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

A Kyiv-based NGO is currently implementing several large-scale humanitarian and protection programs across multiple regions of the country. Ongoing activities include emergency assistance and distribution of essential relief items for conflict-affected populations and internally displaced persons, as well as provision of humanitarian kits and rapid-response support in communities heavily impacted by hostilities across multiple regions. The organization also operates a family hub that provides psychosocial support, child-friendly services, and essential guidance for vulnerable families, and leads women’s economic empowerment initiatives. In addition, the NGO implements specialized protection programs for survivors of gender-based violence, including women and children residing in rehabilitation shelters. Through these programs, the organization provides humanitarian aid, psychosocial assistance, and long-term community development support to tens of thousands of beneficiaries.

The organization has multiple issues such as limited staffing and resources, growing number of clients and their needs, fatigue associated with the ongoing war, and maintaining the quality of their services, among the few. During the most recent annual assessment, the organization prioritized partnership development as one of the key areas for improvement. As external funding opportunities become scarce and hard to come by, the organization is looking for ways to reimagine their approach to identifying, attracting and maintaining committed international partners to ensure they can continue to offer this critical support to communities impacted by war.

The organization seeks targeted support from a VSPP to strengthen donor outreach by improving promotional and fundraising communication materials and building staff strategic capacity and planning around donor engagement. The host country partners hope to expand tools and other methodologies that would help them effectively present their current and planned activities, build strategic partnerships, and convert donor interest into tangible financial contributions. This will strengthen the organization’s ability to secure new resources for its humanitarian activities and enhance its long-term institutional sustainability. To do so effectively, the organization invites one Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to help them support their communications initiatives.

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-assess existing practices for external communications
• Co-assess and develop strategies to improve the NGO’s social media presence
• Co-create outreach strategy for building partnerships
• Co-create a database of at least 20 international organizations that align with the NGO’s mission
• Advise on the selection of at least 3 potential partner organizations and outreach communications
  
  

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