Ridge to Reef Resilience Promoter - Volunteer Position - Onsite in Samoa - 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
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
The Independent State of Samoa, located in the heart of the Pacific, faces increasing environmental challenges that threaten both its natural resources and the livelihood of its people. Peace Corps Samoa’s Environment Project – Ridge-to-Reef Resilient Samoa – supports the Samoan government's ongoing environmental efforts as well as community-identified priorities that are often directly or indirectly tied to their environment and natural resources. Peace Corps Volunteers work alongside community counterparts to plan, implement and monitor their environmental project priorities within a ridge-to-reef landscape. Volunteers support their counterparts on project design and management efforts. In addition, Volunteers prioritize raising knowledge, skills and awareness for a range of environmental topics covering the broader ridge-to-reef landscape unique to the Samoan islands.
Peace Corps Volunteers serve at the invitation of the Samoan Government, through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, to provide project management support and help communities plan, implement and monitor environmental priorities related to the sustainable management of coastal and marine ecosystems, forest and watershed habitats, and solid waste. For sustainability, Volunteers focus on community capacity building through participatory project design management (PPDM) and education and awareness efforts for men, women, youth and children.
Education
Volunteers and their partners will be trained to utilize participatory tools in a phased, asset-based approach to uncover existing strengths, advantages, and opportunities. Volunteers will play multiple roles during their service in Samoa to support and build capacity around environmental education, engagement, and action:
Volunteer assignments evolve over time, which requires ample patience and persistence. All Volunteers go through ups and downs as they adapt and learn by doing, especially in their first year. This will be the time to build on competencies in language, relationship building, community engagement tools, and adjusting to island life. These skills along with, initiative, humility, and flexibility are critical to a successful and effective service. Before swearing in as Volunteers, Trainees will receive eleven weeks of language, cultural, and technical training to prepare them for service.
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have an expressed interest in promoting environmental awareness and action in schools and communities, and meet the following minimum criteria:
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field and one or more year(s) of professional work experience in environmental education, environmental activities, and/or climate change resilience or adaptation activities.
OR
5 years’ professional work experience and one or more year(s) of professional work experience in environmental education, environmental activities, and/or climate change resilience or adaptation activities.
Apply by :
January 1, 2026
Know By
March 1, 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
The Independent State of Samoa, located in the heart of the Pacific, faces increasing environmental challenges that threaten both its natural resources and the livelihood of its people. Peace Corps Samoa’s Environment Project – Ridge-to-Reef Resilient Samoa – supports the Samoan government's ongoing environmental efforts as well as community-identified priorities that are often directly or indirectly tied to their environment and natural resources. Peace Corps Volunteers work alongside community counterparts to plan, implement and monitor their environmental project priorities within a ridge-to-reef landscape. Volunteers support their counterparts on project design and management efforts. In addition, Volunteers prioritize raising knowledge, skills and awareness for a range of environmental topics covering the broader ridge-to-reef landscape unique to the Samoan islands.
Peace Corps Volunteers serve at the invitation of the Samoan Government, through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, to provide project management support and help communities plan, implement and monitor environmental priorities related to the sustainable management of coastal and marine ecosystems, forest and watershed habitats, and solid waste. For sustainability, Volunteers focus on community capacity building through participatory project design management (PPDM) and education and awareness efforts for men, women, youth and children.
Education
Volunteers and their partners will be trained to utilize participatory tools in a phased, asset-based approach to uncover existing strengths, advantages, and opportunities. Volunteers will play multiple roles during their service in Samoa to support and build capacity around environmental education, engagement, and action:
- Increase knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the environment, national environmental policy and best practices, and proactive engagement among youth and adult community members.
- Support needs assessments and development of action plans for community-specific environmental priorities, risks, and opportunities.
- Strengthening culturally appropriate community-level environmental adaptation and mitigation measures.
- Research and develop responsible and sustainable resources to support project development and implementation.
Volunteer assignments evolve over time, which requires ample patience and persistence. All Volunteers go through ups and downs as they adapt and learn by doing, especially in their first year. This will be the time to build on competencies in language, relationship building, community engagement tools, and adjusting to island life. These skills along with, initiative, humility, and flexibility are critical to a successful and effective service. Before swearing in as Volunteers, Trainees will receive eleven weeks of language, cultural, and technical training to prepare them for service.
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have an expressed interest in promoting environmental awareness and action in schools and communities, and meet the following minimum criteria:
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field and one or more year(s) of professional work experience in environmental education, environmental activities, and/or climate change resilience or adaptation activities.
OR
5 years’ professional work experience and one or more year(s) of professional work experience in environmental education, environmental activities, and/or climate change resilience or adaptation activities.