Community Development Educator

Women and young entrepreneurs in Botswana are seeking savvy business professionals to help them unlock their economic potential.



The Government of Botswana’s key national priorities include poverty reduction, employment creation, and sustained economic growth. Poverty remains concentrated in rural areas, where an estimated 24% of the population lives below the poverty line. At the same time, the country continues to face persistently high unemployment, with youth unemployment particularly severe. Many technical and vocational education graduates struggle to secure jobs due to limited practical experience and a mismatch between their skills and labor market needs. These challenges underscore the urgency of skill development and economic opportunity expansion.

As a Community Development Educator, you will support women entrepreneurs and the youth to build essential business skills, strengthen financial literacy, and improve digital competency. Alongside community members, you will identify viable income-generating activities and business expansion opportunities. Your support will boost participation in small-scale economic activities and enhance personal financial capability in the short term, while contributing to greater financial security and Botswana’s long-term economic goals.

Bachelor's degree in any business discipline.
OR
High school diploma or GED and four years of experience in business management.

During training, Volunteers will have a private room within a host family’s house. After training, Volunteers will move to their assigned sites in Chobe, Central, North-West, North-East, Ghanzi, Southern, and Kweneng Districts, where they can expect to stay in a small, private house on the host family’s compound. The Volunteer should be prepared for limited or unreliable electricity and water in these rural areas. Public transportation via a mini-bus, bus, or taxi will allow the Volunteer to travel to larger towns if needed.

Learn and apply innovative business approaches to drive economic development within rural communities.

Cultivate a global mindset that is valuable in government, nonprofit, business, entrepreneurship, and international development careers.

Experience the unique culture of Botswana as you live and work alongside Batswana.

Train and support small business owners on topics, including basic business management, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and income-generating activities.

Support women and young entrepreneurs to create websites, conduct market research, and access new markets.

Provide digital literacy training that equipes youth and students at vocational institutes to connect with employers, industry networks, and career services.

Connect business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with resources and learning opportunities.

Guide small business owners and entrepreneurs on grant writing and other strategies to secure financial services.

You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as community savings groups and entrepreneurship clubs.

As a Community Development Educator, you will be trained on basic business practices, entrepreneurship behaviors, and digital literacy. Peace Corps/Botswana will teach you Setswana to help you comfortably live in and connect with the community. You will also receive language resources and learn Ikalanga, Simbukushu, and Sekgalagari in case you are placed in those areas.

After 10 weeks of training, you will move to a rural community where you will collaborate with the local government and staff at civil society organizations to assess the needs and develop solutions based on sustainable business and community development practices.