Positions Available25DescriptionGoeie more. Walalapo. Mwa penduka. Muzuhile. Morokeni. Goeie more. Walalapo. Mwa penduka. Muzuhile. Morokeni. Matisa. (Good morning in six languages)As an Economic Empowerment Volunteer, you will have the opportunity to make a tangible difference in Namibian lives by working towards economic security and sustainable development. You will work with local counterparts to develop the capacity of aspiring entrepreneurs, promote the implementation of income-generating activities, and assist with small business development.Peace Corps has operated in Namibia since the country's independence in 1990, with the Economic Empowerment Project being added in 2010 to support sustainable economic initiatives.Economic development is a priority for the Government of Namibia. While Namibia is classified as an upper-middle income country by the World Bank based on its GDP per capita, the unequal distribution of wealth masks the high poverty rate. The unemployment rate is 36.9%, with the youth unemployment rate at 44% (2023 Namibia Population and Housing Census Labor Force).Youth in Namibia face many challenges such as systemic poverty and a small formal economy with limited economic opportunities. As the future of the nation, their economic situation is of particular concern.In addition to making a positive impact in local communities, you yourself will have opportunities for personal growth, skill development and self-improvement.Your job will include:
Planning, coordinating, facilitating, and presenting
workshops on entrepreneurship, basic business skills, financial literacy, numeracy skills, digital literacy, basic office administration and employability skills.
Providing one-on-one coaching to entrepreneurs.
Planning, organizing and hosting events for prospective
and existing entrepreneurs and small business owners such as: Pitch Competitions, Market Days, Expos, and Business Networking events.
Organizing market days and street fairs.
Working with youth in Vocational Training Institutions,
women's groups, and operators in the informal sector (i.e., small business owners, and street vendors) to support their learning of new skills and practices.
Facilitating connections among suppliers, producers, and
vendors to share resources and knowledge with each other.
Working with municipal and regional government offices
to provide and facilitate opportunities for entrepreneurs and increase accessibility to services.
Working with Namibians to assist with employability i.e.
support them with writing resumes, participating in mock interviews, and appropriate workplace etiquette.
Supporting women's economic empowerment through
digital literacy.You may also have the opportunity to conduct secondary projects such as teaching life skills, numeracy skills, or English for communication purposes.During Pre-Service Training, you will start learning and developing the skills and knowledge necessary to accomplish these tasks. Throughout the 10-week intensive training period, you will live with a local family and be trained on key technical, intercultural, language, medical, and safety and security aspects within the context of Namibia's multicultural settings.All training aims to foster four key professional job functions:
Demonstrate responsibility for personal health, safety,
and security.
Exemplify commitment to service and resilience.
Facilitate participatory development.
Integrate into communities.
Serving as an Economic Empowerment Volunteer will provide first-hand experience in project management, business development, business guiding, training delivery, leadership, planning, intercultural communication, grant writing, monitoring and evaluation, and community organizing. The skills you bring and the ones you learn can make long-term impact on people's lives.Request Type140 Business AdvisingPostNamibiaRequired SkillsQualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any business discipline
Or
5 years professional experience in business management
Start Date24-Aug-2026Desired SkillsCompetative applicants will have practical experience in one or more of the following areas:
Five years of experience in entrepreneurship and small
business development. Previous experience owning or managing a business is highly desired.
