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Business Advising Extension Agent

Peace
Corps

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COUNTRY
Senegal
REGION
Africa
SECTOR
Community Economic Development
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
French

ACCEPTS COUPLES
Yes
POSITIONS AVAILABLE
23

APPLY BY
July 1, 2017
KNOW BY
Sept. 1, 2017
DEPART BY
Feb. 25, 2018

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Project Description
The Senegal Community Economic Development (CED) program plan began in 2014, with the
overall goal of ensuring that Senegalese communities will enjoy sustainable local economies.
This mission is pursued through supporting: 1) business and jobs creation; 2) capacity building
of members of producers organizations, and 3) economic security of households.

Business Advising Volunteers will be grassroots counselors for entrepreneurs and groups who
need business advice and skills. Although the specific nature of the work will vary based on the
Volunteer's individual business skills and interests, the business environment, and the needs of
people in the community, the Volunteer will build capacity in three basic areas:
-Planning, management, and other basic business skills;
-Networking; and
-Information and communication technology.

New entrepreneurs can sometimes lack vision and long-term goals, which stunts the expansion
of their activities. Through counseling and training in business planning, marketing and record
keeping, Volunteers can be an invaluable resource for businesses that primarily need direction.

Volunteers will not only advise business owners, but also help guide partners in support of
private sector interventions. They can be effective as an intermediary, helping to bridge the
gap between those who need"" and those who have information and services.

Volunteers will also will serve as coaches and mentors for youth and women in the areas of
business education and information technology. The latter is an area Volunteers likely have
been immersed in throughout their life and although they may not consider themselves an
expert, in Senegal they can serve as an important source of knowledge and training in basic
computer literacy. Volunteers may also provide business education to youth and women to
help them understand their local business environment and the means by which one may
compete to earn a living in a free market.

Some Volunteers will help organize their community and provide assistance in the
development of ecotourism related activities, such as training guides and community groups to
help them increase their income potential by marketing ecotourism products and services,
while at the same time serving as advocates of conservation and sustainable natural resource
management.

In summary, Volunteers facilitate a process through which micro and small business owners
and would-be entrepreneurs learn to recognize and value opportunities and resources that
surround them, analyze how they can make money, and organize themselves to function
competitively.

Senegal is one of the Peace Corps countries participating in Let Girls Learn, an important
initiative promoting gender awareness and girls education and empowerment. You will receive
training on gender challenges in your country and you will have the opportunity to implement
gender-related activities that are contextually appropriate. During your service, you will look
for ways to work with community members to promote gender-equitable norms and increase
girls sense of agency. As part of the initiative, you will also report on these efforts and their
impact.

Required Skills
Competitive candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any business discipline
OR
Experience as the manager of a business

BS any discipline with 1 year work experience in cooperatives, small business, or credit unions.
All basic business principles should be involved i.e. budgetary control, cost analysis, financial
planning, inventory control, bookkeeping, and marketing

Desired Skills
Experience in planning, management, and other basic business skills such as networking and
information and communication technology are essential for success.

The strongest candidates will have experience working with entrepreneurs, small businesses or
Junior Achievement.

4 years experience as the manager of a business or experience working with cooperatives,

small business or credit unions OR 2 years experience plus a bachelors decree in any business
discipline or economics is preferred.

Required Language Skills

Candidates must meet one or more of the language requirements below in order to be
considered for this position.

A. Completed 4 years of high school French coursework within the past 8 years
B. Completed 2 semesters of French collegelevel coursework within the past 6 years
C. Native/fluent speaker of French

Candidates who do not meet the language proficiency levels above can take the language
placement exams to demonstrate their level of proficiency. Competitive applicants typically
attain a score of 50 on the French College Level Examination Program CLEP exam or a score
of NoviceHigh on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL OPI).

Additional Language Information

Trainees receive intensive training in the local language of the community where they will be
based and must attain an intermediate mid level by the end of pre-service training.

Professional meetings are conducted in French so it is essential that candidates arrive with at
least a basic level of French. French is also the lingua franc so being able to speak French
facilitates travel between regions. Masters International candidates or those who will work at
the District level must arrive in
Senegal with an intermediate level of French.

All Business Advising Volunteers are encouraged to study French intensively before arrival.

Living Conditions
 Volunteers are placed with host families to promote use of local language, increase awareness
of community culture, needs, and issues, and facilitate security in more urban areas.

Senegalese dishes can be tasty, with a staple of rice or millet or corn with vegetable sauces,
and sometimes with meat or fish. But there is usually far less variety than many Americans are
typically accustomed to having. Vegetarians often have been able to make arrangements to
maintain their diet. There will be opportunities to get into town now and then for something
different.

In most but not all cases, Business Advising Volunteers have at least intermittent access to
internet, running water and electricity. Communication systems have been steadily improving
throughout Senegal and Volunteers will have a Peace Corps issued cell phone.

Peace Corps Volunteers are expected to respect Senegal cultural norms, and exercise sound
judgment and great discretion in carrying out their private lives during their service. Lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) Volunteers will be welcomed within the Peace
Corps Volunteer and staff community, and will find an open and inclusive support network
within this community. LGBTQ-related issues, however, are an area for heightened awareness.
Senegal has some restrictive laws that target certain sexual acts, and consensual same-sex
sexual activity between adults is criminalized and punishable by imprisonment. In general,
individuals do not identify themselves as LGBTQ due to severe societal stigma. Volunteers will
need to be mindful of these cultural norms and Senegal-specific laws; this means that LGBTQ
Volunteers cannot live openly in Senegal. Peace Corps staff and Volunteers currently provide
support to a diverse group of Volunteers, including those who are LGBTQ; similarly, they will
identify support mechanisms for incoming Trainees. LGBTQ Volunteers can be out within the
Peace Corps Senegal community and will find an open and inclusive support network within
this community. Please refer to the Local Laws and Special Circumstances of the U.S.
Department of States travel page for more information.

Learn more about the Volunteer experience inSenegal: Get detailed information on culture,
communications, housing, and safety including crime statistics [PDF] in order to make a
well-informed decision about serving.

Medical Considerations in Senegal

Senegal may not be able to support Volunteers with the following medical conditions:
asthma, including mild and childhood; insulin-dependent diabetes; gasteroenterology;
ongoing behavioral health support; seizure disorder.

The following medication(s) are not permitted for legal or cultural reasons: none identified.

Volunteers who should avoid the following food(s) may not be able to serve: peanuts and
shellfish.

After arrival in Senegal, Peace Corps provides and applicants are required to have an annual
flu shot, to take daily or weekly medication to prevent malaria, and to receive mandatory
immunizations.

Before you apply, please also review Important Medical Information for Applicants (PDF) to
learn about other health conditions typically not supported in Peace Corps service.

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