Start date
June 1, 2026

End date
December 7, 2026

Duration
27 weeks

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

Activity/project background

Three municipal organizations in Ukraine seek support in external partnership development and communications. The first is a town council in western Ukraine whose activities include economic development planning, heritage restoration, youth space creation, and coordination of community wide health and environmental initiatives. The second is a town council in northern Ukraine whose activities include the improvement of infrastructure, youth development, and support for internally displaced persons (IDPs). The third is a municipal organization in a large southeastern city in Ukraine, focused on cultivating global partnerships that support the city’s recovery, visibility, and long-term development.

Each of these partners has identified a need for more strategic partnership cultivation and more effective external communications. As community leaders across Ukraine respond to the needs of communities during the ongoing war, developing and maintaining global connections and support is an ever-present priority. This urgency is especially great as local leaders not only meet present needs but also anticipate the reconstruction that will take place when the war ends. In a shrinking donor environment, local municipalities require the collaboration and support of foreign partners to implement life-changing projects for their local constituents. However, to do so successfully, municipalities need to approach their planning and outreach more strategically – a capacity where many partners lack necessary skills.

Each partner requests a VSPP to build the capacity of local partners in external partnership development and communications. These three separate engagements will all include an assessment of current strategies and working with each team to identify goals and develop a strategy for partnership development and outreach moving forward, including the co-development of new marketing and outreach materials. VSPPs will offer trainings to staff on identifying potential partners, successful communication and presentation skills when engaging with potential partners and creating opportunities for partners to develop and practice their relevant English skills for such communications.

Each organization has previously collaborated with Peace Corps Volunteers and VSPPs. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.

Engagement and tasks

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

• Co-assess existing practices for external communications
• Co-create a partnership-building strategy that includes prioritized areas for collaboration, interactive formats, key partner selection criteria, and implementation recommendations
• Co-create a database of at least 20 international organizations that align with the organization’s mission
• Strengthen the organization’s LinkedIn page and support networking
• Advise on the selection of at least 3 potential partner organizations and help develop outreach communications, keeping in mind that all outreach initiatives will be conducted by Host Country Partners
  
  

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

Online collaboration will generally occur twice a week between 3:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m., Ukraine time on weekdays, each session lasting for about an hour. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The Host Country Counterpart will have access to email, Zoom, and WhatsApp 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

Experience: 1 year developing digital communications, brand campaigns, or social media content 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