A bachelor's degree and at least two years' relevant
professional work experience in at least two of the following areas:
Economics
Business processes and systems
Business administration and management
Strategic plan formulation/ implementation/monitoring
Digital literacy
Accounting and finance
Marketing and market development
Start-ups and small business development
Event planning and management skills or experience
Presentation, facilitation, and guiding skills
Living ConditionsNamibia is an incredibly beautiful and unique country with great weather, averaging 300 days of sunshine each year! You will arrive in winter, which is sunny but chilly, with nighttime temperatures occasionally dropping to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures rise steadily in October, followed by the rainy season in December. November to March is the hottest period, regularly reaching over 90 degrees. Namibia is an arid country with a lack of surface water, low humidity, and dry heat.Your living situation will depend on where you are assigned to work. Economic Empowerment Program (EEP) Volunteers are commonly placed in urban or peri-urban centers and live in their own apartment with modern amenities, such as a basic refrigerator, stove, shower, in a modest house, or in a house with a shared kitchen and common areas. All houses have indoor plumbing and electricity, though some communities volunteer, as is the ability to navigate personal health risks associated with shared housing and common areas.While Namibians really enjoy meat often accompanied by a carbohydrate, there is a wide availability of vegetables, fruit, legumes, and eggs for vegetarians. Alcohol is widely consumed, particularly during holidays or special events, but it is acceptable if you politely decline.Volunteers either walk or bike if their work locations are nearby. For longer distances, they take minibuses or shared taxis.Namibia is exceedingly diverse with a complex history affecting its politics, economy, and society. Living and working in Namibia means navigating extreme economic disparity and one's own identities, especially around race and ethnicity. Peace Corps will support trainees in understanding and navigating these situations.Volunteers who are of an American racial, ethnic, religious, or national minority may experience a high degree of curiosity or unwanted attention from Namibians. Diverse Americans may be asked where they are “actually from” or if they are “really” American. Many Volunteers have been able to turn these encounters into learning experiences, sharing American values and deepening local community members' understanding of Americans.You will live among people who may have cultural norms different from the ones you are familiar with. Your effectiveness as a Volunteer is partly dependent on your ability to navigate these norms, so flexibility and a willingness to learn, understand, and adapt are key. Examples of norms you may encounter include a high importance placed on personal relationships, a casual attitude towards time and deadlines, societal roles of men and women, strong hierarchies, bureaucracy, perceptions of American affluence, etc. Your training will equip you to face these challenges.Language RequirementNoneLanguage Skills Additional InformationYou will have the opportunity to learn one of the following local languages: Oshikwanyama, Oshindonga, Otjiherero, Rukwangali, Silozi, Afrikaans, or Khoekhoegowab, depending on where you will live. Language is a critical component of integration and will allow for a more impactful and fulfilling service. Peace Corps has dedicated Language and Cultural Facilitators to teach local languages during Pre-Service Training (PST).Nelson Mandela famously said which rings true for Namibia, "If you talk to a man in a language he understands, you speak to his head. If you speak to him in his language, you speak to his heart.” In some areas of Namibia, particularly towns, you can survive without the local language, however the local language supports Volunteers safety and integrating into a community. The most marginalized people in communities, also, often don't speak English.In most communities, at least three other local languages are spoken in addition to the primary local language. Learning basic greetings in the additional local language(s) spoken in your community is essential for successful integration. Having an interest in a deeper study of local language, which most often will occur in your community, in the form of self-study and continued work with a tutor, is a way for you to work more directly with community members, particularly women who may not have finished school and do not speak English.Peace Corps has funding available to support Volunteers' continued language acquisition in their communities. Volunteers are encouraged to find their own tutors within the community. In addition, Peace Corps employs a Language and Cultural Coordinator who monitors Volunteers' progress in local languages throughout service. Peace Corps Trainees must reach a specified benchmark in language proficiency before they can be sworn in and begin service.Primary SectorCommunity Economic DevelopmentAccepts CouplesYesCouples CommentsPeace Corps welcomes couples. Your partner must apply and qualify for one of the following:The Community Health and HIV/AIDS position The Economic Empowerment Program positionDue to community and placement challenges, Post can only accommodate one Community Health & HIV/AIDs and Economic Empowerment Program couple and one dual Economic Empowerment Program couple at the moment. During Pre-Service Training and other training events, couples may be asked to share rooms with other Trainees and Volunteers, depending on the availability of rooms. Though conditions of housing and communities will vary, couples will live together during service.Peace Corps Namibia cannot accommodate same-sex couples due to the local political climate.Apply By01-Jan-2026Know By01-Mar-2026Language Requirements InformationNone, but knowledge of other languages will support with language acquisition in-country.Total Number of Positions Available25Assignment Length (months)24Accepting Applications?YesProgramPCVTEFL certificate programNoPost to LinkedIn?No
