RFLD aims to support foreign students and professionals who work at NGOs in the field of development, peace & security, and human rights to gain experience in a West African environment. Our organization is equipped to host up to twenty individuals for the duration of two or three months. During their time here, they will participate in planning meetings, staff discussions, and will be given tasks that support the various programs that RFLD carries out. They will also attend training meetings and awareness campaigns that RFLD and its partners organize.

Exchange Eligibility

• Must be an undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited university.
• Fields of study are development, rural development, peace and security, human rights, women’s rights, girls rights, land and water, environment, climate change (policy, mitigation), democracy, governance and international law, agriculture, social entrepreneurship, microfinance, community development, and related fields. 

Volunteer Eligibility

• Must currently work at an organization which operates in any of the fields mentioned above.
• Individuals and freelancers may also apply. All must provide documentation to show proof of experience in the above-mentioned fields. 

Requirements for All Interns/Volunteers

• Must be able to travel.
• Must have health insurance for Benin and West Africa.
• Must be able to communicate in English and/or French.

Work Environment & Responsibilities

• Intern and volunteer responsibilities will be to produce written documents for publication, promotion, program information, and other things related to RFLD’s work. These can be done in French or English. 
• All will participate in daily work of the organization.
• RFLD will assign each student or professional volunteer to an area close to his/her specialty to the best of its ability, whether within a division within RFLD or with a member organization. 
• RFLD will pair students with its staff so each student can feel comfortable asking questions, or seeking help in any area while carrying out their daily tasks.

RFLD Commitments

RFLD will ensure that 

• students and volunteers have a secure and clean place to stay,
• they are transported to and from the office by RFLD staff or a trusted driver,
• staff are assigned to support the students and volunteers in their daily needs (grocery shopping, eating out, laundry, etc.),
• no student or volunteer will be permitted to go anywhere without RFLD staff (this is for their safety).

RFLD will cover all expenses related to work trips.

Student and Volunteer Travel & Lodging Expenses

Students and volunteers will be responsible for their travel to and from Benin, lodging, food and all other personal expenses, including leisure travel within Benin.