Livelihood officer volunteer roles in guildford, essex
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Africa Access Water
We equip rural communities in Zambia and Africa with solar-powered water infrastructure and systems for productive use, food security, and socio-economic development.
Africa Access Water is committed to addressing several critical social and environmental challenges that disproportionately affect rural communities across Zambia and Africa using one model. These challenges include:
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Water Scarcity: Millions of people in rural Africa, particularly in Zambia, face limited access to clean, reliable water sources. This scarcity forces communities to rely on unsafe water, leading to waterborne diseases, poor health outcomes, and time-consuming water collection that limits productivity and social development. Africa Access Water aims to provide sustainable, solar-powered water infrastructure that ensures year-round access to clean drinking water, improving health and overall well-being.
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Food Insecurity: Agricultural productivity in rural areas is often hampered by unreliable access to water, droughts and dependent on rainfed, leading to poor crop yields and seasonal food shortages. With our solar-powered irrigation systems, we aim to enable year-round farming, increasing food security and supporting local economies. By providing communities with access to water for agricultural use, we help increase crop yields, promote sustainable farming practices, and ensure a consistent food supply for families.
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Rural Poverty: Rural communities in Zambia and other parts of Africa face high levels of poverty of upto 82%, often exacerbated by the lack of infrastructure and economic opportunities. By providing solar-powered water solutions, we empower communities to develop productive livelihoods, enhance economic activity through agricultural systems, and create income-generating opportunities. Our goal is to foster socio-economic development by providing water for both domestic use and agricultural production, which boosts local economies and supports small-scale farmers.
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Environmental Sustainability: Traditional water extraction methods, such as manual pumping or reliance on non-renewable energy sources, can contribute to environmental degradation and resource depletion. Africa Access Water addresses this by using solar-powered water systems, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and supporting the transition to clean, renewable energy. Additionally, we promote sustainable agricultural practices that improve land productivity while protecting the environment.
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Gender Inequality and Social Inclusion: In many rural communities, women and girls are responsible for fetching water, often spending several hours each day on this task. This reduces their opportunities for education, economic participation, and personal development. By providing communities with accessible water infrastructure, Africa Access Water aims to reduce the time spent on water collection, allowing women and girls more time for education, work, and community leadership. Our projects also prioritize community involvement, ensuring that marginalized groups, including women and youth, have a voice in decision-making processes.
Through these efforts, Africa Access Water is addressing the social and environmental challenges of water scarcity, food insecurity, rural poverty, environmental degradation, and gender inequality, creating sustainable solutions that foster community development and resilience.
Africa Access Water was founded to address the critical issues of rural poverty, food insecurity, and limited access to water infrastructure that stifles economic growth in Africa’s underserved communities. By leveraging sustainable water solutions such as solar powered water infrastructure and systems, we aim to transform poor community communal land into productive hubs that drive rural economies. Our innovative model integrates solar powered water infrastructure development with agricultural systems, enabling year-round food production and income generation. This is evident from our pilot project in Zambia.
We prioritize community ownership, ensuring local engagement in the planning, implementation, and management of water resources. By utilizing climate-smart irrigation technologies, we not only boost crop yields but also mitigate the effects of erratic rainfall and droughts- we say climate change. This approach fosters food security, promotes self-reliance, and stimulates micro-enterprise development.
Africa Access Water stands out by creating sustainable ecosystems that transform rural communities into thriving economies while addressing the root causes of poverty.
Fundraising Officer
Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)
Fundraising Officers (AfAW HQ Africa and US fundraising Office)
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Fundraising Strategy: implement a diversified fundraising strategy, including grants, donor networks, and innovative financing models to support the organization’s mission.
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Online and Recurring Donors: Build a strong network of individual donors through the online donation platform, encouraging one-time and recurring contributions with targeted campaigns and impactful storytelling.
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Foundation Partnerships: Identify and secure grants from foundations for unrestricted funding and program-specific needs, fostering long-term relationships with key donors.
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Sustainability Funding: Develop strategies to secure funds for sustainability initiatives like a commercial farm and a water drilling rig through social enterprises, partnerships, and investments.
Branding and Messaging: Collaborate with the team to ensure alignment between fundraising messages and the organization’s bold branding and transformative goals.
