The Tesoros del Atlántico project supports local producers, entrepreneurs, and artisans to strengthen their business models and organizational capacity. This includes support in digital marketing, export, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and local identity. The goal is to promote sustainability and local production as competitive advantages, while fostering the development of collective value chains.

Currently, many of these small businesses still operate in isolation, often lacking the organizational structures, integrated business strategies, and coordination mechanisms necessary to access to broader markets through cross-sector collaboration and product-service system approaches.

In response to these needs, SENA requests the support of a Virtual Service Pilot Participant to join its technical team to address these challenges through strategic guidance and virtual community-based trainings. While this would be the first VSPP in this specific role, two-year Volunteers are currently involved with the project in areas such as financial education and entrepreneurial skills. The VSPP will assist in creating a contextualized organizational assessment tool, designing and facilitating training sessions on topics that support cooperative entrepreneurship, and facilitating participatory planning processes.

The VSPP will collaborate directly with SENA’s technical team and artisans.

The organization has previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer.

Desired Qualifications

Education: Master's degree in digital marketing or any relevant field, including social sciences, education, business, management and organizational development

Experience

- Work with rural or community development projects, especially in sectors such as tourism, agribusiness, or cultural economies




- Knowledge of local development models or other community-driven economic development strategies
- Design and delivery of capacity building workshops focused on strengthening digital marketing, organizational development, business development, or sustainability
- Facilitate participatory processes with diverse stakeholders, including local communities, government institutions, and private sector partners

Required Skills

Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or related field

Language: Advanced Spanish

Experience

- 3 years of technical experience in digital marketing, organizational development, and/or entrepreneurship training
- Supporting strategic planning, results-based management, and report writing

Intercultural skills and motivation: Versátil, 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

Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (SENA) is a Colombian public institution dedicated to offering free vocational training to millions of Colombians. Its mission is to contribute to the country’s economic and social development by providing high-quality technical and technological education, fostering entrepreneurship and supporting workforce development to meet labor market demands.

https://www.sena.edu.co/es-co/Paginas/default.aspx https://www.sena.edu.co/es-co/sena/Paginas/misionVision.aspx The Tesoros del Atlántico project, led by the Atlántico Regional Office of SENA (Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje),



is a regional development initiative that seeks to strengthen the local economy through the promotion of community tourism, agro-industry, and fashion—sectors deeply rooted in cultural identity and traditional knowledge. Inspired by the OVOP (One Village, One Product) methodology, the project highlights the rich culture and artisanal products of Colombia’s Atlantico Department. Since its launch in 2024, the initiative has worked with 279 businesses across 11 municipalities, increasing the visibility of local resources and positioning the department as a competitive and culturally distinctive destination.

https://tesorosdelatlantico.com/vitrina

Virtual Service Engagement and Tasks The VSPPs will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners:

- Conduct initial assessments of each organization or individual artisan’s digital marketing and business development skills (under the umbrella of cooperative entrepreneurship skills)
- Co-develop training and teaching materials, informed by assessment findings. The training sessions will be 90 minutes and may include digital marketing, cooperative management structures, small business management, and other topics
- Deliver a training of trainers (ToT) to the SENA technical team on the sessions
- Co-facilitate and deliver six trainings to artisan organizations and entrepreneurs
- Provide one-on-one or small group coaching to artisans

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

Online collaboration will generally occur between 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Colombia time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The host country counterpart will have access to Microsoft Teams and Zoom for regular communication and collaboration.

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

📌 Support Entrepreneurship Skill Development for Local Artisans (Colombia)
🏢 Peace Corps
📍 Colombia