International Seminar Coordinator | Ghana | Volunteer Internationally

Assignment Type: Canadian International Volunteer

Eligibility Requirements: Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada only

Assignment ID: VA-107367

Assignment Title: International Seminar Coordinator

Partner: WUSC Ghana

Country: Ghana

Duration: 6 to 8 months (flexible)

Time Commitment: Full time

Assignment Context

Are you passionate about improving education and economic opportunities for young people? Would you like to support the WUSC Volunteer Cooperation Program partner organizations in exploring how digital skills can be leveraged to enhance youth employment and entrepreneurship in Ghana? Do you have event-planning or project-management skills to share?

As the International Seminar Coordinator with WUSC Ghana in Accra, you will support the planning and implementation of activities for WUSC’s 2026 International Seminar taking place from July 18 to August 15, 2026, in Ghana.

Apply today to make an impact in Ghana's technology and digital sector, especially for young people!

Roles and Responsibilities

-Lead and participate in the International Seminar planning committee for Ghana (weekly Google Meet meetings with appropriate stakeholders)

-Oversee the International Seminar event logistics (travel, catering, accommodation, venues, etc.), ensuring that the highest standards are upheld, and follow a detailed work plan

-Liaise with the WUSC Ghana office to identify suppliers, establish contracts, and support the team to ensure financial payments

-Collaborate with the team to draft a detailed work plan with key tasks, responsibilities, and dates; identify internal collaborators needed to accomplish tasks prior to and during the event

-Coordinate and/or support internal and external communications (including social media and publicity related to the event) with key actors and partners in Ghana to raise the profile of the Seminar and recruit potential speakers/workshop facilitators

-In collaboration with the Seminar team, prepare the International Seminar program, including the opening and closing ceremonies and the participants' handbook

-In collaboration with the Senior Program Officer, Recruitment & Mobilization (Academic and Standard), draft the Seminar final report and other key reference documents as required by the Volunteer Cooperation Program

-Provide guidance to Seminar participants around managing expectations, intercultural communication, and conflict resolution.

-Participate in pre-assignment training

-Participate in at least 3 public engagement initiatives with Canadian audiences before, during, or within 6 months after the end of the assignment. Volunteers will be equipped with the tools, training, funds, and support to achieve these goals. Volunteers must also report on each of their public engagement activities through our Volunteer Information Portal. Virtual chats and individual check-ins can be booked with the Senior Public Engagement Officer throughout the course of their assignment and during the 6 months following its completion to seek guidance and support with their public engagement activities.

-Canadian volunteers are required to do at least one activity that contributes to meeting a fundraising target of $1,500. The minimum requirement is met by each volunteer using our Volunteer Information Portal to report having sent one message to their network about their volunteer assignment that includes the link to the WUSC Shared Impact Fund webpage. This message also counts as one of their three required public engagement activities. Volunteers will be supported with the tools, training, and resources to achieve the fundraising goal.

-Submit reports as required by the partner organization and by WUSC.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline
• Demonstrated experience in event planning and management
• Demonstrated experience in group-based facilitation for training and learning
• Excellent ability to formulate creative ideas, design event activities and scenarios, negotiate arrangements, and manage a successful event targeted at a specific audience
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, team leadership, customer service, organizational, and time management skills
• Flexibility, adaptability, excellent interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity
• Experience with group facilitation and trainings, including content development considered an asset
• Experience living and working internationally considered an asset
• Written and oral fluency in English

Project Description

Volunteering for development is one of the important ways in which WUSC pursues its mission. The IGNI+E project, funded by Global Affairs Canada, supports over 70 partner organizations to advance gender equality and the economic empowerment of 1.2 million youth around the world. IGNI+E harnesses the knowledge, capacity and expertise of skilled Canadians through volunteer assignments and public engagement activities to assist partners in improving their performance, advocating for gender equality, and implementing more sustainable, innovative and inclusive initiatives and services for poor and marginalised youth, particularly young women. Overseas, our volunteers collaborate with a wide variety of partners, including enterprise and social enterprise development incubators, skills training centres, women’s organizations, and youth groups. In Canada, WUSC works with institutions and individuals to identify, prepare, and support volunteers who travel overseas to support our partners. Our network in Canada also works with WUSC to raise awareness among Canadians to inspire greater action on global development issues. Our collective focus is on sustainable and inclusive changes to create a better world for youth.

Partner Description

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a Canadian non-profit organization with a mission to enhance education, economic opportunities, and empowerment for youth. WUSC works with a diverse network of volunteers, students, institutions, governments, and businesses. Together, WUSC and its networks foster youth-centered solutions to overcome inequality and exclusion, with a vision of a better world for all young people. Funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the IGNI+E project (Innovative Global Networks for Inclusion + Equality, pronounced ‘ignite’) will be implemented in at least 8 countries between 2020-27. By strengthening the performance of key stakeholders in the employment/self-employment ecosystem including service delivery organizations, employers, government bodies, civil society organizations, training institutions and women’s organizations, the IGNI+E project will improve the socio-economic well-being of poor and marginalized youth, particularly young women. In some countries, the project will also target youth and young women with compounding vulnerabilities, such as forcibly displaced youth, marginalized women and youth impacted by climate change. To support partners to generate inclusive and sustainable employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, 1 million Canadians will be engaged along a continuum of awareness to action on key global issues, with 50,000 Canadians undertaking an action to sustain IGNI+E’s development impact.

Support Package

• Support and guidance from the WUSC Volunteer Mobilization Team prior to departure and from the WUSC Country Team while on assignment
• Pre-departure training to learn about the volunteering for development program, gain practical skills for living and working in an intercultural context and network with other volunteers
• In-country orientation upon arrival in country of assignment
• Language training in country of assignment, where required
• Modest monthly living and accommodation allowance
• Airfare to and from the assignment country
• Visa/work permit
• Pre-departure medical exam
• Health insurance
• Vaccinations and antimalarial medication
• Criminal record verification
• Vacation leave entitlement
• Debriefing after completion of assignment
• An incredible opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to global development, enhance your professional skills and participate in an experience of a lifetime!