41 Volunteer roles for the International Development sector

Global Health Access Trust is looking for a Communications & PR Volunteer to help explain the Trust’s work clearly, accurately and responsibly to supporters, partners, professional audiences and the public.

This opportunity would suit someone with communications, journalism, public relations or strong professional writing experience who values accuracy over hype and can communicate complex work in a clear, measured way.

Global Health Access Trust (GHAT) develops, funds and coordinates defined projects that advance health, relieve illness and preserve life for the public benefit. Our work brings together professional and clinical expertise, human capability, responsible technology, essential infrastructure, trusted local relationships and accountable funding.

What you could contribute

• Draft updates, briefings, articles and other public-facing material
• Help maintain a clear and consistent GHAT tone across communications
• Translate complex project, health and governance information into accessible language
• Support media, supporter or partner enquiries alongside the Trust team
• Help ensure public statements are accurate, appropriately evidenced and proportionate
• Support responsible storytelling that respects dignity, confidentiality and consent

Who this could suit

This opportunity may suit people with experience in communications, journalism, PR, media, public affairs, content writing or related fields.

Excellent written English and strong judgement are important. We particularly value people who can communicate confidently without exaggerating impact or relying on emotive language or imagery.

You should be comfortable working with information from different professional disciplines and checking facts carefully before publication.

The opportunity can usually be undertaken remotely from any country and the commitment is ongoing and flexible.

The role is voluntary and unpaid. There is no salary, fee, employment benefit or entitlement to expenses.

How to apply

Applications are handled through the Global Health Access Trust website. When you click to apply, you will be taken to GHAT’s Communications, Digital & Public Profile section. There you can review this opportunity in context, explore the other current opportunities within this area and select the opportunity that best matches your experience before submitting the GHAT application form.

Global Health Access Trust is looking for a Programme Development / Project Design Volunteer to help turn identified needs into properly structured projects with clear objectives, activities, risks, budgets and routes to public benefit.

This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys taking complex needs or early-stage ideas and turning them into practical, well-defined plans capable of moving through proper review and delivery.

Global Health Access Trust (GHAT) develops, funds and coordinates defined projects that advance health, relieve illness and preserve life for the public benefit. Projects are developed around clearly identified healthcare-access, infrastructure, workforce and system needs and move through disciplined stages of scoping, approval, team formation, funding, delivery and evidence.

What you could contribute

• Draft clear project outlines and programme documentation
• Help define objectives, activities, deliverables and timelines
• Develop logic models and practical routes from need to intended outcome
• Help identify assumptions, dependencies and delivery risks
• Support initial budget and resource planning
• Contribute to feasibility and implementation thinking
• Help ensure proposed projects have a clear and measurable route to public benefit

Who this could suit

This opportunity may suit people with experience in programme development, project design, project management, consultancy, international development or related professional fields.

We particularly welcome structured thinkers who can take complex information and turn it into clear, usable documentation.

You should be comfortable considering feasibility, risk, resources and intended outcomes rather than simply describing an idea.

The opportunity is project-based and can usually be undertaken remotely from any country.

The role is voluntary and unpaid. There is no salary, fee, employment benefit or entitlement to expenses.

How to apply

Applications are handled through the Global Health Access Trust website. When you click to apply, you will be taken to GHAT’s Programmes, Research, Evidence & Innovation section. There you can review this opportunity in context, explore the other current opportunities within this area and select the opportunity that best matches your skills before submitting the GHAT application form.

Global Health Access Trust is seeking Country Programme Leads / Country Managers to provide senior local coordination, build trusted relationships and help shape safe, lawful and effective activity in countries where GHAT works or may develop future programmes.

This is a leadership opportunity for experienced people with strong local knowledge who can connect international charitable ambition with the realities of delivery on the ground.

Global Health Access Trust (GHAT) develops, funds and coordinates defined projects that advance health, relieve illness and preserve life for the public benefit. Our work brings together professional and clinical expertise, local knowledge, responsible technology, infrastructure, trusted relationships and accountable funding.

