish Association of Volunteers and Development Workers. Our mission is to foster good
practice and critical engagement in volunteering and action for development. Comhlámh is committed to
being the leading independent voice and source of information on volunteering for development in Ireland,
and the coordinator and advocate for good practice in this area. We work to promote and support
volunteers and development workers to critically engage in volunteering and action for development, and
to create societal and attitudinal change on development issues.
Comhlámh is seeking to recruit a Civic Service Volunteer to support our participation in an exciting new
two-year, European consortium project focused on building the capacity of European volunteering and
development/humanitarian organisations. The aim is for these organisations to build their own, and each
others’, capacity and achieve certification for the European Union Aid Volunteer Initiative (EUAVI). The
project, which involves partners from nine EU countries, will share learning and best practice on
international volunteering and how this relates to humanitarianism.
The volunteer will be hosted in Comhlámh but contracted by La Guilde (France), who are leading the
consortium. S/he will be fully integrated into the Comhlámh office, with supervision and mentoring
provided primarily by Comhlámh: s/he will also benefit from being part of a wider network of volunteers
placed in all consortium partners. The ideal candidate will have an academic background in international
development or humanitarian action, with an interest in understanding / studying good practice in
volunteering. This is a 5-day a week role, for one year only.
The allowance provided is €613 per month: the terms and conditions for the role are governed by the
French government's Service Civique programme which includes the payment of social security
contributions into the French state system.
Candidates must be between 18 and 25 years of age and an EU national as per the conditions laid down by
the French government Service Civique programme.
Application Procedure:
Please apply with a covering letter (max one page) outlining your interest in the role and how you meet the
criteria and a CV to recruitment@comhlamh.org, entering Civic Service Volunteer in the subject line.
Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 2nd October at 17:00 GMT.
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Interviews will take place on Thursday, October 8th.
Given the large volume of applications expected, we regret that we will only be able to correspond with
shortlisted applicants.
Description: The Civic Service Volunteer will support the implementation of the Volunteering in
Humanitarian Aid (VolinHA) project which brings together partners from 9 European countries. Its aim is to
facilitate the exchange of good practice on humanitarian volunteering and improving volunteer sending
organisations’ standards and procedures in volunteer management in humanitarian aid contexts.
The volunteer will be part of a European group of Civic Service volunteers of different nationalities,
participating in the initiative in France, Italy, UK, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Hungary, Slovenia, and Latvia. This
project will work to create links between project partners, in an environment of intercultural and
multilingual exchange.
The Civic Service Volunteer will support and engage across all of Comhlámh's work relating to the
Comhlámh Code of Good Practice (COGP), including supporting partner meetings, the audit process for the
COGP, partner trainings etc. The volunteer will have the opportunity to learn about and input into all
aspects of Comhlámh’s work on developing and promoting good practice in international volunteering, to
compare standards in Ireland with those in other partner countries and with the requirements of the
EUAVI, and to contribute to the strengthening of volunteer management in humanitarian aid contexts.
Typical activities will include:
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Project Management
Overview and assessment of current volunteering procedures and processes used across
participating partners.
Evaluate strengths and weaknesses of the volunteering procedures and processes in relation to
European standards set out in the EU Aid Volunteers initiative and certification framework
Host other volunteers from the project, deployed in partner countries, who will visit Comhlámh to
compare procedures, and share best practice with them
Sharing information with partners
Help with the organisation, preparation and logistics of project events (eg, all-partner meetings)
Assistance with the production of a booklet on project findings
Communications
Help with the development of the civic service volunteers' network within the European partner
organisations of the project
Help with promotion and communications activities related to the project through Comhlámh's
online presence, including web and social media
Production of mini photo or video documentaries, conducting interviews and drafting articles, in
coordination with the project coordinator in Paris
The Civic Service volunteer will participate in a 4-day common training with other Civic Service Volunteers
in late October, organised by The European Guild in Paris. In addition, a reunion with the same volunteers
at the end of the mission is planned again in Paris, to share experiences and lessons learned.
The Civic Service Volunteer will carry out such alternative duties as may be assigned by the Line Manager,
following consultation, from time to time.
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Comhlámh has an Equal Opportunities policy and all employees are expected to develop an understanding
of and commitment to equal opportunities.
Personal Specification
Qualifications
Experience
Knowledge, Skills and
Disposition
 Qualification in international development,
humanitarian studies or related topic or
 Equivalent acquired learning
 An understanding of global development /
humanitarian issues and the role of international
volunteering
 Experience of working as a volunteer in Ireland /
Europe or volunteering in the Global South
 Experience of relationship building with a wide
range of stakeholders
 Experience of desk-based research and
documentation collation for analysis
 Experience of working as part of a team to
achieve joint targets
 Use of social media and photography / video
 Knowledge of development education and ability
to communicate development issues creatively;
 Good writing skills
 Strong empathy, interpersonal and
communication skills;
 Research skills
 Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a
team
 Flexibility in relation to working hours as some
evening and weekend work may be required
around Ireland.
Desirable
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