Start date
September 1, 2026

End date
February 16, 2027

Duration
24 weeks

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

Activity/project background

The Regional Tourism Office of Alaotra Mangoro (ORTALMA), located in Moramanga, Madagascar, is a nonprofit organization responsible for structuring, promoting, and developing sustainable tourism in the Alaotra Mangoro region. Its activities include providing tourism information and services to operators and visitors, developing and promoting tourism products, organizing regional and international promotional events, and facilitating participation in fairs and exhibitions. ORTALMA also supports the professionalization of local tourism operators and advances youth and women’s empowerment initiatives while highlighting the region’s biodiversity and cultural heritage

Despite significant natural and cultural assets, tourism operators in Alaotra Mangoro face limited access to international markets due to low visibility, inadequate promotional materials, and minimal engagement with global tourism and technical partners. The absence of a coordinated international outreach strategy restricts ORTALMA’s ability to attract international visitors, engage potential technical and financial partners, and secure support for sustainable tourism initiatives. Strengthening ORTALMA’s capacity to build partnerships and communicate its offerings effectively is essential to improving regional economic opportunities and reinforcing long term conservation efforts.

The organization is requesting a Virtual Service Pilot Participant to support the development of a structured international partnership strategy that enhances ORTALMA’s outreach and communication capacities. The VSPP will co design a strategic partnership prospectus, create a verified list of 20 potential international partners, develop a communication toolkit with three professional email templates, and facilitate monthly virtual sessions to strengthen the team’s English language presentation skills. These activities focus on capacity strengthening rather than fulfilling staff functions.

ORTALMA has not previously worked with Peace Corps Volunteers or Response Volunteers and understands the distinct virtual, collaborative role of a VSPP.

Engagement and tasks

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

• Co-design a “Strategic Partnership Prospectus” highlighting the region’s tourist attractions, aimed at international travel agencies and tour operators, environmental NGOs, and private foundations interested in sustainable tourism
• Conduct targeted research to identify and create a verified database of 20 high-potential international contacts (10 travel agencies/tour operators and 10 technical or financial organizations) whose missions align with sustainable tourism in Madagascar
• Develop a “communication toolkit” for ORTALMA, including three high-quality email templates: one for commercial partners (travel agencies), one for technical partners (NGOs), and one for potential donors. This ensures professional and consistent communication from ORTALMA
• Organize a monthly virtual knowledge-sharing session with the ORTALMA team to practice presenting the regional offering in English and to review the progress of strategies for raising awareness of international partnerships
  
  

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. Madagascar time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The host country counterpart will have access to WhatsApp, Google drive, 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: Certificate in tourism management, marketing, international relations, nonprofit management, or related fields

Experience

• Creating promotional materials or professional presentations
• Familiarity with the international tourism industry or sustainable travel trends
• Grant writing or fundraising for nonprofit organizations
  
  

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