Co-facilitate Training on the Impacts of Environmental Pollution

The Peace Corps seeks a Virtual Service Pilot Participant to co-facilitate training on environmental pollution impacts for the Sidama Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Authority in Pennsylvania. The role involves enhancing staff capacity in environmental protection, addressing pollution issues, and improving waste management. Candidates should have experience in virtual communication, adult training facilitation, and a master's degree in environmental science, along with two years of relevant experience.
Job Description
The Sidama Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Authority (EFCCA) coordinates the implementation of integrated strategies to support environmental protection and sustainability projects across Ethiopia. By strengthening staff capacity, the EFCCA aims to effectively enhance its environmental protection programs, mitigate the consequences of environmental pollution, and improve waste recycling management within their region known for natural resources, including hot springs, mines, forests, and bodies of water.

Currently, the region is affected by water, air, land, sound, and plastic pollution that needs serious attention. Some of the most serious pollution problems of the region include increasingly poor air quality in urban areas, unclean drinking water, and an abundance of plastic waste that prevents proper storm water drainage.

The EFCCA requests the support of a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) in developing and facilitating training on the causes and impacts of environmental pollution and advocacy for solutions. The training is intended to strengthen staff capacity and enhance the effectiveness of its environmental protection programs, mitigate the consequences of environmental pollution, and improve waste recycling management. Through these training sessions, staff will gain skills and knowledge that can be directly applied to prioritized improvement areas.

The organization has not previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.

Desired Qualifications
Experience:
• Experience with virtual engagement and communication
• Facilitating training on environmental protection
• Experience facilitating trainings for adults

Required Skills
Education: MSc in environmental science

Experience: 2 years of experience supporting and implementing environmental protection programs

Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually

Host Country Partner’s Mission and Goals
Sidama Regional State Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Authority (EFCCA)carries out integrated projects to support biodiversity, forest development, and environmental protection activities in our region to further the environmental protection rights for the government. We enable our people to use their forest and biodiversity resources in a sustainable and reliable manner, which ultimately improves the lives of our community members, providing a safe environment. EFCCA is working toward the following goals: To create awareness on international environmental agreements; to promote sustainable forest management practices such as, afforestation and reforestation; and to promote sustainable forms of agriculture, and to create awareness on the impacts of environmental pollution and advocate for solutions to better mitigate the consequences of environmental pollution and waste recycle management.

Virtual Service Engagement and Tasks
The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their Host Country Partners:

• Co-assess the organization’s current context and challenges with environmental protection before co-developing expectations for this engagement
• Co-assess staff knowledge and skills with environmental protection programs
• Curate a collection of training materials from other organizations and countries to serve as resource materials
• Co-design and co-facilitate training sessions on environmental protection programs based on engagement priorities

VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5-15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be 5 hours per week.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ethiopia time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The Host Country Counterpart will have access to Zoom, email, WhatsApp, and Google Meet for regular communication and collaboration.

Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0-18), two adults must be present.