Apply by
January 1, 2025
Know by
March 1, 2025
Depart on
July 7, 2025
Duration
2 years, plus 3 months training
Project description
Picture yourself walking home from work with your colleagues against a Botswana sunset, changing colors every minute as the rays hit the dust from kids playing cultural games in the middle of the dusty road. Picture yourself discussing a new business idea that a community member has as you line up at the standpipes, what they call the local water point; the laughter as one community member shyly asks what she terms a silly question only to find that more than half are eager to hear the answer. You hear, “wena o Motswana” as the community is impressed by your self-introduction in the local language. Peace Corps Botswana prides itself on hosting the caliber of Volunteers who are outgoing, and willing to be part of the communities and eager to experience the same lives as those they serve.
The Volunteers participating in the Community Economic Development (CED) program focus on enhancing the economic potential of individuals, particularly women and youth, and improving their management of small-scale economic activities. Volunteers work directly with rural communities at the grassroots level including the local small and micro-sized enterprises, civic groups, groups supported by local government authorities, technical and vocational institutions to enhance their earning potential and contribute to household income and community development.
The work of Community Economic Development Volunteers compliment the current needs and key priorities of the government of Botswana, which are poverty reduction and employment creation particularly amongst women and youth, and the drive towards economic growth. Poverty is more prevalent in rural areas with 24.2% estimated to live below poverty datum line. The country faces persistent high unemployment, exacerbated by COVID -19, with the youth unemployment particularly critical. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates struggle with unemployment due to inadequate practical training and a mismatch between their skills and labor market demands, highlighting the need for projects that address these challenges.
CED Volunteers collaborate with community counterparts to improve the knowledge and skills of women entrepreneurs and the youth through training and guided learning in basic business skills, entrepreneurship behaviors, personal money management and digital literacy. These activities prepare individuals to pursue and create a variety of livelihood opportunities, as well as strengthen the sustainability and profitability of small-scale economic activities.
Community Economic Development Volunteers undertake many tasks. These tasks include planning, coordinating, and facilitating training for small business owners on different topics including basic business management, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and implementing income generating activities and guiding individuals to apply the skills. Volunteers will also work with the women entrepreneurs and youth-led small businesses to create websites and use internet technology to conduct market research and access new markets.
They will focus on working with youth in technical and vocational training institutions, to allow them to acquire technology skills and use digital platforms to connect with employers, industry networks, and career services. Through collaborations with community development officers and local authorities volunteers will work to facilitate opportunities for entrepreneurs and increase accessibility to services. Lastly, Volunteers will support small businesses and entrepreneurs to access financial services through grant writing and other strategies.
- Where possible, Peace Corps Botswana will cluster CED Volunteers (generalists) with Peace Corps Response Volunteers (Specialists) as a hub to serve as a resource to generalists Volunteers.
Required Skills
Competitive candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
- Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any business discipline
- 5 years professional experience in business management
Desired Skills
The most qualified applicants will have practical experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Experience in entrepreneurship and small business management. Previous experience owning or managing a business or working with cooperatives is highly desired.
- Bachelor’s degree and at least three years’ relevant professional work experience in at least two of the following areas:
- Business administration and management
- Economics
- Project Management
- Digital literacy
- Accounting and Finance management
- Resource mobilization
- Marketing and market development
- Start-ups and small business development
- Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering capacity-building programs, workshops, or training sessions.
Required Language Skills
There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position. As the sun rises over the vast plains of Botswana, a group of eager Peace Corps trainees gather in a modest classroom, ready to embark on a linguistic journey that will shape their service experience. With unwavering determination, they immerse themselves in the intricacies of Setswana, the heartbeat of Botswana’s culture. From dawn till dusk, they conjugate verbs, master pronunciation, and absorb the rich tapestry of local expressions. While English may be the language of business, trainees understand that true connection and impactful service require fluency in Setswana. Amidst the challenge of navigating a predominantly English-speaking environment, they persevere, recognizing that the key to successful integration lies in their ability to communicate with the heart of the community. Each day becomes a testament to their dedication, as they forge meaningful relationships and bridge cultural divides through the power of language.
English and Setswana are the two official languages in Botswana with local dialects in different regions. Some community members may have intermediate or advanced levels of English, while some may not. Community integration is greatly enhanced with your ability to hold basic conversations in Setswana or one of the local Batswana languages or dialects used in your community.
