Community Economic Development Facilitator - Volunteer Position - Onsite in Colombia - 2 years, plus 3 months training
Peace Corps
United States
Posted on Aug 2, 2025
About The Job
Apply by :
January 1, 2026
Know By
March 1, 2026
Depart On
August 22, 2026
Duration
2 years, plus 3 months training
Overview
Project description
Rural and semi-urban communities in Colombia face persistent economic disparities and unequal access to opportunities, especially when compared to their urban counterparts. In partnership with the Colombian government, this Peace Corps Community Economic Development (CED) project is designed to address these structural gaps by fostering local leadership, inclusive economic participation, and holistic capacity-building among youth, women, and community members.
Peace Corps Volunteers in the CED project (hereafter, Volunteer) are embedded in rural and semi-urban communities where they collaborate with schools, vocational training institutions, and local groups to promote entrepreneurship, financial literacy, vocational skills, and community resilience. Their work supports individuals and groups, especially women and youth, to develop critical life skills, improve economic outcomes, and strengthen community ties.
Goal
Community members are empowered and experience improved economic outcomes that contribute to sustainable local development in Colombia.
Objectives
Increase personal and economic empowerment of children, youth, community groups and organizations.
Improve individuals’, especially women’s, capacity to manage small-scale businesses.
Increase the capacity of individuals, with special emphasis on women and youth, for sound financial decision-making and money management.
Activities
Collaborate with public high schools and co-teachers to co-facilitate classes and extracurricular activities that build entrepreneurial thinking, socio-emotional skills, vocational orientation, and life planning.
Support the development of after-school clubs and interest-based groups in areas such as sports, arts, journalism, STEAM, and leadership.
Work with women’s groups, youth organizations, and local leaders to strengthen life skills, confidence, and community participation.
Co-facilitate workshops on personal financial management and basic business practices to help individuals and small businesses improve decision-making and sustainability.
Support micro-enterprises, such as informal vendors and small-scale agricultural producers, by strengthening access to information, training, and local resources.
Coordinate with Colombia’s national vocational training agency (SENA) and other partners to enhance technical training opportunities in rural communities.
Additional Context
Volunteers often work with micro-enterprises that are informal, under-resourced, and operating at subsistence levels. Relationship-building is a critical part of the process, and it may take several months before formal business support activities can begin. Flexibility, patience, and trust-building are essential.
Community needs and opportunities vary significantly between Colombia’s Caribbean and Andean regions, and each placement will respond to local conditions. Activities are expected to evolve over time, shaped by community input, facilitator strengths, and emerging priorities.
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
Candidates who are dual citizens of Colombia and the U.S. or who were born in Colombia and became U.S. citizens after July 4, 1991 are not eligible to serve in Peace Corps Colombia. Under Colombian law, anyone born in Colombia who became a U.S. citizen after 1991 or anyone holding dual U.S. and Colombia citizenship is considered a citizen of Colombia, and not of the United States. If an individual faced a legal, safety or emergency situation in Colombia, the Peace Corps' ability to intervene would be limited. If you fit one of these categories, we encourage you to look at Peace Corps Volunteer assignments in other countries.
Apply by :
January 1, 2026
Know By
March 1, 2026
Depart On
August 22, 2026
Duration
2 years, plus 3 months training
Overview
Project description
Rural and semi-urban communities in Colombia face persistent economic disparities and unequal access to opportunities, especially when compared to their urban counterparts. In partnership with the Colombian government, this Peace Corps Community Economic Development (CED) project is designed to address these structural gaps by fostering local leadership, inclusive economic participation, and holistic capacity-building among youth, women, and community members.
Peace Corps Volunteers in the CED project (hereafter, Volunteer) are embedded in rural and semi-urban communities where they collaborate with schools, vocational training institutions, and local groups to promote entrepreneurship, financial literacy, vocational skills, and community resilience. Their work supports individuals and groups, especially women and youth, to develop critical life skills, improve economic outcomes, and strengthen community ties.
Goal
Community members are empowered and experience improved economic outcomes that contribute to sustainable local development in Colombia.
Objectives
Increase personal and economic empowerment of children, youth, community groups and organizations.
Improve individuals’, especially women’s, capacity to manage small-scale businesses.
Increase the capacity of individuals, with special emphasis on women and youth, for sound financial decision-making and money management.
Activities
Collaborate with public high schools and co-teachers to co-facilitate classes and extracurricular activities that build entrepreneurial thinking, socio-emotional skills, vocational orientation, and life planning.
Support the development of after-school clubs and interest-based groups in areas such as sports, arts, journalism, STEAM, and leadership.
Work with women’s groups, youth organizations, and local leaders to strengthen life skills, confidence, and community participation.
Co-facilitate workshops on personal financial management and basic business practices to help individuals and small businesses improve decision-making and sustainability.
Support micro-enterprises, such as informal vendors and small-scale agricultural producers, by strengthening access to information, training, and local resources.
Coordinate with Colombia’s national vocational training agency (SENA) and other partners to enhance technical training opportunities in rural communities.
Additional Context
Volunteers often work with micro-enterprises that are informal, under-resourced, and operating at subsistence levels. Relationship-building is a critical part of the process, and it may take several months before formal business support activities can begin. Flexibility, patience, and trust-building are essential.
Community needs and opportunities vary significantly between Colombia’s Caribbean and Andean regions, and each placement will respond to local conditions. Activities are expected to evolve over time, shaped by community input, facilitator strengths, and emerging priorities.
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
- Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field
- 5 years' professional work experience
Candidates who are dual citizens of Colombia and the U.S. or who were born in Colombia and became U.S. citizens after July 4, 1991 are not eligible to serve in Peace Corps Colombia. Under Colombian law, anyone born in Colombia who became a U.S. citizen after 1991 or anyone holding dual U.S. and Colombia citizenship is considered a citizen of Colombia, and not of the United States. If an individual faced a legal, safety or emergency situation in Colombia, the Peace Corps' ability to intervene would be limited. If you fit one of these categories, we encourage you to look at Peace Corps Volunteer assignments in other countries.