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A. No. The purpose of the Volunteer Technical Assistance Program is to support Winrock’s global initiatives to empower the poor and disadvantaged, increase economic opportunities and food security, and sustain natural resources. To achieve this mission, volunteers provide expertise in a wide variety of areas, including:
- • Technical areas: agribusiness, enterprise development, marketing, international trade, food processing, credit and financing, farming, agricultural sciences, nutrition, livestock development, natural resource management, governance, community mobilization/community development, renewable energy, gender, and information communications technologies.
- • General capacity building: business planning, organizational development, management, finance and administration, human resource development, and fundraising.
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A. . You must be willing to donate your time and expertise. Most of Winrock’s volunteer programs are funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), but we do not have funding to pay any consultancy fees for volunteers. As a Winrock volunteer, you will be representing both Winrock and the United States. Therefore, you must be flexible, patient, willing to learn about other countries, and respectful of others.
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A. Our programs provide for round-trip economy airfare, en route expenses (including the costs of passports, visas, and required immunizations), and a per diem to cover housing, meals and incidental expenses. A travel advance will be provided via a wire transfer to your bank account about one week prior to your departure. Winrock also provides volunteers with a pre-departure orientation and briefing materials and in-country support from Winrock staff.
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A. Winrock sends volunteers to a variety of developing countries worldwide. Country selection varies over time, according to project locations and needs. Click here for a list of current volunteer opportunities by country.
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A. Certainly that can be beneficial, but it is usually not required. Most hosts speak English or have someone available who s peaks English; if not, an interpreter is provided.
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A. Volunteer assignments typically last two to three weeks, including travel time. A small number of assignments are longer than this.
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A. That depends on the country you are in and the practice of your host. Most hosts and volunteers work together six days per week, with one day off.
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A. Winrock volunteers use their vacation or their employer will often give them time off to complete a career-enhancing volunteer assignment. Many of our volunteers are retired as well.
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A. That's hard to say. Winrock's volunteer assignments are demand-driven. Local firms and organizations request assistance, and then we choose the expert most appropriate to fill the host's needs from our roster of more than 3,000 experts.
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A. We do not have funding to pay travel expenses for a spouse or other family member. In a very few cases, we have been able to match a spouse to another volunteer assignment during the same time period. If you would like to schedule a vacation following your assignment, we encourage family and friends to meet you after you have completed your volunteer assignment. This is because, based upon the host's needs, activity schedules may change during your assignment, and this is difficult to coordinate with people who are not participating in the assignment.
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A. While on assignment you will be enrolled with Chartis Travel Guard, a Travel Assistance Program which gives you direct access to prompt assistance in the event of a medical emergency while traveling abroad. You will receive a brochure detailing the benefits and services, as well as an ID card. Winrock International also provides insurance coverage for accidental death and dismemberment up to a maximum amount of $50,000. Please note that Winrock International provides only limited Accident and Sickness Medical Benefits that are in excess of all other valid and collectible insurance indemnity. Pre-existing conditions are not covered. This insurance coverage is effective while traveling outside your country of permanent residence while on the business of Winrock International.
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A. No. We contract with one travel agency for all volunteer assignments to ensure that we meet our donor regulations and obtain the best value for the program as a whole. This is because our donor regulations require the use of the most direct routings and the use of American carriers to the final destination or as close to the final destination as possible.
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A. This is possible as long as it does not increase the airfare. If there is a fare increase, you pay the difference in price to take advantage of these options. You will need to cover all of your expenses during this time.
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A. We ask that you schedule any personal vacation following completion of your assignment. Although the program is not a travel agency, we will provide a minimal amount of assistance in identifying alternate return flights, so that you may take personal time following the assignment.
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A. This is sometimes possible and is left to the discretion of the program's field staff and hosts. However, we encourage you to remember that the purpose of your trip is to assist the host, who needs your skills.
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A. This varies from country to country and depending upon whether you are based in an urban or rural region. In urban regions, volunteers are typically housed in moderate quality hotels, guesthouses, or apartments that the program leases. In rural regions, you may be asked to stay with the host, or in more rustic settings. Lodging information is provided in the scope of work for each assignment.
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A. Most assignments are funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. Based upon ability to pay, each host is asked to contribute support such as the volunteer's in-country transportation, translators, lodging and/or meals.
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