Job Description
OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT:

The Community Economic Development (CED) project seeks to sustain economic growth and improve the standard of living for families and communities. Peace Corps CED Volunteers (hereafter, Volunteers) are assigned to work throughout the country with community development organizations in rural communities where small-scale business activities, such as retail, rural tourism, agribusiness, or community-based services drive the local economy. All CED activities will have a particular emphasis on working with women and youth.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES:

1) Strengthen the capacity of community organizations to contribute to local economic development.

2) Empower individuals, especially women and youth, to create and access economic opportunities.

PROJECT FOCUS AND APPROACH:

The primary focus is on capacity building through a unique one-on-one relationship with local development associations, as well as current and potential entrepreneurs. The Volunteer will conduct community assessments and engage in monitoring and evaluation activities throughout service. The working environment will include formal settings, including high schools, and informal settings, such as communal meeting spaces, entrepreneur's homes, or places of business. Collaboration includes, but is not limited to:

• Strengthening management of community organizations and businesses.

• Guide project design, planning, marketing, bookkeeping, etc.

• Support individuals in adopting entrepreneurial behaviors.

• Improving individuals' skills to achieve economic security.

DIGITAL LITERACY:

Volunteers will also focus on bridging the digital gap by building capacities in digital literacy to better position community members to achieve future economic growth goals. Staff will train Volunteers and provide them with curriculum materials and other resources so they can offer digital literacy courses to community members.

EXPECTATIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS:

• Be a highly-motivated, self-starter prepared to work full-time within an un-structured environment across formal and informal settings.

• Overcome challenges, including geographic, environmental, climatic, cultural, and socio-economic factors, to integrate fully into a rural, under-resourced community.

• Adapt to Peace Corps and Costa Rican norms and procedures during trainings, meetings, recreational activities, and daily life in our communities of service.

EXAMPLES OF CURRENT VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS:

Ben's Experience:

• Ben works in a rural community focused on agribusiness. Each morning, he walks 30 minutes to the high school where he supports the Talleres Socioproductivos Program, helping 7th-11th graders develop skills in leadership, teamwork, and business. Three half-days per week, Ben enjoys giving hands-on support to a teacher developing a school garden where students grow and sell vegetables.

• After the school day, Ben works with the manager of a local cheese factory, teaching her basic computer skills for bookkeeping and marketing, and helps her in building her organizational skills.

• Finally, Ben works twice a week with local women's groups to facilitate entrepreneurial activities, offering training in leadership, empowerment, and business skills.

Jackie's Experience:

• Jackie works in a very remote, rural community of about 150 people. Here, she devotes the majority of her time developing a rural tourism business with the community. She teaches business skills and guides them in applying for grants to build lodging for tourists visiting a nearby National Park. This work is in the afternoons and weekends, as many participants come from outside the area.

• Her work also focuses on helping the community transition from informal work activities, such as illegal gold digging, to more formal and sustainable employment, such as learning how to run a tour guide business. Separately, Jackie loves going daily to the local school where she supports children with their English and physical education classes.

Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:

• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any business discipline

OR

• 5 years professional experience in business management

Desired Skills
Competitive candidates will have experience in one or more of the following criteria:

Managing and supporting community organizations:

• Strategic planning, development, design, management;

• Participatory community assessment tools;

• Leading committees or community projects;

• Proposal writing, fundraising, feasibility studies.

Entrepreneurship, social business, or small business:

• Owner, operator, manager;

• Mentor, trainer, facilitator;

• Business simulations or competitions.

Mentoring or teaching in schools, clubs, or youth groups:

• Focused on youth and women;

• Focused on entrepreneurship, leadership, empowerment, business skills or related.

Digital literacy:

• Knowledge and experience teaching across a variety of digital tools;

• Microsoft Office, social media platforms, basic web design, related tools;

• Excel spreadsheets for basic bookkeeping, cost and pricing, and inventory control.

Living Conditions
HOUSING:

Volunteers are required to live with a host family for at least nine months, including three months during Pre-Service Training (PST) and at least six months in their assigned community. If suitable housing is available, they may request independent living. Volunteers should be prepared for the possibility of living with a host family throughout their service.

Although living with a family brings challenges (less privacy, new diet, noise, etc.), the homestay experience offers rewards like community integration, safety considerations, increased language skills, building trust and friendships, cultural sharing, and a unique understanding of the Costa Rican culture. Applicants must think carefully about the commitment to live and integrate with a Costa Rican host family. They must be willing to follow cultural norms and respect family dynamics.

Peace Corps Staff arrange housing with respected host families in the assigned communities. Staff thoroughly inspect homes prior to approval. Most host-family homes have indoor bathrooms and showers but do not have hot water.

PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE:

Most Costa Ricans take great pride in being neat, clean, and well-groomed, even on informal occasions. Volunteers should always follow the example of Costa Ricans at their worksites and in their communities (e.g., clean and ironed clothes, polished shoes, and groomed hair). Working with schools, government officials, and other professionals requires that Volunteers consistently demonstrate a professional attitude and appearance. Professional dress in the workplace is business casual and includes knee-length skirts/dresses, pressed pants, khakis, nice jeans, blouses, collared shirts, or short sleeve polos. Flip-flops, sport sandals, shorts, tank tops, t-shirts, crop tops, and other athleisure wear should only be worn in the home, during recreational activities, or at the beach, but never at work. Revealing attire or the lack of proper undergarments is never acceptable for Peace Corps service.

CULTURAL COMPETENCE:

While Peace Corps/Costa Rica welcomes Volunteers of all backgrounds and experiences, the culture and beliefs in some communities may produce stigma and discrimination. Volunteers must be mindful of cultural norms and use their judgment to determine how best to approach differences in Costa Rica. Volunteers with backgrounds and/or beliefs that differ from most of their Costa Rican community may experience curiosity or unwanted attention. Many Volunteers have been able to turn these encounters into learning experiences, to share values, and to deepen community members' understanding of the U.S.

COMMUNITY:

Work communities vary in size and geographical characteristics, from remote rural communities to semi-rural towns, all with limited public transport options. Most communities enjoy a warm and humid climate throughout the year, offering a unique environment to explore. The landscape includes diverse, mountainous terrain and rustic unpaved roads. All regions of Costa Rica experience a heavy rainy season. Volunteers should be prepared for tropical living and coexistence with a variety of insects and animals. Training will be provided to help Volunteers navigate the unique tropical flora and fauna.

Nearly all Volunteer communities are accessible to the capital San José within two to eight hours by public transportation. The closest urban center may be as little as 1 hour away by public transportation. Buses are available from all communities several days a week. They are both inexpensive and relatively dependable.

COMMUNICATIONS:

Volunteers must have a cell phone connected to local phone service. Both pre-paid and post-paid services are available. Peace Corps does not purchase cell phones for Volunteers. Volunteers may use an "unlocked" cell phone brought from the U.S or purchase a cell phone in Costa Rica. Internet service is not available in in all communities, and access to Wi-Fi may be limited.

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