This role ensures Africa Access Water’s financial sustainability and growth by leveraging online platforms, donor networks, and partnerships to transform lives through sustainable solar powered water infrastructure and solutions for productive use, food security, increased income and improved livelihoods.
Weekly Time Commitment
10+ hours per week
Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)
6+ months
Non Charity Employer
6 - 10
We connect professionals with impact startups matching their causes, skills & schedule.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Location: Worldwide
Term: Voluntary – Unpaid (reasonable travel expenses can be claimed)
Closing date: 31st July 2025
Inspired by the Islamic faith and guided by our values, we envisage a caring world where communities are empowered, social obligations are fulfilled, and people respond as one to the suffering of others.
We provide lasting routes out of poverty, empowering people to transform their lives and serving all communities without prejudice.
As an independent faith-based humanitarian and development organisation, Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) has been serving humanity for 41 years. With an active presence in over 40 countries across the globe, we strive to make the world a better and fairer place for the three billion people still living in poverty.
Since we were founded in 1984, Islamic Relief has grown into one of the world’s largest relief and development charities, touching the lives of over 120 million people.
Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is seeking to appoint 1 (one) individual to join our International General Assembly (IGA).
Following appointment to the IGA, independent members are eligible for nomination to the BoT after 1 year as an IGA independent member.
Appointments on the BoT are for a 4-year term limit.
The IGA is the highest body of the new Islamic Relief Worldwide governance structure and consists mainly of representatives elected by Islamic Relief family members across five continents, creating a body that is truly globally representative. It is from the IGA that IRW draws its trustees.
We would like to hear from exceptional applicants with considerable experience and specialist knowledge in a range of professional backgrounds: law, accountancy, audit, humanitarian programming, PR/communications, marketing or fundraising, IT, charity financial policy and strategy, shariah compliance. Those selected will play a vital role in IRW’s strategic work and in helping us respond to key challenges.
As a member of the IGA, it is expected you will be fully committed to the organisational objectives of IRW, sharing our vision, mission and values. You will be expected to attend meetings and be willing to devote the necessary time and effort to the role and to act in the best interest of IRW’s work and its rightsholders.
The Role
Key responsibilities:
- Participate in the oversight of the organisation in accordance with its statutory obligations, making sure that IRW satisfies its regulatory and legal requirements as a charity
- Act in a manner which supports the organisation in meeting aims and objectives as set out in IRW governing documents, and in ensuring IRW long-term security
- Focus on strategic planning and governance when setting IRW priorities and objectives
- Participate in the approval of annual plans, strategies and budgets
- Support the financial stability of the charity and contribute to its effective and efficient administration, reviewing and approving financial strategies and monitoring income and expenditure, to ensure the organisation is in good financial health
- Promote IRW’s vision, mission and values and demonstrate IRW’s values in all of the IGA’s work.
About You
We are seeking exceptional candidates with a breadth of leadership experience who can enhance the strategic development of IRW and have the following skills and qualities:
- A deep commitment and passion for IRW’s faith inspired values, vision and mission
- An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
- Considerable professional experience and specialist knowledge in one or more of the following – law, accountancy, audit, humanitarian programming, PR/communications, marketing or fundraising, IT, charity financial policy and strategy, shariah compliance
- Strategic vision and critical thinking skills
- Skills in problem solving and conflict resolution
- Legislative and operating framework for charities/voluntary and community sector organisations, especially an understanding of Charity Commission requirements
- A good understanding of the context IRW operates within
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; enjoys teamwork
- Willing to be an ambassador for IRW
- Demonstrates past public conduct, statements and behaviour that are in line with IRW’s values and expectations of the role
If you are interested in these roles, please review the information pack before applying.
How to apply:
To make your application for the IGA position, please visit the link for instructions.
The deadline for applications is: 31st July 2025.
PLEASE NOTE: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applications without a cover letter will not be accepted.
Pre-appointment checks:
Any appointment with Islamic Relief will be subject to the following checks:
- Enhanced screening clearance
- Receipt of satisfactory references including the Inter-Agency Misconduct Scheme Reference
- DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check
- Personal social media review
Our values and commitment to safeguarding
IRW is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom IRW engages. IRW expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.
The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.
The term will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records checks. IRW also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.
In line with this Scheme, we will request information from every applicant’s previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.
By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.