About this role
Community Development Facilitator
Project Description: Moldovan civil society organizations are essential pillars of a rapidly evolving society, yet they need support to reach their full potential. You can help them grow into thriving, influential, and sustainable institutions.
Moldova’s government is undergoing significant reforms with a commitment to building a vibrant civil society that strengthens government transparency and civic participation. Progress is challenged by a series of limitations. Although roughly 8,000 nongovernmental organizations are registered in Moldova, only about 10 percent are actively operating at the local or national level. Of those, as many as 80 percent are concentrated in the capital city of Chisinau, leaving much of the population without representation or access to critical services. Community institutions like libraries, youth centers, and community centers that should serve as hubs for civic engagement and social gatherings often lack the tools, staff, and resources to mobilize citizens and drive local development. While capacity-building efforts are underway, greater support is urgently needed to ensure these institutions can truly empower their communities.
As a Community Development Facilitator, you will collaborate with local organizations to strengthen the staff’s capacity. Together, you will improve internal processes and design both short- and long-term projects that support the organization’s mission. In your supportive role, you will encourage civic participation through youth clubs and camps.
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: Volunteers live with host families during training and at the beginning of their service. While some may have the option to transition to independent housing after eight months if it is available and approved, most will continue to live with host families for the duration of their service. Volunteers serve across Moldova in both urban and rural settings.
Activities: Assess organizational and community needs. Strengthen project planning and management skills among staff. Plan and implement projects that spark positive community change and improved institutional practices. Provide guidance on developing organizational relationships, including partnerships. Facilitate youth clubs and camps to build leadership skills and civic engagement. You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as English language clubs.
Training: As a Community Development Facilitator, you will be trained on community development, project design and planning, positive youth development, and facilitation. Peace Corps/Moldova will teach you Romanian to help you comfortably live in and connect with the community. A small number of Volunteers may learn Russian instead, depending on the needs of their assigned community. Volunteers trained in one of these languages will also receive language resources and learn basics of the second language. After 9 weeks of training, you will move to a rural or urban community where you will collaborate with a municipal office, library, NGO, and/or youth center. You will work with the community to assess the local needs and develop solutions based on community priorities.
Job Highlights: Receive practical, high-quality training on community organization and development. Learn Romanian and/or Russian from skilled Language and Cross-Culture Facilitators. Enjoy living in a culture rich in hospitality and tradition at a transformational moment in Moldova’s history.