About this role
Vocational Training Specialist
Project Description: If you have experience in curriculum development or program management, you are invited to share those skills with communities in Vanuatu.
For over 35 years, the Vanuatu Rural Development Training Centres Association (VRDTCA) and its network of training centers provided practical, needs-driven vocational training to rural youth who exited the formal education system. These centers equipped more than 10,000 youth with essential trade skills, such as carpentry, agriculture, mechanics, hospitality, and tailoring. However, VRDTCA became inactive in 2016 due to shifting priorities within the government, resulting in many of training centers closing and thousands of young people without access to vocational guidance. Despite donor-funded infrastructure improvements, the absence of a central coordinating body resulted in gaps in governance, trainer capacity, and strategic direction. In 2025, the government shifted its focus once more to include vocational centers and training for the youth of Vanuatu in rural areas.
As a Vocational Training Specialist, you will support the revitalization of the association and equip rural youth with essential skills for employment or entrepreneurship. Alongside community members, you will develop a strategic action plan, draft funding proposals, and regularly evaluate performance. Your collective efforts will reestablish training centers as a cornerstone of rural development, improve economic opportunities, and preserve Vanuatu’s commitment to inclusive education and skills training for generations to come.
Required Skills: Master's degree in social work, counseling, or clinical psychology. AND Three or more years of relevant experience in youth development programming or social work, with skills in organizational development and/or capacity-strengthening practices.
Living Conditions: While this assignment is based in Vanuatu’s capital, Volunteers should still be prepared for a lifestyle that differs from urban settings elsewhere. Housing is generally modest and may include basic amenities, though access to running water and electricity can vary. The city offers more developed infrastructure than Vanuatu’s rural areas.
Tropical heat and humidity are constant. Occasional travel to outer islands may involve boat trips and navigating varied terrain, such as beaches and forest paths.
Activities: Conduct an assessment of the current structure, governance, and operational gaps. Facilitate workshops with the interim committee to gather input and build consensus on priorities. Develop a strategic plan outlining actions, timelines, and sustainability measures for both the association and the training centers. Draft a donor-ready project proposal to secure funding for reactivating training centers. Recommend improvements to organizational policies and systems to strengthen governance and accountability. Provide targeted training for board members and trainers. Prepare a final report summarizing findings, recommendations, and next steps for implementation.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as vocational skills demonstrations and basic business management workshops.
Training: After a 2-week orientation on topics such as health and safety, you will move to a provincial community where you will collaborate with the Vanuatu Rural Development Training Centre’s Association team. You will work with the partner and your community to assess the local needs and develop a work plan in line with their established goals.
Peace Corps/Vanuatu will equip you with Bislama language resources and you may work with a local tutor who can help you build basic language skills to connect with the community.
Job Highlights: Learn the Bislama language while working with youth to redesign the national vocational training center. Gain hands-on experience revitalizing vocational training programs that support the evolving needs of youth. Build marketable skills in donor engagement, governance strengthening, and capacity strengthening to support sustainable education initiatives.