What you could contribute

• Build and maintain key local relationships with partners, institutions and relevant authorities
• Coordinate local assessment, planning and delivery with the GHAT Trust Office
• Help identify healthcare-access, infrastructure, workforce and system needs
• Support the development of appropriate local partnerships and delivery arrangements
• Ensure activity is safe, lawful, culturally appropriate and properly recorded
• Identify local risks, practical constraints and opportunities at an early stage
• Help maintain clear communication between local contributors and the Trust

Who this could suit

We would particularly welcome senior programme, health, NGO, public service or international-development professionals with deep knowledge of their country or region.

You should be someone who is trusted locally, understands how institutions and communities operate in practice, and is comfortable working within written governance, safeguarding and reporting standards.

Strong judgement, cultural awareness, reliability and the ability to build credible relationships are essential.

This is a country-based opportunity. GHAT welcomes applications from people in any country where the Trust may work.

Safeguarding, identity and other role-specific checks will apply before an appointment is confirmed.

The role is voluntary and unpaid. There is no salary, fee, employment benefit or entitlement to expenses.

How to apply

Applications are handled through the Global Health Access Trust website. When you click to apply, you will be taken to GHAT’s Country Leadership & International Delivery section. There you can review this opportunity in context, explore the other current opportunities within this area and select the opportunity that best matches your experience before submitting the GHAT application form.

Global Health Access Trust is seeking Country Programme Leads / Country Managers to provide senior local coordination, build trusted relationships and help shape safe, lawful and effective activity in countries where GHAT works or may develop future programmes.

This is a leadership opportunity for experienced people with strong local knowledge who can connect international charitable ambition with the realities of delivery on the ground.

Global Health Access Trust (GHAT) develops, funds and coordinates defined projects that advance health, relieve illness and preserve life for the public benefit. Our work brings together professional and clinical expertise, local knowledge, responsible technology, infrastructure, trusted relationships and accountable funding.

What you could contribute

• Build and maintain key local relationships with partners, institutions and relevant authorities
• Coordinate local assessment, planning and delivery with the GHAT Trust Office
• Help identify healthcare-access, infrastructure, workforce and system needs
• Support the development of appropriate local partnerships and delivery arrangements
• Ensure activity is safe, lawful, culturally appropriate and properly recorded
• Identify local risks, practical constraints and opportunities at an early stage
• Help maintain clear communication between local contributors and the Trust

Who this could suit

We would particularly welcome senior programme, health, NGO, public service or international-development professionals with deep knowledge of their country or region.

You should be someone who is trusted locally, understands how institutions and communities operate in practice, and is comfortable working within written governance, safeguarding and reporting standards.

Strong judgement, cultural awareness, reliability and the ability to build credible relationships are essential.

This is a country-based opportunity. GHAT welcomes applications from people in any country where the Trust may work.

Safeguarding, identity and other role-specific checks will apply before an appointment is confirmed.

The role is voluntary and unpaid. There is no salary, fee, employment benefit or entitlement to expenses.

How to apply

Applications are handled through the Global Health Access Trust website. When you click to apply, you will be taken to GHAT’s Country Leadership & International Delivery section. There you can review this opportunity in context, explore the other current opportunities within this area and select the opportunity that best matches your experience before submitting the GHAT application form.inter

Global Health Access Trust is looking for a Volunteer Campaign & Public Mobilisation Lead to help plan measured public campaigns that build understanding and support for fairer access to healthcare.

This is a leadership opportunity for someone with experience in campaigning, advocacy, public affairs or public engagement who can turn important issues into clear, responsible activity without hype or exaggeration.

Global Health Access Trust (GHAT) develops, funds and coordinates defined projects that advance health, relieve illness and preserve life for the public benefit. Our work brings together professional expertise, local knowledge, responsible technology, infrastructure, trusted relationships and accountable funding.

