HOST FAMILY COORDINATOR

PSC Position Title: Host Family Coordinator
Reports To: Deputy Director, Programming & Training (DDPT)
Contract Type: Intermittent – Not to Exceed 190 days per year
Supervises: None
SOW Review Date: August 2026

1. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

At a minimum, the successful candidate’s CV must demonstrate the following:

• Education: Bachelor of Arts or Science in Education or related degree.
• Experience: Five years’ work experience working with government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, or private businesses.
• At least 3 years’ work experience in rural community development.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English language.
• Excellent command of spoken and written in two local Ugandan language.
• Must be legally able to work in Uganda.

2. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience: 8 years’ work experience working with government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, or private businesses.
• 5 years’ work experience in rural community development.
• Cross-cultural experience with Americans.
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively throughout Uganda as needed for implementation of the job using public transportation.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision; good organization and time management skills.
• Strong cross-cultural skills; strong interpersonal skills, strong interest in Uganda’s development.

3. BACKGROUND

The U.S. Peace Corps is an agency of the United States Government, which sends American volunteer development workers to assist in capacity building and technical assistance activities in more than 60 countries worldwide. It operates in Uganda by the invitation of the Government of Uganda and has a memorandum of understanding with government ministries that outline broad areas of agreement of cooperation regarding the work of Peace Corps Volunteers in Uganda.

Volunteers are assigned to government and non-governmental agencies and organizations, community-based organizations, colleges and schools who in partnership enable Volunteers to provide capacity building in Education and Health, including community economic development activities. Peace Corps also aims to build cultural understanding between Americans and Ugandans.

Peace Corps Uganda is located at 48 Malcolm X Avenue, Kololo, Kampala. Our Post office box numbers are 29348 or 7007 Kampala, Uganda. Please see https://www.peacecorps.gov/uganda for more details about Peace Corps Uganda.

The work of a Peace Corps Personal Services Contractor (PSC) does not limit itself to the role: active support of the Peace Corps mission is paramount to the job because contractors are representatives of Peace Corps in the country.

4. OBJECTIVE OF THE POSITION

The Host Family Coordinator identifies host family locations for Peace Corps Trainees (PCTs) to reside while undergoing language training and identifies satellite venues to be used as training centers during satellite training.

Evaluates host family sites to ensure conformity to established standards for safety and security of Trainees. Identifies training venues and trainer accommodation.

Develops training materials for PCTs and host families to foster inter-cultural understanding and enhance the host family integration process.

Provides support to Trainees and families during the living period with the host family, to enable both groups to have a meaningful and valuable cross-cultural learning experience to build relationships with communities on behalf of Peace Corps to enhance community entry and Volunteer acceptance and support.

The services to be performed will be subject to the ultimate responsibility and authority of the Peace Corps Country Director who is responsible for all Peace Corps activities in Uganda.

5. TASKS & DELIVERABLES

A. Host Family Coordination

• Identify and recruit host families in sufficient number to house one Trainee for each household that meet the required Peace Corps Uganda criteria.
• With Deputy Director Programming & Training, determine necessary allowances and material inputs necessary for host families.
• Maintain all host families’ files and records.
• Ensure that host families understand their responsibilities under the host family program during well designed host family orientation sessions before Trainees arrive.
• Enter into agreements with responsible host family members.
• Visit all host families periodically during PST to detect and respond to problems in a timely manner.
• Coordinates host family farewell events; prepares CD letters, appreciation certificates and ensures adequate staff representation and transportation arrangements are made.
• Writes host family certificates and appreciation messages to the families; communicates evaluation results to both PCVs and host families.
• Encourages maintenance of communication with host families to foster a continuous relationship between Peace Corps and appropriate host families, local leaders and other partners.

B. Short-Term Satellite/Community Training Venue and Trainer Accommodation Identification

• Makes community contacts to introduce the Peace Corps host family program and ensure awareness by community leaders through informational sessions.
• Identifies, with contracts and training staff input and support, satellite/community training venues by going to the regions according to the determined language groups for the respective PST. The major role in the identification process is to make good judgments about the suitability of potential satellite/community training venues based on the Peace Corps criteria.
• Make visits to identify potential satellite/community training venues for the Peace Corps Trainees in the specified region(s) and conduct necessary follow-ups. (PCU needs at least three potential venues per region selected and written quotations for services with the specific information as designated by the Contracts Officer and training staff).
• Where possible, ensure that the venues will be easily accessed from potential host families (within 30 minutes’ walk).
• Prepares recommendations to guide Peace Corps Contracting Officers and necessary staff.
• Works hand in hand with the Administrative staff and Training Logistician in the process of trainer accommodation identification, negotiation, contracting and handover.

C. Training

• Contributes to the design, in conjunction with the Deputy Director Programming & Training, Language & Cross-Cultural Coordinator, and the PC Resource Volunteers, the development of cross-cultural and general training objectives, assessments and learning activities to be implemented in the PCT/PCV Trainings.
• Designs and coordinates home family orientation sessions and any activities during PreService Training which directly address the host family experience and community entry and integration.
• Designs, in conjunction with the DDPT, LCC and PC Resource Volunteers, training sessions to facilitate safety & security, cross-cultural integration for PCTs and host family members during Satellite/Community-based Training.
• Designs, along with PC Resource Volunteers and the LCC, informational materials about Peace Corps to increase understanding of Peace Corps on the part of host families.
• Working with the Deputy Director Programming & Training, Program Manager, Program Specialist, LCC and PC Resource Volunteers, develops an integrated cross-cultural program utilizing the host families and other community entry experiences, on-the-job training, and other resources, to prepare Volunteers for service.
• Conducts, along with the Community Entry PC Resource Volunteers members and the Language and Cross-Cultural Coordinator, research to increase the integration of host families into Training designs, and to achieve more in-depth involvement of the immediate community.
• Identifies local resources, including community organizations for PCTs to visit, to include in Satellite/Community-based training.
• Participates and assists in planning and conducting staff training activities within each component, ensuring the integration of cross-cultural issues.
• Designs and delivers sessions, along with PC Resource Volunteers, Deputy Director Programming & Training, Program Manager, Program Specialist and Language and CrossCultural Coordinator, to LCFs during TOT to prepare them to facilitate community entry activities with PCTs during Satellite/Community-based Training.

D. Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation

• Develops and implements monitoring systems, which provide peer and trainer support to Trainees in host families.
• Monitor and advise LCFs and other appropriate staff with regards to the implementation of cross-cultural and community integration activities.
• Prepares progress reports on the Host family component of Pre-Service Training to be submitted to the Deputy Director Programming & Training.
• Designs, oversees the implementation of an Evaluation of the Host family component including feedback from Host Families on how to continuously improve the host family program.
• Evaluates host family sites to ensure conformity to established standards for safety and security of Trainees.
• Ensures host families and local officials are willing and able to provide appropriate support to Trainees. Coordinates orientation for host families, including safety and security matters related to Trainees.
• Assists the Safety & Security team, Deputy Director Programming & Training and DPT in developing safety and security systems for pre-service training and supports safety and security training objectives, including reinforcing Trainee roles and responsibilities related to personal safety and security.

6. STANDARD ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A. OMH: Occasional Money Handler

Occasional Money Handler may be requested to courier cash and/or purchase orders to various vendors who furnish supplies and/or services to PST/IST training site, or other locations as directed by the Contracting Officer.

The PSC may also be requested to courier cash to PC trainees or volunteers. The PSC will not be functioning as a procurement or disbursing official but will only be acting as an intermediary between the Contracting or Disbursing Officer and the recipient.

In the case of dealing with vendors, the PSC will not exercise any procurement discretion concerning the supplies or services to be purchased or the cost limits of these purchases; these will be determined by the Contracting Officer.

B. S&S

• Addresses Volunteer safety and security by adhering to Peace Corps site development policies and procedures.
• Identifies and immediately communicates Volunteer safety and security concerns and issues to the Safety and Security Manager (SSM) and the Country Director (CD).
• Assists Program Managers/APCDs to ensure that prospective sites meet established programmatic and safety/security criteria (e.g., safe housing, a clearly defined assignment with an organization that shows real interest in working with a Volunteer, etc.).
• Reviews and references site history files when evaluating potential sites, and incorporates appropriate safety and security-related information into site history files.
• Monitors Volunteer compliance with Peace Corps policies, especially related to safety and security.
• Participates in the design and implementation of the Emergency Action Plan (EAP).
• Knowledgeable and supportive of Peace Corps safety and security policies and procedures, including the timely reporting of suspicious incidents, persons or articles.
• Immediately communicates Volunteer safety and security concerns and issues to the Safety and Security Manager (SSM) and CD.
• Knowledgeable and supportive of Peace Corps safety and security policies and procedures, including the timely reporting of suspicious incidents, persons or articles.

C. Other Flexibilities

If there is a time at post, due to a pandemic or for any other reason, when there are limited or no Peace Corps Trainees and/or Volunteers (jointly referred to as “Volunteers”) at Peace Corps Uganda, the PSC may be temporarily assigned during that period, as determined by the Peace Corps Country Director (CD), to carry out additional duties and responsibilities in furtherance of the goals of the Peace Corps in order to enhance the ability of Peace Corps Volunteers to perform functions under the Peace Corps Act, including facilitating a safe environment in order for the successful return or increase of Volunteers.

This temporary assignment may require the PSC to provide services and/or support beyond what is listed in their current Statement of Work (SOW). The services and/or support may take many forms, examples of which may include but are not limited to training, providing administrative, technical, medical, and/or operational assistance, building on host country programs, etc.

This temporary assignment also may require the PSC to provide these services and/or support to individuals/organizations other than those listed in their current SOW such as host country government, partner organization(s), community member(s), staff, and/or contractors.

7. SUPERVISION, LOGISTICS & LEVEL OF EFFORT

• Supervision Received: Supervised by and receives day-to-day guidance from the DDPT. One-step over supervision will be from the Director of Programming and Training under overall stewardship of the Country Director. For new, difficult or unusual tasks, supervisors give directions on objectives and suggested procedures. The Host Family Coordinator is expected to take the initiative to meet established deadlines and document and communicate procedures to management.
• Duty Station: The main office is located in Kololo, Kampala, with training venues in and out of Kampala and frequent travel outside Kampala, within Uganda.
• Working Arrangement: This position is an intermittent role with a Not to Exceed number of 190 working days per year. The candidate will be expected to carry out their duties during a 40/48-hour work week. Events require occasional work in the evenings and on weekends and holidays.
• Available Guidelines: 1) Peace Corps Manual, 2) Foreign Affairs Manual, 3) Instructions provided by the Director of Programming and Training and the Country Director.
• Exercise of Judgment: Broad exercise of judgment within confines of job responsibilities.
• Authority to Make Commitments: The Host Family Coordinator is expected to exercise authority within the confines of the position’s responsibilities.