Head of Volunteer & Diaspora Engagement

Head of Volunteer & Diaspora Engagement

Organization

SAPA, Africa Regional Office

Reports to

Regional Director, Africa Regional Office

Location

Hybrid (online), with travel to SAPA country offices

Duration

One year contract

Status

Full-time Regional Office staff position

1. Background

SAPA is building a structured regional system to mobilize volunteers, diaspora professionals and institutional volunteer partners across its African operations. The Regional Volunteer & Diaspora Engagement Framework sets the model: the Regional Office connects, coordinates and supports; Country Offices own, decide and manage volunteers; Regional Networks connect expertise. The Head leads this function and delivers Workstream 4 of the Regional Office One-Year Roadmap: Connect → Mobilize → Support → Learn → Sustain.

1. Purpose of the Position

The Head designs, builds and coordinates the regional volunteer and diaspora system, and moves it from a mechanism designed by the Regional Office to routine operation. The Head works through influence, service and coordination, and holds no line authority over Country Offices.

1. Key Responsibilities
2. a) Regional system and strategy

• Develop the regional engagement plan and annual priorities from needs that Country Offices identify.
• Maintain the volunteer database, talent pool and network directory, with Country Office agreement on data use.
• Develop standard tools, templates and SOPs that Country Offices may adopt, and add them to the shared library.

1. b) Networks and Focal Points

• Establish the seven Regional Networks: Health & Medical, Emergency Response & Rapid Deployment, Diaspora & Professional Associations, Operations & Technical Support, Research & Innovation, Communications & Advocacy, and Youth & Student (all in place by February 2027).
• Recruit, orient and support voluntary Regional Network Coordinators.
• Provide technical guidance to Country Volunteer & Diaspora Focal Points, designated by Country Directors and in place by December 2026.

1. c) Matching and missions

• Match volunteer expertise to needs that Country Offices request, starting with light, remote contributions.
• Coordinate missions involving two or more Country Offices, only where the Country Director agrees and can supervise the volunteers.
• Log every request in the Regional Office support-request log, so it counts as evidence of Country Office demand.

1. d) Partnerships and representation

• Represent SAPA with diaspora organizations, professional associations, universities and volunteer networks.
• Bring diaspora, academic and professional partners into the Regional Office partnership pipeline, working with Partnerships and GBDU.
• Support other Regional Office workstreams on request, including advocacy products, the Health Policy Institute working group and the New Country Office Start-up Blueprint.

1. e) Learning and recognition

• Run mentorship, peer exchanges and network events, capture good practice for use across Country Offices, and apply a volunteer recognition approach.

1. f) Monitoring and reporting

• Send the Regional Director a short monthly update; prepare the Workstream 4 input to the quarterly Board report (December, March, June, September).
• Track the Framework's indicators and agree numeric targets with Country Offices in Phase 1.

1. Authority and Boundaries

• The Head decides the regional engagement plan, standards, tools and network set-up, with the Regional Director's approval.
• The Head does not direct Country Offices or manage volunteers day to day. Country Directors decide on Focal Points, mission requests and volunteer acceptance.
• Recruitment, screening, safeguarding, insurance, travel and deployment rules belong to the Operations Department's Volunteer Management Policy, with HQ Compliance for safeguarding and PSEA. No mission starts under this framework before that policy is in place (Gate 4, target Q1 2027).

1. Working Relationships

Relationship

Nature

Regional Director

Line manager; approves plans; leads the function until the Head is in post

Country Directors and Focal Points

Technical coordination; no line authority

Regional Network Coordinators

Voluntary; supported and guided by the Head

Operations Department and HQ Compliance

Owners of volunteer policy, safeguarding and PSEA

Partnerships, GBDU and other workstream leads

Joint work on pipeline, advocacy and learning

Diaspora, academic and professional partners

External relationships

1. Deliverables and Timeline

By

Deliverable

December 2026

Focal Points designated; three priority networks launched; first quarterly report

February 2027

All seven networks and Coordinators in place

March 2027

Database, directory and standard tools ready; Phase 1 targets agreed with Country Offices

Q1 2027

Volunteer Management Policy in place (Gate 4), a precondition to any mission

May 2027

Framework review

June 2027

First missions where Country Offices request them; mid-year checkpoint

September 2027

Portfolio review and handover to routine operation, as input to the Board's one-year review

1. Location and Travel

The position is based online. The Head may work from any location with reliable connectivity and suitable time-zone overlap with the Regional Director and Country Offices. The Head travels to Sudan, Chad, Uganda and other active SAPA offices, visiting each at least once per year, to meet Country Directors and Focal Points, understand local needs and support the volunteer units. Visits are planned in the annual workplan and budget and agreed with the Country Directors concerned.

1. Qualifications and Experience

• Master's degree in a relevant field (international development, public health, humanitarian affairs, management or similar), or equivalent experience.
• At least 7 years of experience in volunteer management, diaspora engagement, partnerships or network building, including 3 years in a senior coordination role.
• Experience in humanitarian, health or development settings in Africa; knowledge of the Sudan context is a strong advantage.
• Proven record of leading by influence across distributed teams without line authority.
• Strong partnership, representation and communication skills; fluent English and Arabic (French an asset).
• Competence with online collaboration tools, databases and reporting; understanding of safeguarding, PSEA and duty of care.
• To apply for the position, please use the following link: https://sapausa.bamboohr.com/careers/63?source=aWQ9MTg=&utm_source=chatgpt.com
• Application Deadline: November 10, 2025