Fundraising and Proposal Development Mentor

We’re looking for a Fundraising and Proposal Development Mentor who can volunteer remotely from home for 6 months. 

• This assignment seeks to build Waniati staff capacity to research and identify suitable local, national and international funding opportunities aligned with the organisation’s maternal and child health priorities.
• To be considered for this role, you’ll need bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in Business, International Development, Communications, Project Management, Non-Government Organisation Management, or a related field.
• As a volunteer, you will work remotely alongside the local counterpart to identify and research potential donors, grants and funding opportunities relevant to Waniati’s maternal and child health priorities.

About the partner organisation 

Waniati Development Association Inc. is a community-based non-government organisation operating in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. The organisation works with communities in both rural and urban areas, with a particular focus on supporting pregnant women, young mothers, girls and vulnerable families to access maternal and child health information and support.

Waniati aims to improve maternal and child health outcomes through community education, awareness and practical support. Its work includes promoting awareness of pregnancy and childbirth risks, encouraging access to professional health services, and supporting women who may face barriers to receiving timely care. The organisation operates a Maternity Waiting Home in Goroka, providing accommodation and basic support for disadvantaged expectant mothers while ensuring labour and delivery are referred to Goroka Provincial Hospital for professional medical care.

The volunteer will work alongside Waniati staff and a local counterpart to provide mentoring and practical training in funding research, proposal writing, developing funding concepts and proposals, and communicating with potential donor agencies. The assignment is not intended to replace local leadership, but to transfer knowledge and strengthen the organisation's existing capacity. As Waniati currently has limited financial resources and does not have donor-funded positions available to employ a specialist locally, volunteer support provides an opportunity to access relevant expertise that the organisation could not otherwise afford.

About the Australian Volunteers Program  

The Australian Volunteers Program is an Australian government-funded initiative. We support partner organisations across the Pacific, Asia, and Africa to achieve locally led change.  

Volunteers are supported throughout their volunteer journey. We actively support and encourage people of all backgrounds and abilities to volunteer and aim to make the program as accessible and inclusive as possible. If you have accessibility requirements, please contact us to discuss how we can support you to volunteer with us - [email protected]. Learn more about our commitment to inclusion.