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UNRWA is hiring

UNRWA logo featuring the United Nations emblem and a world map in blue.

Good morning, all.

I noticed this post on LinkedIn and thought I would share it with colleagues. It is an extremely important and challenging role. Are you up for it? Have a look below.

UNRWA is recruiting!! Senior Consultant for Modernizing UNRWA’s Project Management System
https://lnkd.in/e8sxPESD
UNRWA is seeking an experienced senior professional to help shape the future of how we plan, manage, and monitor projects across the Agency.
This is a unique opportunity to lead a high-impact assignment focused on assessing our current project management systems, bench-marking best practices across the UN, and developing a strategic business case and roadmap for a modern, integrated digital solution that strengthens results-based management and decision-making.
We are looking for candidates with strong experience in project/programme management, business process analysis, and system implementation in large organizations, ideally within the UN or international development sector. Experience with ERP environments (especially SAP), results-based management, and digital transformation initiatives is highly desirable

I worked with UNRWA some years ago and enjoyed my time with them.

Good luck if you apply.

Cuso International Volunteer Placements

3-6 months (April Start)

See below for some new international postings from CUSO International and background on the organization itself.

I worked for CUSO years back as a teacher in Nigeria and some time later as a Field Officer in Ghana where we had about 70 volunteers in total. If interested, you can read about my experiences there in the first part of my memoir – Overseas Adventures – From Afghanistan to Zambia and Points in-Between.

Logo of Cuso International featuring the word 'Cuso' in blue and 'International' in black, accompanied by a colorful design element.

Cuso International (Cuso) is an international cooperation and development organization based in Canada that works to create social and economic opportunities for equity-deserving groups. Building on over sixty years of impactful work, we address global challenges by tackling the root causes of inequality. Working alongside our partners, we are focused on efforts to improve economic resilience, advance equity and inclusion for all, and deliver progress on climate action. We believe that by sharing skills, we can build better futures. Guided by our values of courage, inclusion, sustainability and accountability, Cuso combines innovative strategies and enduring partnerships to create lasting, meaningful change in communities across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. 

Cuso International provides a comprehensive support package to ensure volunteers maintain a modest and healthy lifestyle aligned with local standards. This includes: 

  • Monthly living allowance 
  • Accommodation 
  • Health insurance (including required vaccinations and antimalarial medication) 
  • Round-trip airfare and visa/work permit costs 
  • Pre-placement, in-country and reintegration training (along with access to self-directed materials and online resources) 
  • Ongoing local support 
  • Access to the Employee Assistance Program during and after placement 

Current placements: 

English fluency required

Spanish fluency required

French fluency required

View all online and international placements

R U Canadian and Looking for International Work Experience?

Promotional image for the International Youth Internship Program, highlighting application dates and offering opportunities for international internships for youth ages 18-30.

To learn more check here:

https://www.acic-caci.org/internships?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=2026-02-06&utm_campaign=ACIC+Connect+-+January+26

ACIC, of course, stands for Atlantic Council for International Cooperation. You can read about some of the cool work they do by visiting their website.

Atlantic Council for International Cooperation | ACIC-CACI | Leaders of tomorrow partner with leaders of today for more just, equitable and sustainable communities.

Kindly share above information with your network.

Good luck if you do apply.

Small Businesses and Generative AI in India

I worked several times in India, first with an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) project based in Jabalpur, and then later with a CIDA funded project working with Polytechnics in Southern India. It is an amazing country, with amazing people and amazing food. I even got to ride on an elephant! In this context, and my interest in international development, I was excited to see the article referenced here published by ICTworks. In my view, Wayan Vota has hit a home-run with this story (or in the context of India, it might be better to say has hit a six).

https://www.ictworks.org/india-small-business-revolution

The article focuses on how many persons in India are applying Generative AI to help them set up new businesses or improve existing ones.

Among the statistics Wayan quotes from recent LinkedIn research are these amazing facts.

  • 82% of Indian small business founders say starting a business is easier with AI.
  • 83% of business leaders in India say it’s key to growing their business
  • 97% of small businesses in India are already using AI in some form

We didn’t have even basic AI when I worked in India at the start of the New Millennium, but at least I can say our telecom project at the time assisted India to enhance its telecommunications. A small but important contribution.

You can read about my assignment in India and others in South Asia in my book.

Overseas Adventures – North Star Skills for Development

Enjoy both.

