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'What are the hours?' - Neeson Screengrab/Taken

Got a very particular set of skills? The Rapid Response Corps is looking for new recruits

Got up to six months to spare? Willing to be sent to the middle of an “armed conflict situation”? Wait … come back.

RECKON YOUR SKILLS could help people in the developing world?

The Rapid Response Corps, run by Irish Aid, may want to hear from you.

Then again – unless you’re available at short notice for deployment overseas for up to six months, they may not.

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan announced today that volunteer recruits are being sought for the body – which was launched in 2007 to respond to humanitarian emergencies.

Corps members work with groups like the World Food Programme, UNICEF and others to provide skills in areas like logistics, engineering and water and sanitation supply. 

According to the Minister:

Since the Rapid Response Corps was first launched in 2007, there have been 256 deployments of the Corps to humanitarian emergencies in 45 countries. Corps members are making a valuable contribution to saving lives and rebuilding the livelihoods of people affected by emergencies around the world. 

There’s currently 93 people in the body – most of whom have worked extensively in the humanitarian or development sector.

The Department says candidates “should be available for deployment for periods of 3-6 months, usually at short notice, and have personal and employment circumstances that allow for emergency deployment at least once over a two year period”.

They should also be willing to deploy to a humanitarian/emergency situation including in an armed conflict situation.

The closing date for the latest intake of volunteers is 10 April, and there’s more detail about the process on the Irish Aid website.

If you think it’s for you, these are the roles that are being prioritised this time around:

  • Information Management Officers (including GIS)
  • Protection (including Child Protection Officers, Community Services Officers and Gender Based Violence Advisers)
  • Gender Advisers
  • Humanitarian Affairs Officers
  • Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Engineers
  • Engineers (Civil or Electrical)
  • Shelter Experts/Site Planners/Construction Engineers
  • Cash Assistance Officers
  • Supply Chain/Logistics Officers
  • Nutrition Specialists

Applications will be reviewed by a panel, and candidates will be called for an interview in Dublin in May. Training will take place in August or September.

Read: This Fine Gael councillor is worried that unelected officials could ‘spike my election’

Read: Mayo’s roads are being blessed – but there are no miracles expected

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24 Comments
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    Mute Sam Bartell
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:43 PM

    After a day with my kids, 6 months in a war torn country is actually appealling

    219
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    Mute Dziadek Uncaged
    Favourite Dziadek Uncaged
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:58 PM

    Boll0x and whys a c rap comment. Try live in Haiti or Syria.

    21
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    Mute Mark Byrne
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 7:19 PM

    Why IS a c rap comment?

    60
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    Mute stephen
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 7:53 PM

    A sense of humour is a gift a lot of people lack.

    125
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    Mute Glen
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 7:57 PM

    Dziadek
    Could you even attempt understanding humour or are you happy being miserable.

    68
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    Mute gerry campbell
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:47 PM

    Dziaek , get back in that cage.

    20
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    Mute stephen
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:47 PM

    I can lick the back of my elbow,if that’s any good to them.

    147
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    Mute Stephen
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:03 PM

    Gender adviser, that’s a bird that’s a bloke!, handy number!!

    67
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    Mute Martin Hayes
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 7:21 PM

    Gender Advisers, is that a counselling service for transvestites?

    59
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    Mute thejynxeffect
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 8:49 PM

    Ye wtf is a gender advisor? The job titles we create these days

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:42 PM

    I’d say now if you were starving for food/clean water, trying to figure out what sex you were, or should have been, would the last thing on your mind

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    Mute david dickson
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:40 PM

    We need them down here in East Galway.
    Rspid!!!

    42
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    Mute david dickson
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:43 PM

    I was too rapid.

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    Mute Bill Rooney
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:50 PM

    *rabid

    34
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    Mute Jason D'langer
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 7:23 PM

    You can apply on jobsbridge.ie apparently

    41
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    Mute trickytrixster
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 8:25 PM

    Now this is what job bridge should be for,like the hunger games for minimum wage jobs

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    Mute Martin Sinnott
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:29 PM

    We’ll have plenty of water meter installers looking for jobs abroad next year

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    Mute Moira Green
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 10:16 PM

    It said volunteers.

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    Mute Shane Gill
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:29 PM

    I assume they pay you?

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    Mute Padraig Fitzpatrick
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 11:18 PM

    have a wild guess there, Shane

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    Mute Aengus In Africa
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    Mar 24th 2015, 1:10 PM

    They do pay you, the articles use of the word “volunteer” is misleading.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:40 PM

    Yes I wear a red cape and have the power to tell people what to do, yes I’m a Cardinal lol.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:41 PM

    Do you mean those skills, wouldn’t want a sex workers skills then lol.

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    Mute Live Long
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    Mar 24th 2015, 8:38 AM

    Take a pass, why not volunteer for a needy cause in Ireland? Just a thought

    2
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