Start date
July 31, 2026

End date
October 16, 2026

Duration
16 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 nonprofit (501(c)(3)) which supports charitable educational programs in Madagascar. The organization provides grants to local schools and community organizations, with a focus on equitable education, youth empowerment, and gender equity.

To sustain and expand its mission, Anjiro Initiative requires additional capacity in grant research and application development. Staff members are currently managing multiple responsibilities, and targeted support is needed to identify new funding opportunities and strengthen proposal quality, including brief support on fundraising strategy during staff training sessions. The Anjiro Initiative is requesting a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to co-identify grant opportunities, co-review eligibility criteria, assist with drafting and editing proposals, and compile impact data over the course of 16 weeks. This engagement will help strengthen Anjiro Initiative’s capacity to secure funding and sustain its educational and community programs.

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-identify at least five relevant grant opportunities per month
• Co-review eligibility criteria and provide recommendations for next steps
• Assist in drafting and editing 2–3 grant proposals during the engagement
• Co-facilitate 2–3 staff training sessions on grant research tools, proposal writing, and fundraising strategies during the engagement
• Help maintain a shared grant tracking document weekly
  
  

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 8:00 a.m.–5:00 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

Experience: 1 year of grant research, proposal writing, or nonprofit fundraising

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