International Development Jobs at UNHCR

I never had the opportunity of working directly with the UNHCR but many of my assignments in challenging environments such as Gaza, Timor-Leste and Afghanistan certainly aligned with their work of assisting refugees. See their recent list of postings including the one highlighted here:

https://unhcr.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/details/Individual-Consultancy-on-Accelerating-the-Transition-of-Refugee-Education-Systems-into-National-Frameworks_JR2663101

The highlighted assignment “Individual Consultancy on Accelerating the Transition of Refugee Education Systems into National Frameworks” starts soon and will run periodically for the duration of 2026. The assignment is home- based but with three short country visits. The deadline for applications is January 29, 2026. If you are an educational planning expert this is your opportunity to make a significant difference in refugee education enhancement worldwide.

To find out more about the UNHCR, check their website.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency | UNHCR

Good luck.

News from the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC)

International Youth Internship Program (IYIP)

I am pleased to share this notice from ACIC about their internship program for Canadian youth 18-30. Reading the success stories shared by previous interns brings back fond memories of my time as a CUSO volunteer in West Africa many moons ago, and of the wonderful work done by Australian volunteers on our ILO project in Bangladesh, and of UN volunteers on our UNESCO project in Malawi.

Our International Youth Interns have officially wrapped up their placements and recently came together in Ontario for re-integration training. Over the past months, interns based in Fiji, Guatemala, Vietnam, Indonesia, Ghana, Tanzania, Grenada, Gambia, and virtually from Canada have been learning, building skills, and contributing to meaningful work with partner organizations.

We’re incredibly proud of everything this cohort has accomplished and the care, curiosity, and commitment they brought to their placements. Congratulations to all of our interns on finishing their placements, we’re excited to see what they do next as they head home for the holidays.

Applications for Cohort 4 of the IYIP program will open on February 1, 2026. Visit our website here for more information.

I hope you find time to check out ACIC and their international internship opportunities.

Setbacks and soulmates: a disabled look back on 2025

I commend to you today information on a wonderful, regular on-line publication called Disability Debrief. It is developed and published by my friend and former colleague, Peter Fremlin, who is currently based in the United Kingdom.

A smiling person wearing a Christmas hat and a cozy sweater is sitting at a desk with a laptop and various items in the background.

The first link shared brings you to his reflections on 2025 though a disability advocate lens.

https://www.disabilitydebrief.org/debrief/onwards-into-the-unknown

This second link encourages you to sign up to Disability Debrief, and make a contribution to its continued publication in 2026.

https://www.disabilitydebrief.org/debrief/help-us-tell-disabled-stories

May I wish Peter, the special contributors and readers of Disability Debrief a joyous festive Season and a wonderful 2026.

Lessons in ICT4DEV

Our friends at ICTworks have again published an engaging story about ICT in development; this time about how not to implement a One Child One Computer initiative. The OCOC initiative studied was in Peru and ran for 10 years. As reported by Wayan Vota at ICTworks, “This groundbreaking new research following 531 schools over a decade reveals that the One Laptop Per Child program failed to improve academic achievement, cognitive skills, or educational trajectories.” The reason according to W. Vota was the program did not sufficiently engage teachers in the adoption and application of the technology.

When I studied educational technology at Concordia University, in the mid-70s, the only computers were mainframes, and the technology used by teachers was mostly just overhead and slide projectors or audio tapes for teaching languages. The technologies were all used to help teachers gain student attention, present and clarify information, and generally promote learning.

There are several quotable quotes in Wayan’s article. The one I like best is “computers don’t teach, teachers do”.

You can find Wayan’s full article here.

https://www.ictworks.org/olpc-predictable-failure

I agree with the recommendations that Vota makes on how to introduce technology into school systems.

  1. Start with teachers, not hardware. Invest at least as much in teacher training and ongoing support as in devices. Teachers need to understand not just how to operate technology but how to integrate it pedagogically.
  2. Align technology with existing curricula and pedagogical practices. Don’t expect teachers to revolutionize their teaching to accommodate new tools. Instead, show them how technology can enhance what they’re already doing well.
  3. Provide comprehensive support systems. This includes technical support, pedagogical coaching, and peer learning networks. Teachers need multiple channels for getting help when technology inevitably fails or confuses them.
  4. Measure implementation, not just outcomes. Track whether teachers are actually using technology in meaningful ways before expecting student achievement gains. The Peru study’s finding that teachers had minimal laptop skills despite reporting training highlights this critical gap.
  5. Acknowledge that sustainable change takes time. The Peru study followed implementation for 10 years and found no improvement—partly because the program never achieved meaningful classroom integration. Successful technology initiatives require years of sustained support and refinement.

Great advice. Let’s hope it is followed in any future OCOC initiatives.

Sample CUSO International 2026 Volunteer Assignments in The Caribbean and Africa

I am sharing the email announcement from CUSO International about some upcoming 5-Month volunteer assignments (for both French and English language speakers). See the jobs listed below. Note that there are other jobs listed at the bottom link.

