Vacancy at Peace Corps Botswana

POSITION: Language and Cross-Cultural Facilitator
OPEN TO: Qualified Botswana Nationals and Permanent Residents
OPENING DATE: March 18, 2016
CLOSING DATE: March 31, 2016
JOB LOCATION: Local Botswana Village
WORK HOURS: S/He will perform duties during a six-day work week during an approximately 12-week
contract period. Position will require work in the evenings, weekends, and public holidays.
PERIOD of PERFORMANCE: July 18 – 21 October, 2016.
RENUMERATATION: Peace Corps offers a competitive remuneration based on experience and qualifications.
STATEMENT OF WORK
The services to be performed under this contract will be subject to the ultimate responsibility and
authority of the Peace Corps Country Director (CD), who is responsible for all Peace Corps activities in
the host country.
Background
Since re-opening in 2002, Peace Corps Botswana has worked to support the Government of Botswana in
addressing its HIV/AIDS epidemic, in cooperation with the Ministries of Local Government and Rural
Development, Education, and Health, in addition to National AIDS Coordinating Agency. To date, the
program has worked in District AIDS Coordinators’ Offices; with health clinics, District Health Teams,
and Social and Community Development Offices; with Non-governmental and Community-Based
Organizations, and in schools to implement the Living life skills curriculum.
Objective
The Peace Corps seeks to hire several Language and Cross-Cultural Facilitators (LCFs) for a 10 week
Pre-Service Training (PST) of its incoming trainee group. This is a full time, live on-site position for the
entire period of the contract, working in a local village. Please note: It is not possible to finish
university exams or to conduct other business requiring you to travel away from the training site.
For a successful Volunteer service, the ability to communicate in local Botswana languages it crucial.
Languages of Botswana are significantly different to languages most Peace Corps trainees and
Volunteers have studied before, therefore a well-designed and carried out language and cultural program
is required. Language is also a medium for communicating people’s beliefs, values and expectations.
From current and past Volunteer reports, the cross-cultural aspects of living in Botswana as an American
cannot be overlooked. While Botswana can appear in many ways similar to the US, there are large
cultural differences that need to be addressed and explored. Therefore, the position not only entails a
good command of a local language, it requires a strong understanding of Botswana cultures.
Qualifications & Competencies:
 Experience teaching adults, or academic qualifications in Adult education. Possession of both
competencies is preferable.
 Strong command and fluency in Setswana and English, written and oral.
 Fluency in Sekgalagadi, Ikalanga and/or other languages is highly desired.
 Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite especially Word, Power-point and Excel required.
 An offer will be subject to the successful completion of security clearance checks performed by
Peace Corps with Applicant’s participation.
 Experience working with foreigners, preferably Americans.
 Four years of experience as an LCF will be an added advantage
 O’ level secondary school qualifications preferred
Duties and Responsibilities
The LCF position is tenable in training locations and is performed under the supervision and
management of the Language and Cross Cultural Coordinator (LCC). The LCFs’ primary responsibility
is to implement language and cultural training programs provided to trainees and Volunteers throughout
their service. This includes in particular, a 10-week Pre-Service Training and a 2 week In-Service
Training (IST). LCFs also assist the LCC to monitor and evaluate trainings and to participate in pretraining
planning events. LCFs also work closely with all other staff trainers to contribute inter-cultural
perspectives to other technical training sessions provided during training events.
The LCF as a language facilitator:
 Plans and Implement lesson plans based on acquisition of specific communicative tasks and
learning objectives that trainees should achieve. Lesson plans will be developed using the Peace
Corps lesson planning format and should incorporate language, cultural and technical
components.
 Make appropriate changes based on feedback received and learning needs of the PCTs, respond
to constructive feedback and adapt session content accordingly.
 Establish and implement weekly working schedule, based on the PC language program, best
practices, and the language materials activities in concordance with the PST calendar of training
events.
 Be available outside "classroom" hours to assist with additional language learning activities,
including individual tutorials, other learning options and conferences with Trainees
 Identify specific training techniques that correspond to the trainees’ learning styles and remain
open-minded and flexible to the content of the curriculum.
 Guide trainees in managing their own self-study program.
 Help trainees to develop strategies for ongoing learning
 Provide regular and consistent feedback to Trainees concerning language acquisition and
performance
 Evaluate the language materials based on feedback from PCTs and own experience. Review
language materials on their effectiveness, considering the results obtained with individual PCTs
and learning level groups.
 Attend round table evaluation meetings and make input of their trainee progress
 Write biweekly trainee and language training evaluations and presents them to LCC
 Designs round-up and evaluation materials (both oral and written) and activities.
 Recommends to the Training Manager, LCC, Program Managers and DPT all trainees that
should or should not be sworn in a Peace Corps Volunteers with supporting behavioral and
performance documentation.
The LCF as a cultural guide:
 Plan and implement or co-facilitates intercultural sessions
 Serve as a point of contact with Host Families.
 Attend all relevant sessions as instructed by LCC, in the view of adding their cultural perspective
 Provide support to trainees in planning, organizing and implementing the Community entry
assignments.
 Help trainees to create effective strategies and productive habits for coping with the stress of
community entry.
