Ecotourism Advisor

Assignment Type:

Canadian International Volunteer

Eligibility Requirements:

Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada only

Assignment ID:

VA-106259

Assignment Title:

Ecotourism Advisor

Partner:

Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC

Country:

Sri Lanka

Duration:

6 to 12 months (flexible)

Time Commitment:

Full-time

Assignment Context

Would you like to contribute to developing Sri Lanka’s ecotourism industry? Do you have ecotourism experience to share? If so, then this is the role for you!

As the Ecotourism Advisor with the Talawakelle Tea Estates in Colombo, Sri Lanka, you will promote the beautiful tea gardens as an ecotourist destination.

Apply to this role and support the development of ecotourism in Sri Lanka!

Roles and Responsibilities

• Conduct an assessment to understand the Talawakelle Tea Estates’ environmental policy and strategy and give recommendations to create an environmentally friendly plantation 
• Collaborate to develop an environmentally friendly tourism strategy to promote greener programming and mitigate the plantations environmental footprint
• Support in identifying eco-friendly job and entrepreneurship opportunities for the young community of women and men living in and around the tea plantations 
• Ensure that a gender equality lens is consistently applied in the execution of all activities
• Work with the partner to not only mitigate environmental risk, but also identify opportunities to engage in greener programming
• 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
• Set up a personalized volunteer fundraising page on the WUSC fundraising platform and share it in your networks. Volunteers will be supported with the tools, training and support to achieve the fundraising goal
• Submit reports as required by the partner organization and by WUSC.

Experience and Qualifications

• Degree and/or training in environmental studies, tourism or any other relevant field
• Experience working in ecotourism 
• Experience in conducting environmental sustainability assessments for non-profits or companies
• Minimum two (2) years relevant professional experience in your field of expertise
• A commitment to gender equality, youth inclusion, and international volunteering
• 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

Talawakelle Tea Estate PLC (TTEPLC) is a subsidiary of Hayleys, that produces and markets teas, while aiming to drive sustainable growth by contributing to the conservation of the environment. Learning and development is a vital component of the company’s human capital development agenda. The dynamic environment in which the company operates requires that it proactively anticipates future competencies in order to sustain the HR strategy. Therefore, it is essential to harness the potential of the organization’s people by training and developing their skills to better manage challenges and boost operations. To determine optimum levels of productivity and optimize the use of resources, TTEPLC regularly reviews the competencies of the workforce in an effort to improve the alignment of employee skills with strategic requirements and to build a culture of exceptional performance.

Support Package

• Support and guidance from the WUSC Volunteer Mobilization Team prior to departure and from 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
• COVID-19 PCR testing
• 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!

WUSC’s Safeguarding Policy

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion and sexual exploitation and abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to sign off on the WUSC Code of Conduct and the Self-Disclosure Form. International and national volunteers will also be required to submit a criminal record verification.

WUSC is a signatory to the Cooperation Canada Leaders’ Pledge on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Misconduct. The pledge represents the shared commitment as Canada’s global development and humanitarian leaders to ensure the full implementation of practices and policies that will protect and respond to our own staff, volunteers and the communities we serve. We are committed to creating safe and respectful workplaces and programs that promote gender equality and are free from gender-based violence, including by addressing and responding to all abuse of power, holding people to account, and protecting the vulnerable. Read the full pledge.