What you could contribute

• Plan campaign objectives, audiences and messages
• Coordinate campaign volunteers and ambassadors
• Help develop clear, accurate public-facing campaign material
• Support appropriate outreach and mobilisation activity
• Help ensure campaigns reflect GHAT’s values, evidence and public-benefit purpose
• Evaluate what worked and report honestly on outcomes

Who this could suit

This opportunity may suit people with experience in campaigning, advocacy, public affairs, public engagement or communications.

We are particularly interested in strategic, calm organisers who can build public understanding without overstating impact or using unnecessarily emotive approaches.

You should be comfortable coordinating people, developing messages for different audiences and working within agreed governance and reputational standards.

The role can usually be undertaken remotely from any country and the commitment is ongoing and flexible.

The role is voluntary and unpaid. There is no salary, fee, employment benefit or entitlement to expenses.

How to apply

Applications are handled through the Global Health Access Trust website. When you click to apply, you will be taken to GHAT’s Influence, Ambassadors & Campaigns section. There you can review this opportunity in context, explore the current opportunities within this area and select the opportunity that best matches your experience before submitting the GHAT application form.

Global Health Access Trust is looking for experienced professionals who can help open the right doors, make thoughtful introductions and advise on how best to approach important institutions, sectors and networks.

A single well-judged introduction can be as valuable to GHAT as months of cold outreach. This opportunity is designed for people who can contribute strategically and selectively rather than commit to a regular weekly volunteering schedule.

Global Health Access Trust (GHAT) develops, funds and coordinates defined projects that advance health, relieve illness and preserve life for the public benefit. Our work brings together professional and clinical expertise, human capability, responsible technology, essential infrastructure, trusted local relationships and accountable funding.

What you could contribute

• Make considered introductions to people and institutions who should know about GHAT’s work
• Advise on how best to approach a sector, market or institution
• Lend judgement on positioning, credibility and timing
• Help identify appropriate routes into professional, philanthropic, institutional, corporate, governmental, academic or community networks
• Share relevant insight that can help GHAT build strong and credible relationships

Who this could suit

This opportunity may suit senior professionals with established professional, philanthropic, institutional, corporate, governmental, sporting, academic or community networks.

It is particularly suitable for people who prefer occasional high-value input to a regular weekly role.

The commitment is deliberately flexible and advisory. You may, for example, tell us: “I can make introductions but do not want a regular weekly role.”

The opportunity can usually be undertaken remotely from any country.

The role is voluntary and unpaid. There is no salary, fee, employment benefit or entitlement to expenses.

How to apply

Applications are handled through the Global Health Access Trust website. When you click to apply, you will be taken to GHAT’s Partnerships, Networks & Door Openers section. There you can review this opportunity in context, explore the current opportunities within this area and select the opportunity that best matches your experience before submitting the GHAT application form.

Global Health Access Trust is looking for a Volunteer Fundraising Lead to help shape and coordinate the Trust’s developing fundraising activity and build sustainable support for its public-benefit work.

This is an opportunity to use fundraising, development, business development or charity income experience to help an international charitable organisation build strong foundations for future growth.

Global Health Access Trust (GHAT) develops, funds and coordinates defined projects that advance health, relieve illness and preserve life, particularly where healthcare access or the systems supporting health are absent, failing or inaccessible.

Our work brings together professional and clinical expertise, human capability, responsible technology, essential infrastructure, trusted local relationships and accountable funding. Projects span areas including healthcare access, health systems, professional networks, responsible AI and health intelligence, research and strategic reform, and humanitarian and war-affected response.

What you could contribute

• Help shape a realistic fundraising approach across trusts and foundations, individuals, companies and institutions
• Coordinate fundraising activity alongside other volunteers and the Trust team
• Help identify appropriate funding opportunities and prospective supporters
• Support the development of clear, professional approaches to potential funders and partners
• Maintain appropriate records of approaches, outcomes and follow-up
• Help ensure fundraising activity reflects GHAT’s charitable purposes, governance standards and ethical approach
• Contribute to building sustainable income capable of supporting longer-term public-benefit projects

Who this could suit

We would particularly welcome people with experience in fundraising, development, charity income generation, philanthropy, business development or related fields.

You should be organised, comfortable communicating with different audiences and able to work professionally and independently. An understanding of ethical fundraising, good governance and responsible stewardship would be valuable.

This opportunity can usually be undertaken remotely and flexibly. GHAT recruits internationally and welcomes relevant experience and perspectives from the UK and elsewhere.

The role is voluntary and unpaid. There is no salary, fee, employment benefit or entitlement to expenses.

How to apply

Applications are handled through the Global Health Access Trust website. When you click to apply, you will be taken to GHAT’s Fundraising, Philanthropy & Income section. There you can review this opportunity in context, explore the current opportunities within this area and select the role that best matches your experience before submitting the GHAT application form.

Bid Writer Role Description

What will you be doing?

We are excited to announce an incredible opportunity for a talented Bid Writer to join our passionate team at the Africa Health Organisation (AHO)!  Since 1999, we've been dedicated to delivering health and social care to millions across Africa and the Diaspora, and now we're ready to elevate our impact further.

This year, we're embarking on a mission to broaden our funding strategy by incorporating bids and tenders.  Our goal is to engage with the governments in Africa and the UK, the public sector, and the public, providing essential practical and emotional support to those facing chronic conditions.  We need a visionary like you to help us achieve our goals.

We're seeking a dynamic and experienced Bid Writer to assist the Bid Manager and Head of Bids in developing and executing a winning strategy to secure the necessary financial backing.  There are numerous exciting possibilities ahead, including central government tenders, as well as local and statutory opportunities.  We're eager to explore them all.

In this pivotal role, you'll assist the Bid Manager in planning and executing our bids and tender writing, ensuring our bid proposals not only shine but also come to life in meaningful ways.  If you're a bid writer who thrives on creativity and collaboration, we want to hear from you!  Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to inspire and mentor volunteers within our bid and tender team, making a positive impact together.  Join us on this exciting journey!

What are we looking for?

Person Specification: What You'll Bring:

• Educated to a degree level
• At least one year of proven experience in bid and tender management, preferably within the healthcare (NHS & private), medical, social care and services, international development, economics, international relations, UN agencies, ege, UNICEF, WHO, etc, or technology sectors.
• End-to-end bid management experience: A minimum of 3 years' experience leading the whole bid process.
• Preferred qualifications include a degree in Business, Communication, Marketing, Creative Writing, English or equivalent.
• APMP Certification is also desirable, but not important.
• Sector versatility: Experience in working with both public and private sector bids in the medical, biotech, biomed, health and social sectors is preferred.
• Industry knowledge: Understanding of contact centres and/or customer experience is essential.
• Commercial acumen: Strong business sense, negotiation skills, and a hands-on approach.
• Resilience under pressure: Able to thrive in a fast-paced environment and meet tight deadlines.
• Detail orientation: High attention to detail to ensure quality and accuracy.
• Growth mindset: Self-motivated, proactive, and focused on continuous improvement.
• Strong communicator: Confident and articulate, with the ability to build trusted relationships across stakeholders.
• Time management: Skilled at prioritising tasks and managing competing deadlines.

What difference will you make?

In this exciting role, you will lead the strategic effort to win new business through competitive bids, tenders, and proposals, ultimately driving AHO's success. Your specialised knowledge will enhance our win rates and maximise revenue by bringing clarity, quality, and coordination to what can be a complex and high-stakes journey.

Your primary mission is to boost AHO's tender win rates and strengthen our strategic advantage.  By diligently overseeing each step of the bidding process—from initial evaluation to final submission—you will significantly improve the quality and persuasion of our proposals, directly increasing our chances of securing valuable contracts.

You'll provide key insights to help the Bid Manager target the most promising opportunities by implementing a thoughtful "bid/no-bid" process.  This approach will ensure we focus only on lucrative and winnable contracts that closely align with our strategic goals, ultimately saving time and resources and allowing us to prioritise high-potential projects.

