Researcher Volunteer (Tafara Wellness Initiative)

Tafara Wellness Initiative

We are dedicated to empowering women and children in African communities to overcome mental health challenges and cultivate resilience and joy through providing free counselling.

Africa has a serious mental health issue that has to be addressed right away as the continent has the highest suicide rate in the world, estimated at 11.2 per 100,000 people, despite a moderate reduction over the past ten years (far above the global average of 9.0 per 100,000). Part of the mental health emergency is due to the AIDS epidemic, widespread poverty, and a lack of mental health resources and infrastructure. Providing mental health is essential for sustainable development as it enables individuals to pursue education, maintain employment and contribute positively to their communities. For women and children specifically, better mental health can lead to improved family dynamics, increased school attendance, and greater economic participation.

The Tafara Wellness Initiative looks to address the mental health crisis and build more resilient and thriving communities in Africa through:

• Ensuring women and children in Africa have access to timely, appropriate and tailored psychological and mental wellness programs that enable them to thrive.
• Expanding communal support and awareness for mental health and eliminate stigmas around mental health in African communities

Researcher

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

Tafara Wellness Initiative is seeking a dedicated and innovative Research Team to support our mission of providing trauma-informed care to women and children in Africa. This team will play a pivotal role in expanding the organisation’s impact by conducting thorough research, analysing data, and providing actionable insights to inform program development, partnership strategies, and advocacy efforts.

Key Responsibilities

1. Research and Analysis • Conduct in-depth research on trauma-informed care, mental health trends, and socio-economic factors impacting women and children in Africa. • Analyse global best practices and adapt them to culturally relevant frameworks. • Investigate historical and intergenerational trauma and its effects on target communities.
2. Program Support • Provide evidence-based recommendations to enhance existing workshops and programs. • Identify gaps in services and suggest new initiatives to address unmet needs. • Collaborate with the program team to design monitoring and evaluation frameworks for assessing program effectiveness.
3. Funding and Partnership Support • Research potential funding opportunities, including grants, CSR initiatives, and philanthropic partnerships. • Develop data-driven reports to support grant applications and partnership proposals. • Provide market and impact research to assist in developing the organisation’s value proposition for partners.
4. Advocacy and Public Awareness • Conduct studies to highlight the importance of trauma-informed care and its societal impact. • Generate reports, white papers, and articles to support advocacy campaigns. • Assist in the development of presentations and materials for conferences and stakeholder meetings.
5. Knowledge Management • Maintain a repository of research findings, reports, and other knowledge resources. • Regularly update the organisation on emerging trends and developments in the field. • Create learning materials for staff and partners based on research outcomes.

Weekly Time Commitment

4-6 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

6+ months