Start date
July 1, 2026

End date
December 23, 2026

Duration
25 weeks

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

Activity/project background

Turn It Around (TIA) is officially registered under the Eswatini Government Companies Act and is a full member of the Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organizations (CANGO). TIA operates under Motshane Inkhundla, comprising of three chiefdoms (Nduma, Ekupheleni and Mpolonjeni). It has plans of replicating and increasing coverage of the community-led integrated initiatives to other Tinkhundla constituencies. TIA’s mandate is to generate awareness across People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and community leaders in the three chiefdoms under Motshane Inkhundla, on mental health issues and community psychosocial support towards building solutions for support towards PLHIV. It is expected that the families and the groups of PLHIV will benefit from the acquired knowledge and skills in dealing with, and managing issues around, community psychosocial support, mental health and other related illnesses. TIA also conducts community dialogues with PLHIV and their families to ascertain their in-depth understanding of mental health issues and community psychosocial support services.

TIA is currently resource constrained and strengthening capacity to fundraise and manage grants will support its efficiency and effectiveness with community-led initiatives and partnerships. The organization is seeking the support of one Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to assist the organization operationalize its resource mobilization strategy to attract donors who might support the organization’s governance and programming work. The VSPP will help support the project by guiding the team to draft practical training session(s) on basic financial management, including fundraising techniques, accurate financial reporting, using digital tools like spreadsheets, or related apps. This will require that the VSPP be involved in preparing simple guides and demos tailored to Turn It Around.

The organization has not previously collaborated with Peace Corps. 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:

• Review the organization’s resource mobilization plan and provide feedback
• Support knowledge and skills transfer on financial management, including fundraising, financial reporting, and digital financial programs
• Co-identify potential funding sources, including grants, donors, and corporate sponsors
• Support the organization to write compelling grant proposals and funding requests that are tailored to specific donors or organizations
• Co-train the committee on how to maintain accurate records of donations, grants, and donor interactions, including use of digital financial programs
• Share best practices on how to be compliant with relevant regulations and organizational fundraising and financial management policies
  
  

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 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Eswatini time (SAST). Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The host country counterpart will have access to WhatsApp, emails, and Zoom 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 of fundraising and/or grant management for non-profit organizations
• 2 years mobilizing financial resources
• Supporting colleagues with knowledge and skills transfer for financial management
• Training or teaching adult learners
  
  

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