In this role, you will orchestrate a well-coordinated process that drives operational efficiency. Acting as the central point of contact, you will gather input from diverse internal teams—sales, finance, legal, and technical experts—ensuring everyone collaborates smoothly to meet critical deadlines.

As a self-starter, you'll elevate the quality of our bid content.  By overseeing the creation of compelling, polished materials, you'll ensure that our final submissions are professional, cohesive, and error-free. You will utilise a centralised content library filled with valuable resources, such as case studies and CVs, to streamline our efforts and enhance our proposals.

You will keep projects on track by developing detailed project plans and timelines, ensuring that all tasks are completed punctually—especially critical in the fast-paced environment of tender submissions.  Your effective management will ease the workload for colleagues focused on their core responsibilities, allowing the entire team to shine.

To foster long-term business growth, you'll create a wealth of knowledge around our tenders and bids. By conducting insightful post-submission debriefs and analysing feedback, you will capture invaluable lessons from both successes and setbacks.  This ongoing improvement process will enhance our bidding capabilities for future opportunities.

You can also enhance AHO's brand reputation by submitting well-organised, accurate, and compliant bids.  By doing so, you'll showcase our professionalism and reliability to clients, building trust and solidifying our credible standing in the market.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone passionate about fundraising, social impact, and business development.  If you're eager to apply your skills to drive meaningful change, we'd love to hear from you!

The Africa Health Organisation (AHO) seeks to engage in bidding and tendering to deliver health and social care services effectively.  Our goal is to ensure sustainability and positively impact the lives of more people.  We want assistance in developing an ambitious strategy.

What will you be doing?

We are excited to announce an incredible opportunity for a talented Bid Manager to join our passionate team at the Africa Health Organisation (AHO)!  Since 1999, we've been dedicated to delivering health and social care to millions across Africa and the Diaspora, and now we're ready to further elevate our impact.

This year, we're embarking on a mission to broaden our funding strategy by incorporating bid and tender opportunities.  Our goal is to engage with governments in Africa and the UK, the public sector, and the public, providing essential, practical, and emotional support to those facing chronic conditions.  We need a visionary like you to help us achieve our goals.

We're seeking a dynamic, experienced Bid Manager to develop and execute a winning strategy to secure the necessary financial backing.  There are numerous exciting possibilities ahead, including central government tenders, local and statutory opportunities.  We're eager to explore them all.

In this pivotal role, you'll plan and execute our bids and tender writing efforts, ensuring that our bid proposals not only shine but also come to life in meaningful ways.  If you're a bid writer who thrives on creativity and collaboration, we want to hear from you!  Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to inspire and mentor volunteers within our bid and tender team, making a positive impact together.  Join us on this exciting journey!

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The Role Description:

Bid Management: Lead and manage the entire bid and tender process, ensuring submissions meet deadlines and align with client requirements across the UK & Ireland.

Proposal Development: Collaborate with internal stakeholders to develop tailored, high-quality, and persuasive proposals that align with our value proposition.

Stakeholder Engagement: Work closely with sales, operations, legal, and clinical teams to gather critical input and ensure accurate, compliant, and compelling submissions.

Market Analysis: Stay informed on market trends, tender opportunities, and competitor activity to identify and secure strategic opportunities.

Compliance: Ensure all submissions adhere to company standards, client specifications, and relevant regulatory requirements.

Process Improvement: Continuously refine bid processes, content libraries, templates, and tools to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Post-Submission Activities: Manage debrief processes and gather feedback to inform future submissions.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead AHO bids: Manage the whole bid process with a hands-on approach.
• Create strong responses: Tailor solutions that clearly show our value.
• Support growth: Work with Business Development and Marketing to boost propositions.
• Drive best practice: Lead bid qualification, governance, and reviews.
• User-focused: Understand needs and clearly present our solutions.
• Know the landscape: Medical, research industries, and opportunities.
• Know our strengths: Stay sharp on our services and competitors.
• Seal the deal: Coordinate smooth contract closures.
• Stay tidy: Keep the bid library updated and accessible.
• Keep comms clear: Align stakeholders throughout the process.
• Stay compliant: Follow governance and secure approvals.
• Push for quality: Lead reviews to ensure high-standard submissions.
• Maintain the opportunity pipeline: utilising CRM and creating reports for management.
• Taking the lead on other business development activities, such as award submissions, whitepapers, and sales collateral.
• Supporting every stage of the sales funnel: by working closely with marketing, sales, implementation, and operations teams.

