Vacancy: Business Development Advisor (VA-105707)

Company Profile

WUSC (World University Service of Canada) is a Canadian non-profit organization working to create a better world for all young people. We bring together a diverse network of students, volunteers, schools, governments, and businesses who share this vision. Together, we develop solutions in education, economic opportunities, and empowerment to overcome inequality and exclusion for youth around the world, particularly young women and young refugees. WUSC currently works in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $40 million. We have over 90 staff in our Ottawa office, and over 200 people overseas implementing 16 development projects in collaboration with donors such as Global Affairs Canada, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the African Development Bank.

Job Description

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 marginalized youth, particularly young women. Overseas, our volunteers collaborate with a wide variety of partners, including enterprise and social enterprise development incubators, skills training centers, 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

To help graduates become more employable, Africa Business Centre for Developing Education (ABCDE), a Pan-African organization, is helping youth prepare for the world of work through mentorship, internships and scholarships. Mentorship programs enable students to make informed decisions regarding their career and academic success through engagement with large groups of students, medium-sized groups specializing in a field of interest or one-on-one mentorships on a longer-term basis. Internships provide students and young graduates with opportunities to gain practical knowledge and bridge the gap between educational systems and the world of work. These services expose young people to a broad range of work-readiness skills such as computer literacy, basic comportment, world outlook, written and spoken English, numeracy, punctuality, attention to details, client responsiveness, productivity, time management, exposure to modern culture, and general attitude to work. These services introduce students to negotiating skills, personal development skills, ICT skills, time management skills, decision-making skills, numeracy and literacy skills, positive work ethics, confidence, leadership interpersonal skills and teamwork etc. 

• Assignment ID: VA-105707


• Assignment Title: Business Development Advisor


• Partner: Africa Business Centre for Developing Education (ABCDE)


• Country: Ghana


• Duration: 9-10 months


• Time Commitment: 35 hours

Assignment Context

Are you passionate about gender equality and social inclusion? Do you have gender equality skills to share?

As the Business Development Advisor with the Africa Business Center for Developing Education in Ghana, you will develop new partnerships and avenues to support the tertiary education needs of brilliant but disadvantaged students, as well as opening new internships and job prospects for young graduates. 

Apply today to have an impact in Ghana’s youth employment drive! 

Roles and Responsibilities

• Support the organization to develop a business strategy for engagement with existing and potential partners, schools and universities


• Provide administrative support to partner clients, students. corporate and donors


• Conduct research into potential and existing organizations interested in tertiary education and employment opportunities for young graduates


• Develop a donor mapping and fundraising strategy for the partner


• Use an intersectional lens to ensure the inclusion and participation of young women and other marginalized youth, as well as their representation, in all activities related to business development strategies


• Ensure that a gender equality lens is consistently applied in the execution of all activities


• Support the inclusion of environmental sustainability climate action principles into the program design and engage stakeholders


• Participate in pre-assignment training


• Participate in at least 3 public engagement initiatives before, during, or after the assignment. Volunteers will be equipped with the tools, training, and support to achieve these goals. Volunteers will also have one virtual check-in with the Public Engagement Officer throughout the course of their assignment


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

Required Skills or Experience

• Degree and/or training in business administration/social science or a related field


• Previous experience in business development strategy formulation


• A commitment to gender equality, youth inclusion, and volunteering


• Flexibility, adaptability, excellent interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity


• Experience with group facilitation and trainings, including content development considered an asset


• Written and oral fluency in English.