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Volunteer as a Management Consultant

by Suzanne Speight
The Challenge

As a volunteer management consultant, you can offer a lifeline to a budding enterprise in a third world community and leave a lasting legacy, all while obtaining an insider country perspective, enjoying some local cuisine, and making friendships outside of your fellow American vacationers. Not your average "crowded, hot, visit ten castles in two days" excursion, that's for certain.

At a time when "doggie day camp" businesses are booming in the United States, four-fifths of the world's six billion people scrape by, dealing with much graver issues.

Fortunately, entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the third world. But, greater strategic management expertise is needed to secure access to partnerships and capital. That is where an experienced business management consultant can help a promising new business onto a path toward success.

How to Make a Difference

While the focus is on creating business management strategies, groups that host management consultant volunteer vacations offer a range of flexible options. Volunteer assignments can be as short as a few weeks or last from three to six months to a year or more, and the organization usually pays for and arranges travel and living arrangements. Fluency in the local language is a always a plus, but some organizations hire local interpreters.

  • ACDI/VOCA sends more than 300 volunteer consultants to international development projects overseas. ACDI/VOCA volunteers typically are mid-career and senior professionals in their respective fields who are willing to contribute two to four weeks of their time and talent. ACDI/VOCA pays for all assignment-related expenses, including airfare, passport, visas, lodging, meals and incidentals, project materials, immunizations and more. If your specialty isn't currently advertised, you can submit an application for future consideration.
  • International Executive Service Corps (IESC) offers hands-on technical assistance projects overseas varying in length from a week to several months. Many IESC volunteers are retired, although a substantial number are still working and active in their industries and professions. Economy airfare and specified travel related expenses, such as immunizations and visas, are covered, and volunteers receive a per-diem for meals and housing. If an overseas project lasts 28 days or longer, International Executive Service Corps may pay expenses to enable a spouse to accompany a volunteer.
  • Citizens Development Corps offers volunteer business consultant opportunities ranging from two to eight weeks in Africa, Central America, Central and Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. Citizens Development Corps provides roundtrip coach airfare, expenses incurred en route to the assignment site, immunizations, visa procurement, emergency travel insurance, accommodations and a modest per-diem. Volunteers should have at least ten years business experience.
  • The Foundation for Sustainable Development's ProCorps Program works through its network of more than 100 organizations in eight countries to identify and match volunteer business professionals with projects that will benefit from their expertise. Because ProCorps volunteers have individual needs and time constraints, program length, objectives, and locations are flexible.