Vocational Training Specialist - Volunteer Position - Onsite in Vanuatu • Pacific Islands - 12 months

About The Project

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.

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.

Required Skills

• Master's degree in social work, counseling, or clinical psychology.
• Three or more years of relevant experience in youth development programming or social work, with skills in organizational development and/or capacity-strengthening practices.

Key dates

• APPLY BY : August 15, 2026
• KNOW BY : October 1, 2026
• DEPART ON : March 9, 2027
• DURATION : 12 months