Community Development Facilitator in Coastal Resource Management - Volunteer Position - Onsite in Philippines - 2 years, plus 3 months training
Peace Corps
Marketing & Communications, Customer Service
United States
Posted on Aug 2, 2025
About The Job
Apply by :
January 1, 2026
Know By
March 6, 2026
Depart On
July 10, 2026
Duration
2 years, plus 3 months training
ELIGIBILITY: Must be at least 18 years of age. Must be a U.S. citizen.
Project description
Community Development Facilitators (CDFs) work in Local Government Units (LGUs) at the provincial, city, or municipal level. CDFs also collaborate with LGU partners such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs). LGUs have the mandate to manage coastal and marine resources under the Local Government Code (Republic Act 7160) of the Philippines. Volunteers work alongside LGU staff, NGO staff and the community on a variety of activities around environmental education, community organizing, and local government planning. While specific activities depend on the needs of the LGU and community, typical activities include:
Facilitation of participatory coastal resource assessments.
Development and/or update of databases (e.g., Coastal Environment Profile).
Development and/or update of the 5-year LGU Coastal Resource Management Plan.
Review of existing laws and guidelines that govern the management of coastal and marine resources and explore the possibility of improving those laws and guidelines.
Sharing transferable skills with community-based organizations (e.g., youth, women, fisher folk).
Establishment and/or enhancement of a marine protected area management system.
Development of business concepts/alternative livelihoods in the community.
Facilitation of environmental awareness activities for in-school and out-of-school youth.
Participation in the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office through coastal resource management planning and activities.
Volunteers collaborate primarily with people and are not technical advisors. As Community Development Facilitators, Volunteers spend most of their time engaging and collaborating with people in government, the school community, women’s groups, children and youth groups, and the fisher folk in general. As a result, Volunteers must have good people skills and the interest and ability to collaborate with people of all ages and different sectors of the community. Additionally, Volunteers must develop the ability to understand and diplomatically manage the political dynamics in the LGU and community so they can strategize win-win solutions that strengthen the local coastal resource management program and establish the community’s buy-in to support the program. This includes respect for the bureaucratic government processes and time frames in terms of program implementation.
Depending on the LGU and calendar of activities, Volunteers may have weeks or months when they spend most of their time in the LGU office. During other periods, Volunteers may spend time away from the office doing environmental education in schools, community organizing with individuals and organizations, and meetings with fisher folk and other groups.
Community integration is an indispensable part of Volunteer work. To be successful in service, Volunteers must have an interest in Filipino culture and a willingness to integrate into their Filipino community. The responsibility for integration rests on Volunteers and host communities, and that includes learning the local language. During Pre-Service Training, Peace Corps Philippines provides tools and strategies for Volunteers to enhance their community integration and language acquisition. The Volunteers’ main focus during their first three months at their permanent sites is community integration. Volunteers may find that utilizing Facebook and other social media will help them connect with a larger community. By devoting attention to community integration and language learning, Volunteers lay the groundwork for their future community collaboration.
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have an expressed interest in promoting environmental awareness in schools and communities, and one or more of the following criteria:
Due to the Philippines government visa requirements and the government’s current strong stance and action on combatting drug production, distribution/trafficking, and use, applicants will not be considered for Peace Corps positions in the Philippines at this time if they have ever been convicted of any major crimes, even if it was expunged or sealed, and even if they otherwise would meet the standards for legal clearance to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer more generally.
Apply by :
January 1, 2026
Know By
March 6, 2026
Depart On
July 10, 2026
Duration
2 years, plus 3 months training
ELIGIBILITY: Must be at least 18 years of age. Must be a U.S. citizen.
Project description
Community Development Facilitators (CDFs) work in Local Government Units (LGUs) at the provincial, city, or municipal level. CDFs also collaborate with LGU partners such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs). LGUs have the mandate to manage coastal and marine resources under the Local Government Code (Republic Act 7160) of the Philippines. Volunteers work alongside LGU staff, NGO staff and the community on a variety of activities around environmental education, community organizing, and local government planning. While specific activities depend on the needs of the LGU and community, typical activities include:
Facilitation of participatory coastal resource assessments.
Development and/or update of databases (e.g., Coastal Environment Profile).
Development and/or update of the 5-year LGU Coastal Resource Management Plan.
Review of existing laws and guidelines that govern the management of coastal and marine resources and explore the possibility of improving those laws and guidelines.
Sharing transferable skills with community-based organizations (e.g., youth, women, fisher folk).
Establishment and/or enhancement of a marine protected area management system.
Development of business concepts/alternative livelihoods in the community.
Facilitation of environmental awareness activities for in-school and out-of-school youth.
Participation in the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office through coastal resource management planning and activities.
Volunteers collaborate primarily with people and are not technical advisors. As Community Development Facilitators, Volunteers spend most of their time engaging and collaborating with people in government, the school community, women’s groups, children and youth groups, and the fisher folk in general. As a result, Volunteers must have good people skills and the interest and ability to collaborate with people of all ages and different sectors of the community. Additionally, Volunteers must develop the ability to understand and diplomatically manage the political dynamics in the LGU and community so they can strategize win-win solutions that strengthen the local coastal resource management program and establish the community’s buy-in to support the program. This includes respect for the bureaucratic government processes and time frames in terms of program implementation.
Depending on the LGU and calendar of activities, Volunteers may have weeks or months when they spend most of their time in the LGU office. During other periods, Volunteers may spend time away from the office doing environmental education in schools, community organizing with individuals and organizations, and meetings with fisher folk and other groups.
Community integration is an indispensable part of Volunteer work. To be successful in service, Volunteers must have an interest in Filipino culture and a willingness to integrate into their Filipino community. The responsibility for integration rests on Volunteers and host communities, and that includes learning the local language. During Pre-Service Training, Peace Corps Philippines provides tools and strategies for Volunteers to enhance their community integration and language acquisition. The Volunteers’ main focus during their first three months at their permanent sites is community integration. Volunteers may find that utilizing Facebook and other social media will help them connect with a larger community. By devoting attention to community integration and language learning, Volunteers lay the groundwork for their future community collaboration.
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have an expressed interest in promoting environmental awareness in schools and communities, and one or more of the following criteria:
- Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field
- 5 years' professional work experience
Due to the Philippines government visa requirements and the government’s current strong stance and action on combatting drug production, distribution/trafficking, and use, applicants will not be considered for Peace Corps positions in the Philippines at this time if they have ever been convicted of any major crimes, even if it was expunged or sealed, and even if they otherwise would meet the standards for legal clearance to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer more generally.