Start date
May 4, 2026

End date
November 9, 2026

Duration
27 weeks

ELIGIBILITY: Must be at least 18 years of age. Must be a U.S. citizen.

Activity/project background

Anjiro Initiative is a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting charitable and educational programs in Madagascar. The organization provides grants to local schools and community organizations, with a focus on equitable education and youth empowerment. In recent years, Anjiro Initiative has expanded its mission to contribute to Madagascar’s education reform by engaging in policy advocacy and developing recommendations to address structural gaps in the education system.

Madagascar’s education sector faces challenges including limited access in rural areas, high dropout rates, and insufficient alignment between curricula and youth employment needs. To address these issues, Anjiro Initiative is working with youth organizations, diaspora groups, and education stakeholders to co-develop policy briefs that elevate student voices and provide evidence-based recommendations for reform. A key need is to strengthen the organization’s capacity to synthesize diverse inputs into clear, actionable briefs that can inform national dialogue and decision making.

The Anjiro Initiative is seeking a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP)to co design consultation processes with Anjiro Initiative students, diaspora representatives, and institutional partners such as UNICEF Madagascar, the Indian Ocean Commission, and UNESCO East Africa. The VSPP will co facilitate online consultations, assist with preparing documents for on field consultations, and help synthesize outcomes into policy briefs. This engagement will strengthen Anjiro Initiative’s capacity to contribute to education reform through inclusive, evidence based advocacy.

The organization has not previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer.

Engagement and tasks

The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners:

• Co-develop a draft overview of the current Malagasy education system and prepare a concept note for the advocacy plan
• Support partnership development with stakeholders such as UNICEF Madagascar, the Malagasy diaspora, Gen Z Madagasikara, and the Indian Ocean Youth Parliament
• Co-design consultation tools (e.g., Google Forms) to collect input from students, diaspora, and stakeholders for policy brief development
• Co-facilitate online consultation meetings with stakeholders (1–2 times per month, lasting approximately 1–2 hours per meeting) and co-facilitate 1–2 training sessions with Anjiro Initiative staff on policy brief development and consultation design
• Help synthesize consultation outcomes and co draft a policy brief document based on these results
  
  

VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be 10 hours per week.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 5:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Madagascar time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The host country counterpart will have access to Google Workspace, Zoom, WhatsApp, and email for regular communication and collaboration.

Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0–18), two adults must be present.

Optional Additional Activities

The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:

• To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
• To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
• To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
  
  

Goal 1 will be achieved through the VSPP's engagement and completion of the above tasks. The counterpart and VSPP may also choose to identify an activity that aligns with Goal 2. Additionally, the VSPP may identify a Goal 3 activity to implement during their engagement. See recommendations and tools for Goal 3 activities.

Essential Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in any field

Language: Intermediate French

Experience

• 1 year in a role related to advocacy, youth and community mobilization, or partnership
• Policy brief development
  
  

Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually