About The Job

Apply by :

January 1, 2026

Know By

March 1, 2026

Depart On

August 24, 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

Goeie more. Walalapo. Mwa penduka. Muzuhile. Morokeni. Goeie more. Walalapo. Mwa penduka. Muzuhile. Morokeni. Matisa. (Good morning in six languages)

As an Economic Empowerment Volunteer, you will have the opportunity to make a tangible difference in Namibian lives by working towards economic security and sustainable development. You will work with local counterparts to develop the capacity of aspiring entrepreneurs, promote the implementation of income-generating activities, and assist with small business development.

Peace Corps has operated in Namibia since the country’s independence in 1990, with the Economic Empowerment Project being added in 2010 to support sustainable economic initiatives.

Economic development is a priority for the Government of Namibia. While Namibia is classified as an upper-middle income country by the World Bank based on its GDP per capita, the unequal distribution of wealth masks the high poverty rate. The unemployment rate is 36.9%, with the youth unemployment rate at 44% (2023 Namibia Population and Housing Census Labor Force).

Youth in Namibia face many challenges such as systemic poverty and a small formal economy with limited economic opportunities. As the future of the nation, their economic situation is of particular concern.

In addition to making a positive impact in local communities, you yourself will have opportunities for personal growth, skill development and self-improvement.

Your Job Will Include

• Planning, coordinating, facilitating, and presenting workshops on entrepreneurship, basic business skills, financial literacy, numeracy skills, digital literacy, basic office administration and employability skills.
• Providing one-on-one coaching to entrepreneurs.
• Planning, organizing and hosting events for prospective and existing entrepreneurs and small business owners such as: Pitch Competitions, Market Days, Expos, and Business Networking events.
• Organizing market days and street fairs.
• Working with youth in Vocational Training Institutions, women’s groups, and operators in the informal sector (i.e., small business owners, and street vendors) to support their learning of new skills and practices.
• Facilitating connections among suppliers, producers, and vendors to share resources and knowledge with each other.
• Working with municipal and regional government offices to provide and facilitate opportunities for entrepreneurs and increase accessibility to services.
• Working with Namibians to assist with employability i.e. support them with writing resumes, participating in mock interviews, and appropriate workplace etiquette.
• Supporting women’s economic empowerment through digital literacy.
  
  

You may also have the opportunity to conduct secondary projects such as teaching life skills, numeracy skills, or English for communication purposes.

During Pre-Service Training, you will start learning and developing the skills and knowledge necessary to accomplish these tasks. Throughout the 10-week intensive training period, you will live with a local family and be trained on key technical, intercultural, language, medical, and safety and security aspects within the context of Namibia’s multicultural settings.

All training aims to foster four key professional job functions:

• Demonstrate responsibility for personal health, safety,
  
  

and security.

• Exemplify commitment to service and resilience.
• Facilitate participatory development.
• Integrate into communities.
  
  

Serving as an Economic Empowerment Volunteer will provide first-hand experience in project management, business development, business guiding, training delivery, leadership, planning, intercultural communication, grant writing, monitoring and evaluation, and community organizing. The skills you bring and the ones you learn can make long-term impact on people’s lives.

Required Skills

Qualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:

• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any business discipline
  
  

Or

• 5 years professional experience in business management