Understanding the Peace Corps
What is the Peace Corps?
The Peace Corps (PC) is an independent federal agency that sends trained American volunteers abroad to work on grassroots development projects in collaboration with local communities. Established in 1961, the Peace Corps promotes global peace, friendship, and sustainable development through service programs in more than 60 countries. Volunteers engage in projects related to education, health, economic development, agriculture, environment, and youth empowerment.
While most Peace Corps personnel are volunteers, the agency also relies on government contractors, consultants, and IT specialists to support its global operations, digital transformation, data management, logistics, training, and cybersecurity efforts.
Key Areas of Focus:
- Global Volunteer Service Programs: Sending Americans to assist with education, health, and economic development projects.
- Cultural Exchange & Diplomacy: Strengthening international partnerships through people-to-people connections.
- Sustainable Development & Capacity Building: Helping local communities build self-sufficient programs.
- Disaster Response & Crisis Management: Assisting in public health crises, disaster recovery, and refugee support.
- Volunteer Safety & Security: Ensuring protection and well-being of personnel in overseas assignments.
- Digital & IT Modernization: Improving agency-wide HR, logistics, training, and cybersecurity operations.
Mission and Goals
The Peace Corps’ mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:
- Helping the people of interested countries meet their needs for trained professionals.
- Promoting better understanding of American culture abroad.
- Bringing insights from different cultures back to the U.S.
The agency operates under diplomatic and development-focused initiatives, often working alongside the State Department, USAID, and international NGOs.
Peace Corps Organization
The agency is structured into various divisions, each responsible for different aspects of program management:
- Office of Volunteer Recruitment & Selection (VRS): Manages recruitment and placement of Peace Corps Volunteers.
- Office of Global Operations (OGO): Oversees international programs, logistics, and support.
- Office of Health Services (OHS): Provides medical support, public health guidance, and crisis response.
- Office of Safety and Security (OSS): Manages risk assessment and security protocols for volunteers.
- Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO): Leads IT modernization, digital infrastructure, and cybersecurity efforts.
- Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO): Oversees budget, procurement, and contract management.
The Peace Corps has a headquarters in Washington, D.C. and regional offices worldwide supporting its operations.
Advancing Your Career as a Contractor with the Peace Corps
Helpful Tips for IT Professionals and Consultants:
- Understand the Peace Corps’ International Development Role: Align services with volunteer support, digital transformation, and risk management.
- Stay Current with Government Procurement Guidelines: Peace Corps contracts follow FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulations), particularly FAR Part 12 (Commercial Acquisitions) and FAR Part 15 (Negotiated Contracts).
- Master Peace Corps Systems and Tools: Learn about:
- Volunteer Information Database (VIDA) – The internal platform for managing Peace Corps Volunteers.
- Peace Corps Medical & Safety Reporting Systems – Tools for tracking health, security, and crisis responses.
- IT Security & Compliance Frameworks – Policies related to international data security and cloud-based HR systems.
- Prioritize Cybersecurity and Data Protection: Contractors must follow NIST 800-171, FISMA, and GDPR (for international data transfers).
- Effective Communication Across Cultures: Many contracts involve collaborating with global teams and local stakeholders.
- Agile and Cloud-Based Solutions for Global Operations: The Peace Corps is investing in HR automation, remote training, and AI-driven risk assessments.
- Continuous Learning and Professional Development: Stay informed on development strategies, digital governance, and public-sector IT trends.
- Networking and Collaboration: Attend Peace Corps industry days, USAID/State Department events, and international development conferences.
- Focus on Mobile-Friendly, Multilingual Solutions: Many Peace Corps projects require accessible, mobile-first applications for volunteers working in remote locations.
- Document and Share Knowledge: Maintain detailed documentation on HR system enhancements, cybersecurity frameworks, and digital process improvements.