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CIT Main Page Current Projects Past Projects FORECAST Links Armenia Sudan		Who We Are • What We Do Diaspora Skills Transfer Program for Southern Sudan Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the goal of Diaspora Skills Transfer Project for Southern Sudan? The goal of the Diaspora Program is to address critical human resource shortages in areas of health and education. The project will enable up to 150 skilled, experienced and educated Southern Sudanese living in the Diaspora to return home as volunteers to assist with developing both human and institutional capacities in the ministries of health and education. This transfer of skills through the Diaspora is expected to provide sustainable support for reconstruction and reconnection with those living inside Southern Sudan. 2. Who is funding the program? How is it being implemented? Funding is provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The program is being implemented by the Academy for Educational Development (AED) under contract with USAID. AED is subcontracting with the International Executive Service Corps (IESC) to help recruit volunteers. 3. What kinds of qualifications are expected of prospective volunteers? The volunteers are expected to assist with technical and capacity development both at the national and local levels. Depending on the types of assignments and the location, volunteers will assist in training, educational and medical care assistance, and institutional and systems analysis. Therefore, those who are interested in volunteering should have professional and technical skills combined with education and experiences in areas detailed in accompanying task descriptions. Selection will be based on the following and other criteria that the AED and USAID will identify: Technical skills in critical education and/or health fields Professional and/or volunteer experiences Training capabilities and ability to work under stressful conditions Commitment to rebuilding Southern Sudan 4. Are there incentives for the program volunteers? The desire to contribute one’s own skills to help strengthen and develop human and institutional capacities is a great intangible incentive which paves the road for future development of the war-torn Southern Sudan. The effort of volunteers will pay off in that it will better the lives of their fellow Southern Sudanese citizens. Moreover, volunteers may have the opportunity to reunite with their families and relatives while inside Sudan. Overall, AED will provide modest stipends, travel and living expenses, medical insurance, and medical evacuation insurance to volunteers for their service. Please refer to the volunteer support package page for more information. 5. I have the desire to volunteer in the Diaspora Program, how can I apply? AED will also distribute and post volunteer opportunities on our website as they become available. You can apply at http://cit.aed.org/forecast_sudan.htm You can also submit your credentials to the Sudanese North American Diaspora Database (SNADD) at www.snadd.org . AED will use this database as one of the ways of recruiting volunteers. If you have already submitted your credentials to SNADD, thank you. AED will soon query the database for qualified applicants and contact them with a request to complete this application. All potential volunteers must complete this application packet eventually, so please do so if you’re interested in a specific task and have not been contacted regarding your SNADD submission. 6. I am a member of the Southern Sudanese Diaspora living in East Africa, can I apply to be a volunteer? Yes, you can apply to be a volunteer if you reside anywhere outside of Sudan. If you have skills, experiences and/or education background in the fields of health and education, you may be qualified. 7. Who will select the volunteers? Volunteers will be selected by the Academy for Educational Development in partnership with hosting ministries and organizations and USAID. 8. Will volunteers receive training? Yes, AED will provide limited training to orient the volunteers. All volunteer applicants must have professional and technical training relevant to specific volunteer assignments to be selected. 9. How long will the volunteers stay in Southern Sudan? The length of stay will be determined by the types of assignments, availability of volunteers, and other factors. Please refer to the task assignment pages for the duration required for each task. 10. Where will the volunteers stay/live while in Sudan? The Diaspora volunteers should expect to stay or live in a different environment than the ones they left because the war has devastated the country. Depending on the location, some volunteers may live with their relatives/family or in guest houses provided by NGOs, religious organizations or the local administration. In other locations, houses might not be available and volunteers should expect to stay in tent camps or tukuls (mud-walled, grass-roofed houses or huts). 11. Is it safe to go back to Southern Sudan at this time? The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in January 2005 set the stage for the Diaspora Program. Currently, the situation in Southern Sudan is believed to be fairly stable. AED will send volunteers only to areas that are deemed safe and secure. AED’s Project Director is based in Southern Sudan and Kenya, and he regularly updates AED on the security situation in the region. 12. What are the travel requirements for the Diaspora volunteers going to Sudan? Like other travelers, all volunteers must fulfill the following travel requirements: Valid original travel document/passport Obtain proper visas from the appropriate embassies International Inoculation Certificate against yellow fever U.S. Permanent Residents must have green cards and travel documents If you are considering volunteering with the program, you should apply for a travel document or renew your passport now. All travel documents/passports must be valid for at least six months and for the duration of the assignment. AED will provide additional information and assistance to the selected volunteers about the above requirements before departure. 13. Can I visit my family and relatives while I am volunteering in Sudan? You may do so using your own funds and only when it does not jeopardize your volunteer assignment. 14. Does AED support Diaspora associations formed to help in rebuilding Southern Sudan? AED encourages developmental work; however, we do not have the financial capability to support local organizations.	• Where We Work Current RFPs Success Stories Publications & Reports Contact Us Site Map
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