Business Volunteers focus on increasing family income, improving the environment for businesses, educating young people, and helping businesses find markets for traditional or value-added products. They participate at many levels, whether helping artisan cooperatives in rural Africa market their handmade goods or training people in Eastern Europe to take advantage of new free-market opportunities.

Often, business Volunteers begin in a classroom setting, which gives them a position in the community as respected leaders and makes other projects possible. These projects include training entrepreneurs in the basic skills of small-business development and working with women to help them expand their access to credit and find new markets for their products. Some Volunteers work with development banks, nongovernmental organizations, and municipalities to support local development projects.

Most business Volunteers have business or public administration degrees or experience; others have degrees in other disciplines and a strong interest in business and nonprofit organizations.

Click on the links below to learn more about the specific opportunities and requirements for business development Volunteers in the Peace Corps.