.jpg){kind=logo}
Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions
The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit human rights organisation. Registered in the Netherlands, COHRE coordinates its global activities from their headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Their mission is to ensure the full enjoyment of the human right to adequate housing for everyone, everywhere, and to prevent forced evictions against persons, families and communities from their homes. COHRE’s activities also apply to ensuring that the economic and socio-cultural rights of people are upheld.
COHRE operates from offices in Geneva, Duluth and Accra and works at various levels – from grassroots assistance to communities fighting forced eviction or slum conditions, to standard-setting at international institutions such as the United Nations – to resist and prevent forced evictions, strengthen the protection and promotion of housing rights and increase awareness of these fundamental rights as key components of international human rights law.
COHRE work currently includes three major projects. These are:
• The Women and Housing Rights Programme, which mainly involves the Women’s Land Link Africa (WLLA) Project
• The Global Forced Eviction Programme
• The Right to Water Programme
The Programme’s coordinating office now operates from Accra, Ghana, where it is registered as an NGO. The Accra office serves as the main base for COHRE programmes in Africa.
In Ghana, COHRE is actively involved in projects covering the following focus areas:
• Policy advocacy, on a regional level;
• Research;
• Networking;
• Information.
Available Positions
Lawyers
|
Women’s Rights Project Assistant A project assistant is required to support the Women’s Land Link Program, by helping improve women’s access to, control over and ownership of land and housing. Code: CO02 |
Project Assistant |
To maintain the high performance and sustainability of projects all Volunteers and Interns are required to submit a handover document for future volunteers.
Requirements:
- You must be at least 18 years of age upon application.
- You must have a background of relevance to the individual position and demonstrate a strong interest Human Rights or Social Work.
- In order to maintain the sustainability and high performance of this project all volunteers are required to complete a detailed hand-over document for successive volunteers.
- You will need to be flexible and tolerant, show initiative and enthusiasm to face the many hurdles and challenges that you will encounter.
- The volunteer must have good oral and written communication skills.
Documentation Requirements:
- A completed application form - required for application.
- An up to date CV (Resume) - required for application.
- A personal or professional reference given by an employer, teacher, lawyer or doctor. This reference must include detail of the context in which the referee knows you, verifying your CV and stating that he/she knows of no reason why you should not volunteer. The referee should also provide their contact details in order that Ikando can contact them prior to your departure to confirm the reference given. This reference should be emailed by the referee to info [at] ikando.org.
- A copy by email to info [at] ikando.org of your travel (including medical) insurance certificates.
- Information on your travel arrangements (flight number, airline, arrival and departure time and dates). We always recommend volunteers who book online to email us their booking.
- A copy of the photo page of your passport to be emailed to info [at] ikando.org.
All Documentation must be sent to us at least two weeks before arrival.
Academic credit is available for this placement. Email us for more information.
Important Details
| Project Duration | Minimum Duration: 4 weeks - Maximum Duration: 52 weeks |
| Dates | You can volunteer at any time throughout the year. |
| Pricing | £ 655 for 4 weeks, £87 per week thereafter. For prices in your local currency click here. |
| Deposit | £ 150 (included in total price) |
| Location | Accra |
| Airport to fly into | Accra Airport (ACC) - (also known as Kotoka International Airport) |
| In-country Budget | From $50 on a tight budget to $150 p/week if you wish to explore Ghana. Read more... |
Click here for more information on our pricing.
What’s included in the project fees?
• Accommodation & fully furnished kitchen.
• Welcome pack
• In-country introduction to life in Ghana.
• Airport pick-up & drop-off
• 24/7 Emergency support.
What’s not included?
• Flights & Visa
• Vaccinations (please speak to your local GP)
• Insurance (required)
Health and Safety
Ghana is one of the safest countries in Africa. In the Global Peace Index it is ranked above both the United Kingdom and the US. It is the perfect introduction for first time volunteers to Africa. It has a democratic electoral process and a stable economy. Our ten-strong team in Ghana is there to ensure your health and safety at all times and you'll have emergency support 24/7.
Accommodation
The volunteer will be housed in our accommodation in the centre of town, with it possible to walk from the accommodation to nearby shops, communication centres, bars and restaurants. The spacious accommodation with a fully furnished kitchen is well maintained and has live-in staff to ensure you are well looked after. The surrounding garden and balconies overlooking Accra are perfect for chill out sessions with fellow volunteer housemates.
Food
Food is not included in our placements as in our experience volunteers prefer to cater for themselves. We have a fully furnished kitchen and our staff will show you where you can do your shopping. Western-style supermarkets and the bustling markets can be found nearby. A weekly vegetable & fruit shop can cost as little at $10, however shopping at the western-style supermarkets can be quite dear as most goods are imported.
"Quarshi (Ikando Staff) will introduce you to a woman named Felicia who sells mangos and bananas. Her mangos may very well be the sweetest in town. And, you will love shopping in the market." Elise Wray.
Airport Pick up
An Ikando member of staff will be at the airport arrivals to meet you and take you to the Accra accommodation. Please be aware that arrivals is located outside the airport, just keep an eye out for a sign with your name on it. Please ensure you send us your flight details two weeks before arrival.
Flights
Volunteers must arrange their own flights to Accra Airport (ACC). Please be aware that you should aim to arrive on the day your placement is due to start. If you are unable to do so please just check first with your volunteer coordinator whether the new dates also work for us. The following airlines fly into Accra:
- Alitalia (Lagos, Rome-Fiumicino)
- British Airways (London-Heathrow)
- Delta Air Lines (New York-JFK)
- EgyptAir (Cairo)
- Emirates (Abidjan, Dubai)
- Ethiopian Airlines (Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Lagos, Lome)
- Ghana International Airlines (London-Gatwick, Dusseldorf)
- Kenya Airways (Nairobi, Freetown, Monrovia)
- KLM (Amsterdam)
- Lufthansa (Frankfurt, Lagos)
- South African Airways (Johannesburg)
