Apply

Complete the CESO Volunteer application form and attach your resume.

Review

Each application is carefully reviewed to ensure there is a strong match between a volunteer’s skills and the needs of CESO assignments.

Orientation and Interview

You will be invited a link to watch a 15-minute orientation video to learn more about CESO, followed by a phone interview and reference checks.

Complete the online compliance training

This training consists of three modules – Ethics and Code of Conduct, Global Workplace Harassment and Intercultural Communications. The training can be done in one sitting, or you can save your work and come back to it at a later time.

Provide a completed Criminal Record Check

All new volunteers joining the roster and going on an assignment must submit a completed Criminal Record Check.

Read and sign off on CESO policies

Candidates will be required to read and understand CESO’s policies. A signed acknowledgement form must be returned through an online portal.

Pay a one-time $100 administration fee

Pay the $100 through PayPal.

Welcome!

Successful candidates will receive a welcome letter and log-in information for the myCESO online information portal.

Apply for Assignments

Congratulations – you are now eligible to apply for assignments!

CESO is continually monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic updates and travel advisories. The safety of our volunteers is our primary consideration at this time.  As such, all in-field assignments are temporarily suspended. We have pivoted to doing virtual assignments as we continue to provide critical virtual support and mentoring to our local partners at this important time as the world responds to the economic impact of this pandemic. We look forward to resuming in-field operations at such time that we are confidently able to ensure the safety of our volunteers. To learn more about CESO’s approach to COVID-19, please visit our COVID-19 Update page. 

Before becoming an active CESO Advisor, you will be asked to pay the one-time $100 Administration Fee.

All volunteers applying to CESO for the first time pay a $100 Administration Fee. This fee is to cover the costs associated with the services that help make your entire volunteer experience a positive one. Please note, your payment of the fee does not guarantee that you will be selected for an assignment, however, you will be eligible to see a full list of current assignment opportunities in our internal myCESO portal.

International assignments – CESO covers the costs associated with:

• *Flights to and from the country of assignment
• Entry visas
• Health and accident insurance
• Medical clearance/vaccinations
• In-country travel related to the assignment (not including personal travel)
• Food and accommodation up to a maximum of the established country daily rate
• A per diem spending allowance

National assignments – CESO covers the costs associated with:

• *Travel costs to and from the assignment
• Food and accommodation (up to a maximum of the established country daily rate)
• Travel and accident insurance
• Incidental costs

When booking airfares, CESO must comply with the requirements stipulated in our funding agreement with our program funder, which states:

“Global Affairs Canada will limit the reimbursement of plane tickets to the lowest fare available at the time of reservation even when the Organization chooses not to use this fare”

This means that you must accept the most direct and cost effective route to and from the assignment and travel will be in economy class. If you would like to book upgraded seats, you will be responsible to pay the difference. Please speak with your Program Coordinator if you would like to learn more.

CESO is not able to provide insurance for CESO Advisors who are 79 years of age or older as the eligibility for medical coverage and AD&D (Accidental Death & Dismemberment) insurance through our provider, AIG, ceases at 79 years of age.

All CESO Advisors must be covered under a Canadian provincial health program (e.g. BC Services Plan, OHIP, Quebec Health Insurance Plan). Applicants without this will not be permitted to go on assignment.

Yes, you can bring your spouse/partner at their own expense and only with the permission of both CESO and the client. Our funding applies only to the expenses of the volunteer, not the spouse/partner.

International assignments typically last from two weeks to four weeks. Indigenous Services assignments typically last from two days to two weeks. There are some exceptions for mentoring assignments which could last up to a year with a few site visits.

Our assignments are driven by client demand and as such we cannot guarantee a certain number of assignments over any period of time. We regularly speak with program partners and communities in need to see where we are able to provide services, and the number of available assignments is constantly changing.

As a volunteer you are expected to:

• work cooperatively with CESO staff, clients and partners in order to meet their defined needs
• act as a mentor and/or advisor to the client/partner you are working with
• execute your assignment to the best of your ability, including pre- and post-assignment planning and requirements
• represent CESO to the best of your ability at all times in accordance with our Code of Conduct

We try to provide volunteers with as much notice as possible about a potential assignment. Typically, for national assignments successful candidates will be given two weeks to one month’s notice to prepare and deploy for assignments. For international assignments, successful candidates will typically be given two weeks up to a few month’s notice.

myCESO is our internal web portal that gives you access to all current volunteer opportunities, as well as detailed information and any documents necessary for your assignments. You will gain access to myCESO upon becoming an active CESO Advisor (CA).

If you are experiencing difficulties logging into your myCESO account, please send an email to volunteerservices@ceso-saco.com for immediate assistance.

For questions in English or French, please contact Natalia Daza, Volunteer Recruitment Officer at 1-800-268-9052, ext. 5801, or at ndaza@saco-ceso.com