Project managers

People suffering from mental health problems are one of the most disadvantaged groups in Sri Lanka, with fierce social stigma and a lack of services leaving them excluded. Since the 2004 tsunami, the imperative to offer good quality, accessible mental healthcare has grown, and developing mental health services has become a national priority.

VSO has been working in partnership with Basic Needs in Sri Lanka since 2002 to develop horticulture as a therapeutic tool in rehabilitation of patients in residence at the Angoda Mental Hospital. As a project manager with the organisation you’ll help them manage this, and other community rehabilitation programmes more effective by training staff in project management and strengthening the organisational management systems of the organisation.

What does the role involve?

• Assessing existing organisational management systems, and skills of staff and identifying training needs based an your assessment
• Providing training to staff to strengthen their project and programme management skills
• Working with management to develop a clear strategy for continuous staff development and training
• Developing and introducing appropriate project management systems and best practice concepts such as transparency and accountability

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll need a degree level qualification as well as three years’ experience in developing organisations and people. Experience in strategic planning and writing project proposals is essential. You’ll need good communication, leadership and team-building skills, as a large part of your time will be spent working with local staff on improving their skills and the management of their organisation. Patience, flexibility and a good sense of humour are important qualities in all our volunteers, as these will help you to integrate into your new community.

And the rest...

You’ll be based in Rajagiriya, a residential suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital city. The area has a thriving commercial hub, where you’ll have access to all essential facilities, such as banks, shops and transport links.

We’ll ask you to commit to 12-24 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our financial package includes a living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.

The Da Nang Street Children Programme (DSCP) helps around 360 displaced and street children. It provides them with clothing, housing, education, health care and employment skills. Its managers are charismatic and committed, but desperately over worked. Staff members are enthusiastic and experienced, but there’s little opportunity for staff development and wages are very low.

DSCP is keen to increase its financial independence in order to expand its activities, and to provide more funding for core costs, such as staff development. DSCP needs guidance in planning how to undertake such activities and help in producing a strategic plan which would allow it to approach different donors. As a volunteer with DSCP you’ll share your management skills and assess, advise and facilitate both your colleagues’ and the organisation’s development.

What does the role involve?

• Training colleagues in project management
• Supporting colleagues in proposal writing
• Implementing monitoring and evaluation processes
• Supporting the development of a strategic plan
• Arranging the provision of trainers

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll have a degree and ideally a further qualification in organisational development or management, as well as a minimum of five years’ experience in developing people, projects and performance systems. You’ll need excellent communication and inter-personal skills and you’ll be sensitive to the local culture and ways of working. You’ll be working in fairly basic conditions so you’ll need an innovative and creative approach. Patience, flexibility and a good sense of humour are important traits in all VSO volunteers.

And the rest...

Vietnam is a long, thin country in South East Asia, bordering Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. The country has a beautiful coastline that stretches over 3,000 km along the South China Sea while the interior has brilliant green rice paddies and impressive mountains, some covered in dense, misty forest. You’ll be based in Da Nang, a major port city on the south coast of the country. Vietnamese cuisine is quite similar to Thai food - curries, soups and noodle dishes, with soy sauce, lemongrass and often lots of chillies!