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Connect with the Peace Corps
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If you are flexible in where you serve for the two-year Peace Corps Volunteer program, our experts can match you with a position and country based on your experience and preferences.
Serve where you’re needed mostCommunity Economic Development Facilitator
Community Economic Development
Job highlights
- Learn the Fijian language from skilled Language and Cross-Culture Facilitators.
- Gain valuable hands-on experience in rural, community-based development.
- Support individuals and families within rural communities to improve personal money management and implement income generating activities.
Fiji • Pacific Islands
In partnership with: Village Leadership, Women’s and Youth groups, Local Government
Applications are now closed. View current openings.
Apply by
March 15, 2026Know by
May 1, 2026Depart on
September 4, 2026Duration
2 years, plus 3 months trainingAbout the project
Communities in Fiji are looking for individuals with experience or an interest in supporting individuals, families, and community groups to improve and sustain community economic development.
Fiji is a lower middle-income country whose economy is largely supported by tourism and agriculture. The government is interested in fostering economic growth opportunities and more jobs. There is an abundance of resources in country, but community members lack the necessary skills to start and grow a successful business. Additionally, cultural obligations to share with extended family reduces a community member’s personal earnings, which impacts their ability to launch additional projects or business ideas. Other challenges include the distance between rural communities and urban business centers, internet coverage, and emigration.
As a Community Economic Development Facilitator, you will collaborate with community-based groups—such as women’s and youth groups—to improve project design and management skills. You will also support individuals and families to create income-generating activities and gain related money management skills.
Learn more about what Volunteers do in country by visiting our Fiji project page.
Required skills
Qualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
Qualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field
OR
• 5 years' professional work experience
Language: There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position.
Required behavioral competencies
These competencies are essential for all service assignments and are assessed in the application and interview process:
Motivation for and commitment to service
Adaptability and open-mindedness
Problem solving and resourcefulness
Behavioral maturity and professionalism
Photos from Fiji
How you and the community will make an impact together:
Conduct participatory community assessments to determine community interests, needs, and resources.
Plan and facilitate community trainings on topics, such as project design and management and financial literacy.
Support existing village groups or create new organized groups to address village development priorities.
Identify potential income-generating activities that capitalize on available resources.
Support the development of micro enterprises and the growth of small enterprises.
Assist in identifying and securing funds from potential local, foreign, or international donors.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as supporting a local school’s literacy project or sanitation and hygiene initiatives.
Volunteers live in small, simple, independent housing in rural villages. Most homes do not have electricity. Many villages have inconsistent connectivity and accessibility. Volunteer sites are predominantly inland hill and mountain villages on the large islands of Viti Levu or Vanua Levu. Market towns, where Volunteers conduct their grocery shopping, may be up to three hours away by public transit.
Learn more about the living conditions, including detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics on our Fiji country page. You can also delve into stories about local communities by reading our blog or Volunteer stories.
Meet a Volunteer in Fiji
Kaitlan M.
Markets for Change Volunteer
"It is immensely meaningful for me to carry forward initiatives that originated during my two-year service in 2015."
See full Volunteer profile
As a Community Economic Development Facilitator, you will be trained in participatory community appraisal, project design and management, and personal money management. The training also covers how to design, implement, and conduct trainings. Peace Corps/Fiji will teach you the Fijian language and culture to help you comfortably live in and connect with the community.
After 10 weeks of training, you will move to a rural village community where you will collaborate with individuals, community-based organizations and families to conduct participatory community assessments and develop solutions that capitalize on community resources to address community economic efforts.
Heterosexual and same-sex couples are accepted for this program. Each person must apply separately and qualify for a position in the same sector as their partner. Couples will live together during training but may separate occasionally for field-based activities. Couples who are selected for the same sector will live together but work with different local partners which may be in the same community or in neighboring communities (not more than 30 minutes apart). Cohabitating couples are highly encouraged to present themselves as married throughout service due to cultural expectations.
To learn more about serving as a couple in Fiji, visit the country page.
Application process
From application to departure takes around nine months. Learn about the application process for Volunteer opportunities.
Medical/legal clearance
You will need to be cleared medically and legally in order to serve in Fiji. Review information on medical clearance and legal clearance to learn about the process.
