Support NGO to Develop Policy Briefs

Activity/project background

Anjiro Initiative is a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting charitable and educational programs in Madagascar. The organization provides grants to local schools and community organizations, with a focus on equitable education and youth empowerment. In recent years, Anjiro Initiative has expanded its mission to contribute to Madagascar’s education reform by engaging in policy advocacy and developing recommendations to address structural gaps in the education system.

Madagascar’s education sector faces challenges including limited access in rural areas, high dropout rates, and insufficient alignment between curricula and youth employment needs. To address these issues, Anjiro Initiative is working with youth organizations, diaspora groups, and education stakeholders to co-develop policy briefs that elevate student voices and provide evidence-based recommendations for reform. A key need is to strengthen the organization’s capacity to synthesize diverse inputs into clear, actionable briefs that can inform national dialogue and decision-making.

The Anjiro Initiative is seeking a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP)to co-design consultation processes with Anjiro Initiative students, diaspora representatives, and institutional partners such as UNICEF Madagascar, the Indian Ocean Commission, and UNESCO East Africa. The VSPP will co-facilitate online consultations, assist with preparing documents for on-field consultations, and help synthesize outcomes into policy briefs. This engagement will strengthen Anjiro Initiative’s capacity to contribute to education reform through inclusive, evidence-based advocacy.

The organization has not previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer.

Engagement and tasks

The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners:

● Co-develop a draft overview of the current Malagasy education system and prepare a concept note for the advocacy plan
● Support partnership development with stakeholders such as UNICEF Madagascar, the Malagasy diaspora, and the Indian Ocean Regional Youth Parliament (PRJIO Madagascar), and other organizations
● Co-design consultation tools (e.g., Google Forms) to collect input from students, diaspora, and stakeholders for policy brief development
● Co-facilitate online consultation meetings with stakeholders (1–2 times per month, lasting approximately 1–2 hours per meeting) and co-facilitate 1–2 training sessions with Anjiro Initiative staff on policy brief development and consultation design
● Help synthesize consultation outcomes and co-draft a policy brief document based on these results
VSPPs are expected to engage in the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be 10 hours per week.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 5:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Madagascar time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The host country counterpart will have access to Google Workspace, Zoom, WhatsApp, and email 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: Intermediate French

Experience:
● 1 year in a role related to advocacy, youth and community mobilization, or partnership
● Policy brief development

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 social sciences, sociology, economics, political science, psychology, or education

Language: Advanced French

Experience: Virtual engagement and communication

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 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.