About this role
Small Business Development Educator
Project Description: Timor-Leste is seeking individuals with a background in business coaching, entrepreneurship, or workforce development to support small businesses.
Timor-Leste’s greatest challenge is preparing its predominantly young population with the workforce, entrepreneurship, and English skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing economy. Since gaining independence in 2002, the country has invested in agriculture, tourism, hospitality, and small business development. Yet many rural communities still lack access to workforce training, financial literacy education, entrepreneurship support, and professional English instruction. With nearly 70% of the population under age 25, young people are eager to pursue employment and self-employment opportunities but often lack practical job skills and professional experience. Timor-Leste’s 2025 accession to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has expanded economic opportunities while simultaneously increasing the demand for a skilled, English-proficient workforce.
As a Small Business Development Teacher, you will work closely with youth groups, entrepreneurs, and women’s groups to strengthen workforce readiness and business skills. Together, you will facilitate workshops on budgeting, business planning, digital literacy, and job readiness skills. Your collaborative efforts help expand economic opportunities for youth and strengthen community-led development.
Required Skills: Associate degree in any field and at least two years of full-time, post-high school work experience (from any combination of roles). OR Bachelor's degree in any field. OR High school diploma or GED and four years of full-time, post-high school work (from any combination of roles).
Living Conditions: Living with a Timorese host family is central to Peace Corps service in Timor‑Leste, helping Volunteers build trust, strengthen language skills, and deeply engage in community life. Volunteers are placed throughout the country—from the coast to the mountains—and live within a 15‑minute walk of their worksites. Cross-country travel is via small buses or open‑backed trucks along winding, dusty roads. While water and electricity are usually available, blackouts and brownouts are common, and some households must purchase water in the dry season.
Activities: Teach basic business, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy skills. Assist organizations with strategic planning, grant writing, and project management activities. Support vocational and workforce readiness training for youth and young adults. Strengthen small business bookkeeping, budgeting, and marketing practices. Support English language learning to support employment, tourism, hospitality, and professional communication. Collaborate with community partners on community development activities.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as developing small grant projects or supporting English conversation clubs.
Training: As a Small Business Development Teacher, you will receive training in community assessment, project design and management, and participatory facilitation techniques. Peace Corps/Timor-Leste will teach you Tetum to help you comfortably live in and connect with the community. After 11 weeks of training, you will move to a rural community where you will collaborate with youth centers, vocational institutes, cooperatives, and women’s groups to assess needs and develop solutions based on a set of onboarding activities.
Job Highlights: Gain hands-on experience in grassroots economic development in one of the world’s youngest nations. Strengthen your knowledge of practical business and financial concepts as you teach a wide range of audiences. Learn Tetum and intercultural communication skills through daily interactions.