What are we looking for?

Person Specification: What You'll Bring:

• At least two years of proven experience in bid and tender management, preferably within the healthcare (NHS & private), medical, or technology sectors.
• End-to-end bid management experience: A minimum of 4 years' experience leading the whole bid process.
• Preferred qualifications include a degree in Business, Communication, Marketing, Creative Writing, English or equivalent.
• APMP Certification is also desirable.
• Sector versatility: Experience with both public- and private-sector bids in the medical, biotech, biomed, health, and social sectors is preferred.
• Industry knowledge: Understanding of contact centres and/or customer experience is essential.
• Commercial acumen: Strong business sense, negotiation skills, and a hands-on approach.
• Resilience under pressure: Able to thrive in a fast-paced environment and meet tight deadlines.
• Detail orientation: High attention to detail to ensure quality and accuracy.
• Growth mindset: Self-motivated, proactive, and focused on continuous improvement.
• Strong communicator: Confident and articulate, with the ability to build trusted relationships across stakeholders.
• Time management: Skilled at prioritising tasks and managing competing deadlines.

What difference will you make?

In this exciting role, you will lead the strategic process for winning new business through competitive bids, tenders, and proposals, ultimately elevating AHO's success. Your specialised knowledge will enhance our win rates and maximise revenue by bringing clarity, quality, and coordination to what can be a complex and high-stakes journey. impact

Your primary mission is to boost AHO's tender win rates and strengthen our strategic advantage.  By diligently overseeing each step of the bidding process—from initial evaluation to final submission—you will significantly improve the quality and persuasion of our proposals, directly increasing our chances of securing valuable contracts.

You'll provide key insights to help AHO target the most promising opportunities by implementing a thoughtful "bid/no-bid" process.  This approach will ensure we focus only on lucrative and winnable contracts that closely align with our strategic goals, ultimately saving time and resources and allowing us to prioritise high-potential projects.

In this role, you will orchestrate a well-coordinated process that drives operational efficiency.  As the central point of contact, you will gather input from diverse internal teams—sales, finance, legal, and technical—ensuring everyone collaborates smoothly to meet critical deadlines.

As a leader, you'll elevate the quality of our bid content.  By overseeing the creation of compelling, polished materials, you'll ensure our final submissions are professional, cohesive, and error-free. You will utilise a centralised content library containing valuable resources, such as case studies and CVs, to streamline efforts and enhance our proposals.

You will keep projects on track by developing detailed project plans and timelines, ensuring all tasks are completed on time—especially critical in the fast-paced environment of tender submissions.  Your effective management will ease colleagues' workloads, allowing the entire team to shine.

To foster long-term business growth, you'll create a wealth of knowledge around our tenders and bids. By conducting insightful post-submission debriefs and analysing feedback, you will capture invaluable lessons from both successes and setbacks.  This ongoing improvement process will enhance our bidding capabilities for future opportunities.

You also have the opportunity to enhance AHO's brand reputation by submitting well-organised, accurate, and compliant bids.  By doing so, you'll showcase our professionalism and reliability to clients, building trust and solidifying our credible standing in the market.

Strategic alignment is vital for sustaining consistent, stable business growth.  Together, we can make a remarkable impact on development.

Help Make a Difference Every Day

Your time and skills can help change lives. Join DFN as a Volunteer Administrative Assistant and become part of a friendly team supporting an international charity making a lasting impact on vulnerable communities in India.

Based in our Stafford office, you'll help keep our day-to-day operations running smoothly while gaining valuable experience in a supportive and welcoming environment.

Please see the attached Role Description for full details about the role and how to apply.