Volunteering in Samoa - NGO Development

I am heading off to Samoa on a 6 month unpaid, volunteer assignment with Volunteer Services Abroad. The role is 90% funded by MFAT (Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade) but we need to fundraise to make up the shortfall.

I will be predominantly working with the Samoa Conservation Society (Sosaiete Faasao o Samoa). SCS is a local non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting the conservation of Samoa’s biological diversity and natural heritage. They work collaboratively with communities, the Government and partners to raise awareness on the state of Samoa’s environment and the species within. They also work with schools and youth groups to educate them on the natural heritage that Samoa has been blessed with, and actions that can help in species and habitat recovery.

SCS receives grants from several multinational organisations and foreign governments to carry out multiple conservation and education projects in Samoa. I will be working with them to strengthen their financial processes, project management, and organisational management. The overall objective of the assignment is to provide long term financial growth plans to see SCS sustainably grow in the future through a focus on capability building within the organisation.