Develop Organizational Capacity for Indigenous Community NGO
Eligibility
Open to all RPCVs
Activity/project background
Partner: San Vision Foundation (Local NGO)
The San Vision Foundation (TSVF) is a non-profit organization based in Platfontein, Kimberley in the Northern Cape of South Africa. The organization was founded by indigenous youths in 2018 to address challenges that young people face in the !Xun and Khwe communities from the Indigenous Khoi and San tribes. The Khoi and San Indigenous tribes are among the most marginalized population groups in South-Africa.
TSVF has strong community relationships and intimate local knowledge, which places them in the best position to understand and serve their community needs. The organization provides youth development interventions with the aim to promote early childhood development, primary and secondary school support, reading clubs to increase literacy rates, and career guidance. The purpose of these interventions is to enable growth, economic opportunities, and sustainable development within the community.
TSVF is an implementing partner of Palms for Life fund, a US-based organization, where they focus on early-childhood development, a high school scholarship pilot, and the feasibility for aquaponics. The organization is seeking a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to assist them with reviewing and co-developing their organizational capacity to increase and document their impact, refine their governance processes, and identify optimal mechanisms for donor funding.
The organization has not previously worked with a Peace Corps Volunteer or a VSPP. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.
Virtual service engagement and tasks
The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their Host Country Partners:
• Co-develop an organizational strategy that will guide the host organization to increase their growth and impact in their community
• Co-assess, advise, and refine existing organizational governance processes to align with standard non-profit operating principles
• Co-train on report writing practices to appeal to donors, stakeholders, and increase visibility of the organization’s impact in youth development
• Co-develop a fundraising strategy with the host partner organization that identifies appropriate methods of fundraising and potential donors
This engagement is expected to be approximately 12 weeks. VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5-15 hours per week.
Meetings between VSPPs and Host Country Counterparts will take place during normal office hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. South African time on a day and specific time agreed to between the VSPP and Host Country Counterpart. Specific times will be determined during orientation.
The Host Country Counterpart will have access to Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and WhatsApp for regular communication and collaboration.
Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0-18), two adults must be present.
Optional additional activities
The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:
- To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
- To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
- To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
Goal 1 will be achieved through the VSPP's engagement and completion of the above tasks. The counterpart and VSPP may also choose to identify an activity that aligns with Goal 2. Additionally, the VSPP may identify a Goal 3 activity to implement during their engagement. See recommendations and tools for Goal 3 activities.
Essential qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in any field
Experience: 3 years’ experience with non-profit organizational administration
Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually
Desired qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in public administration or nonprofit management
Technical Skills: Familiarity with virtual engagement and communication
Experience:
• 5 years’ experience with non-profit organizational administration
• 5 years’ experience with administration and developing administrative policies for non-profits
• Experience working with indigenous communities
Terms and conditions of engagement
VSPPs will be engaging with the host country partner, in coordination with Peace Corps post staff, remotely from the US. They should have access to a computer, internet, and telephone in order to enable direct engagement with the Peace Corps overseas office and the Host Country Counterpart assigned by the host country partner.
Orientation with the host country partner will be provided, within the designated virtual service hours, during the first week of virtual service via an online presentation and discussion. The host country partner will provide an overview of its organization, the local context, and how they envision collaborating with the VSPP.
The VSPP will have regular check-ins with their counterpart and bi-weekly check-ins with Peace Corps staff. Spending unstructured time with counterparts can be critical to relationship-building and is encouraged through activities such as coffee chats and informal calls within the weekly 5-15 hours.
Engagement-specific safety and security
The VSPP will receive an orientation on Peace Corps’ Child Protection Policy and how it relates to online engagement along with IT security best practices. The VSPP will be expected to follow safety and security guidelines for online engagement to ensure their safety and that of the Host Country Partner and their counterpart, and any beneficiaries of the engagement.
Supervision requirements
The VSPP will report to a designated Peace Corps staff member. The VSPP will be expected to abide by the Virtual Service Pilot Participant and Donation Agreement and Participant Principles of Engagement. The VSPP will also be expected to check in with the designated host country counterpart as assigned by the host county partner.
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