 Develops Trainees' cross-cultural skills by acting as a language and cultural information
resource.
 Act as an interpreter and translator, as needed.
 Utilize community-based activities to enhance language instruction.
 Advises/counsels Trainees on technical and cross-cultural activities and practicum taking place
in the training community. Participates in these activities as appropriate.
 Work closely with the resource people at training site to support Trainees in accomplishing the
technical component of training.
 Act as a resource person for Trainees on cultural topics of interest. Strive to present objective,
unbiased views of Setswana tradition and practices and encourage Trainees to seek out answers
to their own questions in the community.
 Encourages trainees to practice Setswana language in the community and to seek out
other information resources.
The LCF as a volunteer support resource:
 Serves as a model and moral support for the trainees and give them advice when
needed.
 Assists Trainees in resolving issues relating to their home-stay experience. Initially serves as the
intermediary between host families and Trainees. Provides cultural guidance in day-to-day
social interaction.
 Counsels Trainees beyond formal classroom hours as needed to address individual questions.
 Identify trainees’ specific problems in language, adaptation and integration, work with
Trainees to develop a strategy to solve problems.
The LCF as a member of the Language Team:
 Participate in the Training of Trainer (TOT) sessions and activities prior to PST. This includes a
general TOT with all staff as well as a Language TOT, during which the language team will
prepare the strategy and scope of the language training component.
 Participate in PST staff meetings as required, providing detailed feedback and comments on
Trainees’ performance and adjustment at site. Participate in training staff meetings and other
training activities by making recommendations for training improvements and staff
development.
 Assist the Language Coordinator in the development of an effective Language curriculum. Meet
with Language Coordinator to discuss ongoing issues concerning the training design, content,
communicative tasks, and functions to be developed.
 Meet with other LCFs, Language Coordinator and Training Manager Staff to review trainee
progress and make recommendations for appropriate individual learning strategies, while
maintaining professional confidentiality.
 Provide Language Coordinator and Training Manager with recommendations for improvements
in language training for future PST and IST.
 Participate in the compiling, storing and documenting of language training materials.
 Evaluate the success of the lessons, document comments, ideas and suggestions to assist with
future implementation.
 Submit all lesson plans, language materials and other documentation to the Language
Coordinator to contribute to the final language training report.
 Assist with closing down of PST by helping with packaging and storing PST material and
equipment.
 Works with the LCC and PST Logistician to coordinate and oversee the daily logistical and
administrative operations of the language and cross cultural training.
The LCF as a Peace Corps representative:
 Maintains social and professional relationships with the training team and all other staff and
partners.
 Ensures excellent preparation and self-readiness before going to class and integrates all
components in the content of his/her sessions.
 Maintain a professional and positive public image with the training staff, Trainees and the local
community to ensure the proper implementation of PST.
 Work both independently and as part of a team and enhance Peace Corps training philosophy and
decisions.
 Be responsible for monitoring own progress and performance, following a performance plan.
 Promote and be guided by the principles of Community-Based Training. Provide relevant
experiences for trainees to increase learning in synchrony with the Experiential Learning cycle.
 Be aware of safety learning objectives for Peace Corps training and comply procedures and
implementation with safety requirements.
 Be consistent and assertive in enhancing PC training policies and procedures.
 Observe professional code of ethics in regard to Trainees, Staff and the community.
 Observe the limits of confidentiality with Trainees and Staff.
 Promoting learner independence and PCTs’ self-sufficiency.
 Perform other related duties, as necessary, for the smooth implementation of Pre-Service
Training activities, as determined by the Training Manager.
 Provide key PC staff with feedback and observations regarding the personal attributes of each
trainee required to qualify for service, including motivation for service, productive competence,
maturity and adaptability level, skills acquisition, social and cultural sensitivity.
 Contractor will submit his/her salary payment request to the Training Manager for approval as
scheduled by FO/DMO. After approval by Training Manager and Admin. Officer, payment for
contract services, in the local currency BWP, will be deposited into the contractor’s bank
account.
 The assignment will require the LCF to relocate to the assigned CBT and be available there full
time Monday through Saturday.
 Ensures that safety and security competencies are incorporated and actively integrated in PST
programs and effectively delivered to PCTs so that their acquisition is properly evaluated and
documented. Assists the Training Manager in developing, assessing and redesigning
competencies and training sessions as required. Supports the safety and security systems that are
in-place for pre-service training, including reinforcing to PCTs their roles and responsibilities
related to their personal safety and security.
Logistics
Work will be conducted primarily in a Botswana village located, likely Molepolole, an hour drive from
Gaborone. Food and shared accomodations will be provided during on-site work.
Level of Effort
S/He will perform duties during a six-day work week during a 12 week contract period. Position will
require work in the evenings, weekends, and public holidays.
Application Procedures:
Applications must be received no later than March 31, 2016. Please email a cover letter, CV, personal address
and contact information and the names and contacts of your references to recruitment@bw.peacecorps.gov with
“Training Position Application” in the subject line. If necessary applications can be posted to the attention of:
Director of Management & Operations, Training Position Application, U.S. Peace Corps Botswana, P/Bag.
00243, Gaborone. Only short listed candidates will be contacted