Online Volunteer for Business Plan Development

Job Posting Organization:
Morobe Development Foundation Inc. (MDF) is a prominent NGO based in Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. Established with the vision to empower young people through community development initiatives, MDF focuses on harnessing hidden talents in areas such as dance, music, and drama. The organization aims to ensure equal participation of women in decision-making processes across various projects, particularly those addressing issues like Ending Violence against Women and promoting Human Rights. MDF collaborates with Online Volunteers through the UNV's Unified Volunteer Platform, engaging in scientific research related to environmental issues, including forest cover loss and coastal habitat conservation. The organization is managed by a committee that includes diverse members, ensuring gender equality in leadership and decision-making. MDF is committed to leveraging its skills, knowledge, and international networks to successfully implement its projects and initiatives.

Job Overview:
The Morobe Development Foundation Inc. (MDF) is seeking five online volunteers to assist in the development of a comprehensive business plan for the Kamiali Wildlife Management Area (KWMA). This initiative is part of a project supported by the Biodiversity Climate Fund, aimed at enhancing forest biomass conservation and shoreline protection in Papua New Guinea. The volunteers will work collaboratively to refine an existing preliminary business plan, expanding it from 500 words to approximately 2,500–3,000 words. The final document will integrate strategic, financial, and environmental perspectives, guiding MDF and the KWMA Committee in effective implementation and long-term sustainability planning. The project recognizes the critical dependence of local communities on forest and coastal resources, emphasizing the need for a well-designed business plan to ensure environmental protection and socio-economic stability.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The volunteers will be grouped into three core functional areas, each with specific duties:

• Business Plan Writing Support: Expand the existing draft into a full business plan, ensuring alignment with MDF’s mission and objectives. Synthesize inputs from other volunteers and prepare the final integrated version.
• Language Editor and Quality Review Support: Review all written sections for clarity and coherence, edit the document to meet professional standards, and prepare an executive summary for external communication.
• Environmental Economics Research Support: Conduct a literature review on sustainable financing models and summarize findings in a benchmarking brief.
• Best Practice Review and Support: Review business plans from similar initiatives and propose tailored recommendations for KWMA.
• Implementation and M&E Support: Develop an implementation roadmap and design a monitoring and evaluation framework with measurable indicators for tracking progress.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates should possess expertise in business development, research, and conservation management. Strong writing and editing skills are essential, particularly for those in the language editing role. Volunteers should be able to synthesize complex information into clear, actionable plans and recommendations. Familiarity with environmental economics and sustainable financing models is crucial for the research support role. Experience in reviewing business plans or sustainability frameworks is beneficial for those in the best practice review role. Additionally, volunteers should have the ability to develop practical implementation strategies and monitoring frameworks.

Educational Background:
A background in business administration, environmental science, conservation management, or a related field is preferred. Candidates should have relevant academic qualifications that demonstrate their expertise in the areas of business development and environmental sustainability.

Experience:
Volunteers should have prior experience in business plan development, research, or conservation management. Experience working with NGOs or in community development projects is highly desirable. Familiarity with the specific challenges and opportunities in Papua New Guinea's environmental context will be an advantage.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, as all documentation and communication will be conducted in English. Knowledge of additional languages spoken in Papua New Guinea may be beneficial but is not required.

Additional Notes:
This is a volunteer position, and the duration of the contract is not specified. The role is remote, allowing volunteers to work from anywhere. The position is open to international applicants, and there are no specific seniority levels required. Volunteers will receive valuable experience working with an internationally recognized NGO and contribute to meaningful conservation efforts.