Trainees receive intensive training in Setswana, the national language, for 2.5 months during Pre-Service Training (PST), and must attain an “intermediate low” level by the end of PST. Business is often conducted in English, the official language, but true successful service and integration only happens when the Volunteer learns Setswana or another language. The prevalence of English makes language learning a challenge; thus, Trainees and Volunteers must actively pursue their language learning for success but especially for integration.
Peace Corps Botswana has dedicated staff and resources to ensure continued language learning throughout a Volunteer’s service.
Living conditions
Botswana has beautiful weather with up to 340 days of sunshine each year! You will arrive at the end of winter, which is windy, sunny, and warm. The rainy season follows in October when temperatures start to rise, reaching into the 90s. Spring follows in April and winter begins in May. Botswana is an arid country characterized by a lack of surface water, low humidity, and dry heat. Rainfall is low and the country experiences periodic and prolonged drought.
During Pre-Service Training, you will live with a local family who will share Botswana culture teaching you how to manage village life and practicing Setswana with you. During your service, you will live in Peace Corps approved accommodation. You will have a modest dwelling on a family compound usually in a brick building with an iron sheet roof, comprising space for sleeping, bathing, and cooking. Volunteers may have electricity and running water, although in rural villages, electricity and/or running water may not be available in the Volunteer’s house. You will be matched to your site based on your knowledge, skills, experience and the needs of the community. You must be prepared to accept the living conditions, as you will be living under the same conditions as the people in your community.
Your diet will primarily consist of local foods, including fruits, vegetables, beef, and starches such as rice, bread, and samp. Essential supplies can often be sourced locally, though sometimes you may need to travel to a larger town, which is usually a 30-minute to one-hour drive away. Public transportation in the form of buses is available. This ensures that you can access necessary goods and services with relative ease.
As a Volunteer in Botswana, you will be assigned to an organization and work a full week based on the hours of the workplace. The typical workday is between 7:30 am to 5:00 pm. You will be expected to dress professionally according to your workplace dress code.
Culturally, Botswana is predominantly Christian, with some traditional religious practices still observed. Understanding and respecting these religious practices is crucial for integrating into the community. Botswana’s society tends to be conservative and it is highly likely every meeting will begin and end with a prayer. While Botswana is generally a tolerant nation, values and morals concerning sexual orientation and gender identity are more conservative than in the U.S. In 2019, same-sex relationships were decriminalized, but community attitudes have not yet fully evolved, so while it is not a crime to identify as a non-heterosexual person in Botswana, the decision to disclose should be considered very carefully through a safety and security as well as integration lens. While many LGBTQI+ Volunteers have served successfully in Botswana, Volunteers will need to be mindful of cultural norms and use their judgment to determine the best way to approach sexual orientation and gender identity in their communities. Staff and currently serving Volunteers will address this topic during Pre-Service Training and identify support mechanisms for incoming Trainees and Volunteers.
Through inclusive recruitment and retention of staff and Volunteers, the Peace Corps seeks to reflect the rich diversity of the U.S. and bring diverse perspectives and solutions to development issues. Peace Corps works diligently to identify and train host country partners on the rich diversity of the U.S. Still, when engaging with some individuals, Volunteers who are of American racial or ethnic minority, may have visible differences from their host nationals.
Ethnically, nationally, or racially diverse Americans may be mistaken for other nationalities and/or experience a high degree of curiosity or unwanted attention or even discrimination from host country nationals. They may be asked where they are “actually from” or if they are “really” American. Volunteers have been able to turn these encounters into learning experiences.
Learn more about the Volunteer experience in Botswana: Get detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics in order to make a well-informed decision about serving.
Medical considerations
Before you apply, please review medical clearance and legal clearance to learn about the process.
Couples information
Peace Corps Botswana warmly welcomes couples interested in serving together in the Education and Community Economic Development sectors. Couples who embark on this journey will have the unique opportunity to live and serve side by side throughout their pre-service training and the full two years of service. Housing arrangements for couples will mirror those of other Volunteers, ensuring ample space for both individuals. While couples will attend Peace Corps trainings together, it’s important to note that they may be separated during travel or assigned different job duties based on various factors.
Embarking on the Peace Corps journey as a couple offers a profound opportunity for personal and relational growth. Throughout the experience, couples will navigate challenges together, fostering trust, confidence, and open communication. Serving in such an immersive environment encourages couples to lean on each other for support, recognizing the importance of being allies to one another. While obstacles may arise, couples will learn to cope and overcome them with time, patience, and perhaps most importantly, a shared sense of humor, ensuring a fulfilling and enriching Peace Corps experience for both individuals.
