National Volunteer – Peacebuilding & DRR Advisor

Job Description

Duration
24 months

Role purpose
The National Volunteer – Peacebuilding & DRR Advisor supports the implementation of conflict-sensitive peacebuilding and disaster risk reduction interventions under the RECAP project. The role focuses on strengthening community-based peace mechanisms, enhancing preparedness for climate- and disaster-related shocks, and promoting peaceful coexistence and resilience in cross-border communities around Sololo, Kenya.

Deliverables
Strengthening community-based peace mechanisms, enhancing preparedness for climate- and disaster-related shocks, and promoting peaceful coexistence and resilience in cross-border communities Context Analysis Report; Integrated Work Plan; Stakeholder Map; Revised DRR/Contingency Plans with conflict-sensitive lens.

Background and contextual information
VSO is an international charity organization established in 1958. Through volunteerism, VSO aims to build a fairer world free from poverty by bringing people to work together to share skills, co-create, learn to fulfil their potential. VSO’s programming focuses on three practice areas namely Inclusive Education, Resilient Livelihoods, and Inclusive Health.

VSO uses its unique approach, volunteer for development (VfD) to work with marginalized communities. It builds on the people’s first principles, relational volunteering model and core approaches. Our relational volunteering model is centered around mobilizing and managing diverse communities of volunteers effectively across systems to support the most vulnerable and marginalized to achieve their rights and bring about lasting change, to create a fair world for everyone. VSO’s approach is rooted in addressing the fundamental causes of marginalization and vulnerability, our three core approaches – social inclusion and gender, social accountability, and resilience – guide our work in education, health, and livelihoods.

Resilient Borders: Advancing Climate Adaptation, Peace, Livelihoods, and Preparedness in Cross-Border Communities of Ethiopia and Kenya (RECAP) Project
RECAP is a three-year initiative targeting 21 locations across four districts, Miyo and Moyale in Ethiopia and Sololo and Moyale in Kenya. The RECAP project addresses interconnected challenges of climate change, conflict, fragile livelihoods, and disaster risks affecting cross-border communities of Ethiopia and Kenya. Moyale is a highly dynamic border area where competition over natural resources, climate shocks, and mobility intersect with long-standing conflict dynamics. Strengthening peacebuilding and disaster risk reduction (DRR) capacities at community level is critical for building sustainable resilience.

Role description
The National Volunteer – Peacebuilding & DRR Advisor supports the implementation of conflict-sensitive peacebuilding and disaster risk reduction interventions under the RECAP project. The role focuses on strengthening community-based peace mechanisms, enhancing preparedness for climate- and disaster-related shocks, and promoting peaceful coexistence and resilience in cross-border communities around Moyale and Sololo sub counties, Kenya.

The role includes:

Peacebuilding Support
• Support implementation of community-based peacebuilding activities, including dialogue forums, mediation initiatives, and confidence-building measures.
• Assist in strengthening local peace committees, traditional conflict resolution structures, and cross-border peace platforms.
• Support facilitation of inclusive peace dialogues involving elders, women, youth, and local authorities.
• Promote conflict-sensitive and do-no-harm approaches across all project activities.

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Preparedness
• Support community-based DRR initiatives, including risk assessments, preparedness planning, and early warning awareness.
• Assist communities to develop or strengthen contingency plans for climate- and disaster-related stocks such as drought and flooding.
• Promote integration of indigenous knowledge and scientific information in DRR planning.
• Support and design awareness campaigns, and community trainings on preparedness and response.

Integration with Climate Adaptation and Livelihoods
• Work with technical teams to ensure peacebuilding and DRR are integrated into climate adaptation and livelihood interventions.
• Support joint peace–livelihood or peace–resource management initiatives that reduce conflict over natural resources.
• Promote collaboration across sectors to address root causes of conflict and vulnerability.

Community Engagement and Capacity Building
• Conduct community sensitization and training on peacebuilding, social cohesion, and disaster preparedness.
• Support meaningful participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups in peace and DRR activities.
• Build trust and constructive relationships between communities and local institutions.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)
• Support monitoring of peacebuilding and DRR activities and results in collaboration with the MEL team.
• Assist in collecting qualitative and quantitative data, including conflict trends, community feedback, and outcome stories.
• Document lessons learned, best practices, and success stories from Moyale and surrounding communities.

Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement
• Support coordination with local government offices, disaster management authorities, security actors, and peace institutions.
• Participate in cross-border coordination meetings and joint learning events with Kenyan counterparts where applicable.
• Represent the project in local peace and DRR forums as delegated.

Volunteer Conduct, Safeguarding, and Ethics
• Adhere to organizational policies, safeguarding standards, and volunteer codes of conduct.
• Uphold confidentiality, neutrality, and ethical engagement in sensitive conflict contexts.
• Support identification and reporting of risks related to conflict, disasters, or safeguarding concerns.

Personal consideration
The National Volunteer – Peacebuilding & DRR Advisor should possess and demonstrate the combined skills sets and experience detailed below:

Qualification
A formal qualification or equivalent experience in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Economics, Development Studies, Rural Development, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.

Experience
• Relevant experience supporting DRR initiatives, including risk assessments, preparedness planning, and early warning awareness, livelihood, agriculture, or community development initiatives.
• Experience working with pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, or rural communities is an asset.
• Previous exposure to climate resilience, food security, or market-based approaches is an advantage.

Skills and Competencies
• Strong community mobilization and facilitation skills.
• Basic understanding of sustainable livelihoods and income-generating activities.
• Ability to collect field data and prepare simple reports.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness and ability to work in remote and cross-border settings.
• Basic computer skills (MS Word, Excel, email).

Language Requirements
• Fluency in English required.
• Skill and ability of local languages spoken in Moyale: Kiswahili, Afan Oromo spoken and local community custom in project areas: Moyale and Sololo, is highly desirable

Personal Attributes
• Strong motivation to contribute to community resilience and development.
• Cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• High level of integrity, accountability, and commitment.

Expected Learning Outcomes for the Volunteer
• Practical experience in livelihoods programming within fragile and cross-border contexts.
• Enhanced skills in community engagement, monitoring, and reporting.
• Exposure to integrated approaches linking climate adaptation, peacebuilding, and livelihoods.

Safeguarding level
VSO has zero tolerance of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people. We will expect all our employees/ volunteers to commit to protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults from harm and abide by our safeguarding policy

Level 2
This post will have direct access or contact with children either or will have responsibility for the day-to-day management of those with direct access to children. A criminal background check will be obtained for post holders at this level prior to their start date.

Deadline; 23 Feb 2026

About the Organization

VSO is an international development charity that works through volunteers. Our vision is a world without poverty in which people work together to fulfil their potential. We bring people together to share skills, creativity and learning to build a fairer world. VSO welcomes volunteers from an ever increasing range of countries, backgrounds and ages. National agencies in Canada, Kenya, the Netherlands and the Philippines recruit volunteers from many different countries worldwide and this international approach allows us to combine and learn from a rich variety of perspectives. Tackling Disadvantage at "Grass Roots" Level Ours is a very individual "people to people" approach to development. Instead of sending food or money, we send women and men from a wide range of professions who want the chance to make a real difference in the fight against poverty. These volunteers work in partnership with colleagues and communities to share skills and learning and jointly achieve change. But we have to be realistic in our expectations. We commit to long-term development goals and long-term partnerships and focus on sustainable development rather than the short-term relief of certain problems. VSO also works to address the structural inequalities and barriers that prevent people from exercising their rights. We use our experience and our supporter networks to work for changes in policy and practice - rich and poor countries - that reduce disadvantage. VSO is by far the largest independent volunteer-sending agency in the world. Since 1958, we have sent out more than 29,000 volunteers to work in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific region and, more latterly, Eastern Europe in response to requests from our overseas partners. At the moment we have around 1,500 people working in placements in these regions. Shared Partnerships, Shared Benefits You only have to talk to VSO volunteers to realise that they gain from their experience, personally or professionally, as much as they contribute. Many will enthuse how fascinating it was to explore a different culture at first hand. Others will point to the friendships they have made. But many will also tell you how their professional talents have been stretched, and how they have learnt new skills that will significantly enhance their career prospects on their return home. If ever it was true that "you get out what you put in", VSO is proof positive. This experience makes volunteers passionate in challenging misconceptions about developing countries. In the current climate, it is more urgent than ever that we work to achieve a global community where people of all cultures are seen as equal, learn from each other and share a common sense of rights and responsibilities as global citizens. VSO builds on this experience and passion to support a range of global education activity. To find out more about volunteering with or supporting VSO visit our website at www.vso.org.uk