CUSO has a warm spot in my heart having been a CUSO teacher volunteer for two years in Nigeria, and two years later being a Field Staff Officer co-managing the 80 volunteers working in Ghana as well as small projects.

You can see Chapters 1 and 2 in my book “Overseas Adventures…” to learn more about my experiences there.

Cover of the book 'Overseas Adventures' by Arthur E. Shears, featuring a beach and ocean view with the title prominently displayed.
We’re excited to share our latest international volunteering opportunities for 2026!   Did you know that the United Nations has declared 2026 the Year of the Volunteer? There’s no better time to make a meaningful impact abroad and be part of a global movement celebrating service and solidarity.  These placements are designed for Canadian citizens and permanent residents seeking to make a meaningful impact abroad for a duration of 5 months. Whether you’re interested in volunteering internationally or know someone who might be, we invite you to explore our placements and find a role that suits your skills and interests. Alternatively, you can share these opportunities with your network if you think someone would be a good fit. Your contribution can truly impact communities around the world.  As the holiday season approaches, we want to wish you and your loved ones joy, peace, and good health. Thank you for being part of our community and for supporting global change.
Volunteer Placements English fluency requiredCommunications/Advocacy Officer – Kingston, Jamaica Monitoring & Evaluation Officer – Kingston, Jamaica Research Officer – Kingston, Jamaica Gender Advisor – Roseau, Dominica Organizational Development Advisor – Georgetown, Guyana Marketing and Communication Advisor – Iringa, Tanzania Finance Advisor – Iringa, Tanzania Project Management Advisor – Mekele, Ethiopia Partnership and Collaboration Officer – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Labour Market Analyst – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Resource Mobilization Advisor – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Communications and Visibility Advisor (E-Volunteer) – Partner location: Ethiopia Graphics Designer and Content Developer (E-Volunteer) – Partner location: Ethiopia French fluency requiredConseiller(ère) en Marketing Digital – Yaoundé, Cameroun Conseiller(ère) en technologies de l’information – Yaoundé, Cameroun Conseiller(ère) en communication, marketing et media – Kinshasa, République démocratique du Congo Conseiller(ère) en Suivi et Évaluation de Projets – Porto-Novo, Bénin Conseiller(ère) en Plaidoyer – Yaoundé, Cameroun Conseiller(ère) en Mobilisation des Ressources– Yaoundé, Cameroun Conseiller(ère) en affaires – Yaoundé, Cameroun  Conseiller(ère) en égalité des genres et inclusion – Yaoundé, Cameroun Conseiller(ère) en Développement Organisationnel (Volontariat virtuel) – Lieu de partenariat : République démocratique du Congo Conseiller(ère) en Web Development (Volontariat virtuel)  – Lieu de partenariat : République démocratique du Congo 
View all current placements on our website 

$250,000 for Youth-Led Technology Solutions

Happy December 1, the meteorological first day of winter!

I continue to enjoy the regular newsletters issued by our friends at ICTWorks. They always have insightful stories about what’s happening in the ICT for DEV arena. Today’s newsletter is no different. See below the story about the Global Citizenship Prize.

Global Citizen Prize offers $250,000 to young leaders aged 18-30 who are using technology to advance the UN Global Goals and end extreme poverty. This partnership between Cisco and Global Citizen recognizes that young people are uniquely positioned to develop innovative solutions for development challenges.

Winners must demonstrate measurable outcomes over 3-5 years, show how technology improves efficiency and reach, and inspire other young leaders toward global problem-solving. The $250,000 goes directly to the winner’s organization, providing crucial scaling capital without equity requirements.

The application consists of four parts:

  1. About You: Personal and Organization Information: you will be required to submit basic information about you and your organization and a scanned copy of your passport.
  2. Pitch: you must explain why you deserve this award and provide us with a 1-2 minute video of your pitch.
  3. Judging Criteria: you will be required to answer 5 short answer questions about your work and you will describe in 250 words or less, how you have achieved each one of the Prize’s criteria.
  4. Organizational Details: you will submit proof of your organization’s registration details including the certificate of registration, incorporation or tax exemption and other supplemental information.

The five-criteria evaluation covers impact, vision, catalyst effect, global citizenship, and technology innovation. Applications require organizational registration proof, a 1-2 minute video pitch, and detailed responses on how work aligns with evaluation criteria. The winner will be announced at Global Citizen NOW in May 2026 in New York City.

Apply Now: Deadline is December 17, 2025

Here’s where to sign up to get ICTworks newsletters.

Please subscribe now to get ICT4D updates.

ENJOY.