Environmental Change Agent

Project Description

Want to promote sustainable environmental management and farming practices that integrate trees and woody plants into existing land use systems? Communities in Senegal are looking for your support!

Natural and human-induced environmental degradation impacts ecosystems vital to local communities in Senegal. Some traditional agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and reduce soil fertility and moisture retention. Increasing temperatures and coastal erosion are also diminishing the productivity of arable land. With well over a third of the population living below the poverty line, Senegal, like many of its regional neighbors, is affected by high rates of food insecurity and health vulnerability. To address these challenges, community-level interventions are needed to build awareness and skills for sustainable preservation.

As an Environmental Change Agent, you will collaborate with community members to strengthen land and orchard management practices. Together, you will also identify ways to increase access to nutritious foods and generate additional sources of income. Senegal has a diversity of ecosystems that provide a variety of services on which communities rely. In this role you will collaborate with community members to promote reforestation activities and strengthen local environmental education and interest in nature-based solutions.

Program

PCV

Post

Senegal

Required Skills

Qualified candidates will have an expressed interest in promoting environmental awareness in schools and communities, and one or more of the following criteria:

•Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field

OR

•5 years' professional work experience

Desired Skills

All candidates who meet the required skills are encouraged to apply. Additional skills that may make you a more competitive candidate include:

Experience with soil improvement and water management techniques, agroforestry and natural resource management practices, or environmental education.

Partner Organization Name

Women’s groups, schools, farming associations, community garden partners, NGOs

Language Requirement

None

Living Conditions

All Volunteers live with host families, which creates a sense of belonging and helps integration. Many Volunteer homes do not have electricity and get their water from a community pump or well. Volunteers will be placed in the arid northern regions, including St. Louis, Thies, Diourbel, and Louga; more temperate central regions of Fatick and Kaolack; and tropical regions south of the Gambia River, including Sediou and Kolda.

Primary Sector

Environment

Secondary Sector

Agriculture

Apply By

15-Jun-2026

Know By

01-Aug-2026

Start Date

22-Jan-2027

Assignment Length (months)

24

Positions Available

14

Accepts Couples

Yes

Accepting Applications?

Yes

Request Type

104 Environmental Education/Awareness

Posted on LinkedIn

No

Job Highlights

Learn Wolof, Pulaar, Sereer, or Mandinka from skilled Language and Cross-Culture Facilitators.

Gain international experience promoting environmental education at the community level.

Experience living within Senegal’s warm and welcoming culture.

Activities

Create and implement environmental education lessons for youth clubs.

Conduct field-based instruction of adults and out-of-school youth about relevant environmental issues and measures to address specific issues, such as solid waste management or soil degradation.

Strengthen local capacities in natural resource management.

Support income-generating activities using sustainable forest products.

Promoting planting and managing useful tree species.

You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as hosting workshops on income generating activities, promoting ways to improve nutrition and increasing access to nutritious foods through gardening.

Training

As an Environmental Change Agent, you will be trained on an environmental education curriculum and agroforestry best practices. Peace Corps/Senegal will teach you Wolof, Pulaar, Sereer, or Mandinka to help you comfortably live in and connect with the community.

After 10 weeks of training, you will move to a rural community where you will work with the community to assess the local needs and develop solutions based on the participatory analysis for community action methodology. After 3 months at site, you will receive additional technical training tailored to your needs and based on the results of your community assessments.

Couple Types

Only heterosexual couples can be accepted for this program.

Couple Living Conditions

Couples that serve in this country must be legally married to avoid conflicts that are not aligned with cultural and religious beliefs.

Couple Training Conditions

Cross-sector couples will live with different host families who may reside in different communities during training. Cross-sector couples may see each other for joint-sector training days or on the weekends but neither are guaranteed.

Couple Sector Combinations

Each person must apply separately and qualify for a position in a different sector than their partner.