Peace Corps

Mission

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps to promote world peace and friendship.

The Peace Corps' mission has three simple goals:

1 - Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
2 - Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
3 - Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

Organization Type Government

Contact Information

Primary Contact
 Ms. Doreen Salazar
dsalazar@peacecorps.gov 		Secondary Contact
 Ms. Meghan Curley
Address OPATS
1111 20th Street, NW
Washington, DC
20526
United States 		Website http://www.peacecorps.gov/
Phone 202 692-2643
Fax 202 692-2651
Calling/Fax Instructions

Our Focus

Primary Initiatives, Target Populations, and Scope of Work:

The Peace Corps is currently active in 76 countries worldwide. Our primary project sectors are: Agriculture, Education, Environment, Health, Small Enterprise Development and Youth. Project goals and objectives related to household energy and indoor air pollution are currently focused on:

1 - environmental education: 41 countries
2 - tree planting and support of tree nurseries: 37 countries
3 - alternative cookstoves: 22 countries

Additionally, some Peace Corps countries have promoted sustainable solutions for schools, eco-tourism resorts, and small businesses related to renewable solar, hydro or wind energy, and alternative fuel sources (such as biogas and briquettes).

We plan to improve our effectiveness in all of these areas, particularly the promotion of use of alternative cookstoves.

Fuels/Technologies: Biogas
Biomass
Coal
Hydroelectric
Solar
Wind
Other
 Sectors of Experience: Agriculture
Behavior Change
Education
Environment
Financial/Banking
Forestry
Gender
Health
Rural Development
Water

Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas

Social/Cultural barriers to using traditional fuels and stoves:

Our Volunteers are particularly well-positioned to join efforts to address social / cultural barriers to using new types of fuels and stoves.

Market development for improved cooking technologies:

All our Volunteers promote sustainable solutions in any endeavor. Small business Volunteers are particularly well-positioned to support market development for improved cooking technologies.

Technology standardization for cooking, heating and ventilation:

The Peace Corps does not have much experience with tecnology standardization for cooking and heating, but we are interested in learning from and partnering with those who have experience in this area.

Indoor air pollution exposure and health monitoring:

The Peace Corps does not have much experience with air pollution exposure and health monitoring for cooking and heating, but we are interested in learning from and partnering with those who have experience in this area.

Relevant Publications or Studies

None noted

Our Contribution to the Partnership

The Peace Corps will participate in the Partnership through its network of Volunteers, who will:
1) raise awareness about the issue of indoor air pollution and about alternative fuels and cookstove options among rural communities.
2) raise awareness about global climate change and the environment, and promote tree planting and sustainable nurseries in rural communities.
3) support the development and strengthening of microenterprises and microfinancing options who can sustainably provide low-cost cookstoves to rural communities.

Peace Corps staff will provide Volunteers with the training and information they need to support this work.