Activity/project background

Partner: Bari Community Foundation (Local NGO)

Bari Community Foundation is a charitable foundation in Ukraine that focuses on community development, youth engagement, civic participation, and social entrepreneurship. The foundation identifies the needs of the local community, encourages charitable donations, and accumulates funds to provide grants to implement initiatives. These initiatives solve socially important problems in the Bari community, as well as to address needs of its members and attract Ukrainian and international donor funding to support its mission. The management of the Bari Community Foundation is carried out by the council, which includes representatives of local authorities, businesses, and community members.
As with many other NGOs around Ukraine, Bari Community Foundation has been affected by the ongoing war and had to address additional priorities in the community such as the provision of shelter and services to internally displaced people, while trying to maintain an appropriate level of organizational capacity and adhere to its mission in the community.

To address organization capacity issues related to management, Bari Community Foundation is requesting a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to amplify the team’s skills to effectively manage their organization with the help of Microsoft 365 for non-profits.

Bari has previously worked with a Peace Corps Community Development Volunteers. 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:

• Identify gaps among organization members related to effective management
• Co-design an action plan on management training and the use of Microsoft 365 for nonprofits as a key management tool
• Train organization members on the prioritized topics related to effective use of Microsoft 365 for non-profits
• Prepare a presentation on effective team building techniques during the times of crisis and deliver it to the organization’s members

This engagement is expected to be approximately 12 weeks. The VSPP is expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5-15 hours per week.

Ideal times for virtual engagement are between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Ukraine standard time. Specific times for planning sessions between the VSPP and Host Partner will be determined during orientation. The Host Partner will provide interpretation.

The Host Country Counterpart will have access to Zoom, Messenger, Telegram, 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:

1. To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
3. 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

Language: Basic Ukrainian

Experience:
• Good understanding of Microsoft products, specifically Microsoft 365 Nonprofit
• 1 year of experience in organizational capacity development and project management
• 1 year of experience in data search and analysis

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: Master’s degree in public administration, organizational development or a Master’s degree with and emphasis in non-profit management or business administration

Technical Skills: Familiarity with virtual engagement and communication

Language: Intermediate Ukrainian

Experience:
• Managing a nonprofit
• Virtual Service experience in Ukraine

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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