Cuso International places skilled volunteers with partner organizations working on poverty, equity, economic resilience, education, climate action, and related development priorities. The scheme includes in-person international placements in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, placements in Northern Canada, and remote e-volunteering with overseas partners.
Applicants apply to a current vacancy or the general e-volunteering intake. Placement duties, location, language, start date, and exact length are set by each posting, while Cuso International manages screening, preparation, and volunteer support.
Benefits & funding
- Overseas volunteers receive a modest monthly living allowance aligned with local standards.
- Cuso International covers accommodation, round-trip airfare, visa or work-permit costs, health insurance, required vaccinations, and antimalarial medication for overseas placements.
- Support includes pre-placement, in-country, and reintegration training, ongoing local assistance, and access to an employee assistance program during and after placement.
- Support terms for e-volunteer and Canadian placements can differ, so applicants should check the selected vacancy.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.
- At least two years of relevant professional experience is required.
- A recognized qualification is required; the general e-volunteering intake specifies a degree or diploma.
- Applicants must meet the skills and language requirements of the selected placement.
- In-person candidates must be able to obtain medical clearance and meet the destination country’s entry and work-permit requirements.
- The general e-volunteering intake runs for three to six months with a flexible start date; the core volunteer page asks applicants to be available for six to 12 months, and individual postings state their own exact commitment.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Experience required
≥ 2 yrs
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Application process
- 1Review Cuso International’s current placements and select a role matching the applicant’s qualifications, experience, language skills, and availability.
- 2Complete the online application with a résumé, profile details, status declaration, earliest start date, and the posting’s requested statement of interest.
- 3If shortlisted, join a preliminary interview and complete any required language assessment.
- 4Provide two professional references and one personal reference, then participate in a panel interview.
- 5Await the country office and partner organization’s final approval.
- 6Complete the required police, medical, anti-terrorism, passport or permanent-resident, visa, and conduct checks applicable to the placement.
- 7Finish pre-placement preparation before beginning the in-person or remote assignment.
Program timeline
Rolling
Current vacancies and the general e-volunteering intake accept online applications without one scheme-wide deadline.
Within three to four weeks after submission
Cuso International aims to send an initial response.
After shortlisting
Preliminary interview, language assessment, reference checks, and panel interview.
After partner approval
Screening, medical clearance where applicable, travel or remote-work preparation, and training.
Placement-specific
Start and end dates follow the selected vacancy.