What you need to know about choosing a Peace Corps sector

What are Peace Corps' work sectors?

The six Peace Corps sectors are Agriculture, Community Economic Development, Education, Environment, Health and Youth in Development.

Sectors define the position's focus and give candidates a starting point for finding the right opening. 

• Largest sectors: Health and Education
• Smallest sectors: Community Economic Development and Youth in Development

Can one Volunteer opening include more than one sector? 

Yes. 

Why do some positions feature more than one sector? 

For positions that list more than one sector, it is likely that a Volunteer will spend a significant amount of time working on projects in both stated sectors. As a Volunteer you should be flexible and prepared to complete all duties and responsibilities of the position. 

For examples, for a project that includes both Agriculture and Community Economic Development sectors, a Volunteer would work to advance agriculture practices to create economic development. Or in an opening that includes Environment and Health sectors, a Volunteer would work on environment-focused projects that have a positive outcome on the health of the community. 

Volunteers should be ready to work on projects related to both stated sectors. Additionally, because every community has different needs, secondary projects might not always be related to your sector(s). 

If one sector is listed, does that mean I will only work in one sector? 

Not necessarily. Volunteer work is not exclusive to the stated sector; however, it is expected that the Volunteer will work primarily in that sector. Read the position description completely so that you know what to expect. Successful Volunteers are flexible and have the ability to assist a community to meet their needs, regardless of the stated sector. 

Do I need education and/or experience in both sectors? 

Maybe. It will depend on the position and the competitiveness of that program. The more of the required skills that you have for any position, the better. Also, it never hurts to gain additional experience/education throughout the application and selection process. 

Could I end up working on a secondary project that is not sector-related? 

Yes. Given that a Volunteer's main goal is to assist a community in reaching their goals, Volunteers must think outside the box of the sector or position to provide the highest level of assistance possible to their community. After all, that is the backbone of serving the community: to be of service where needed. 

What about the option to serve where needed most?

You will have the opportunity to indicate your preferences for a sector so we can find you the right fit. Research sectors in advance to know the basics about positions within those sectors. The position that you are selected for could have multiple sectors.