Business Development

What do business development Volunteers do?

In many countries where Volunteers serve, governments and local communities face obstacles to economic growth, such as high unemployment, rapidly increasing populations, unskilled workforces, and a lack of private sector investment. Peace Corps Volunteers have a long history of working with individuals and communities to promote economic opportunities at the grassroots level.

Business Volunteers focus on increasing family income, improving the environment for businesses, educating young people, and helping businesses find markets for traditional or value-added products. They participate at many levels, whether helping artisan cooperatives in rural Africa market their handmade goods or training people in Eastern Europe to take advantage of new free-market opportunities.

Often, business Volunteers begin in a classroom setting, which gives them a position in the community as respected leaders and makes other projects possible. These projects include training entrepreneurs in the basic skills of small-business development and working with women to help them expand their access to credit and find new markets for their products. Some Volunteers work with development banks, nongovernmental organizations, and municipalities to support local development projects.

How can you get ready?

If you're interested in volunteering now in the business field, consider getting an internship at a local business or non-profit organization after school or on weekends. A high school economics class is also a great place to start learning about the business world.

Most business Volunteers have business or public administration degrees or experience, others have degrees in other disciplines and a strong interest in business and nonprofit organizations. Applicants have worked as business owners or managers, accountants, financial advisors and in sales.

To learn more about the Peace Corps in the business sector, see here.