Community Development Specialist

Post

El Salvador

Partner Organization Name

Small businesses, entrepreneur groups, community savings groups

Required Skills

Associate degree in any field and at least two years of full-time, post-high school work experience (from any combination of roles).
OR
Bachelor's degree in any field.
OR
High school diploma or GED and four years of full-time, post-high school work (from any combination of roles).

Living Conditions

Volunteers will live in a private room within a host family’s house with shared common spaces, such as the living room and kitchen. Most placements are in a rural community with intermittent access to electricity and running water. The Volunteer will walk or use public buses to commute.

Language Requirement

(PCV) Spanish 1

Primary Sector

Community Economic Development

Accepts Couples

Yes

Country

El Salvador

Assignment Length (months)

24

Accepting Applications?

Yes

Program

PCV

Featured Job

No

Posted on LinkedIn

No

Activities

Conduct assessments and develop work plans based on community, small business, or organizational needs.  
Provide training on project design and management practices, personal money management, business planning, marketing, digital literacy, financial management, and product design. 
Facilitate entrepreneurship workshops for business owners. 
Support the development of innovative business ideas. 
Work with youth and individuals to promote entrepreneurial behaviors.
Facilitate the creation and strengthening of community savings groups.
Promote community engagement and active participation in economic opportunities. 

You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as English conversation clubs.

Training

As a Community Development Specialist, you will be trained on participatory methodologies, personal money management best practices, and business development. Peace Corps/El Salvador will teach you Spanish to help you comfortably live in and connect with the community.

After 11 weeks of training, you will move to rural community where you will collaborate with community leaders, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. You will work with the community to assess the economic needs and develop income-generating solutions.

Job Highlights

Develop an expertise in project design and management, financial management, and launching a small business. 

Gain a better understanding of business challenges that face communities in South America.
Strengthen Spanish language skills in an immersive, intercultural environment.

Couple Types

Only heterosexual couples can be accepted for this program.

Couple Sector Combinations

Each person must apply separately and must qualify for a position in either the same or a different sector than their partner.

Couple Training Conditions

Couples will live separately during training but will see each other for joint-training sessions and may have time together on weekends.

Couple Living Conditions

Couples who are selected for the same sector will live together but work with different local partners, which may be in the same community or in neighboring communities (not more than 30 minutes apart)., Cohabitating couples are highly encouraged to present themselves as married throughout service due to cultural expectations.

No Degree Required

Yes