Job Description
The Regional Tourism Office of Alaotra Mangoro (ORTALMA), located in Moramanga, Madagascar, is a nonprofit organization responsible for structuring, promoting, and developing sustainable tourism in the Alaotra Mangoro region. Its activities include providing tourism information and services to operators and visitors, developing and promoting tourism products, organizing regional and international promotional events, and facilitating participation in fairs and exhibitions. ORTALMA also supports the professionalization of local tourism operators and advances youth and women’s empowerment initiatives while highlighting the region’s biodiversity and cultural heritage
Despite significant natural and cultural assets, tourism operators in Alaotra Mangoro face limited access to international markets due to low visibility, inadequate promotional materials, and minimal engagement with global tourism and technical partners. The absence of a coordinated international outreach strategy restricts ORTALMA’s ability to attract international visitors, engage potential technical and financial partners, and secure support for sustainable tourism initiatives. Strengthening ORTALMA’s capacity to build partnerships and communicate its offerings effectively is essential to improving regional economic opportunities and reinforcing long term conservation efforts.
The organization is requesting a Virtual Service Pilot Participant to support the development of a structured international partnership strategy that enhances ORTALMA’s outreach and communication capacities. The VSPP will co design a strategic partnership prospectus, create a verified list of 20 potential international partners, develop a communication toolkit with three professional email templates, and facilitate monthly virtual sessions to strengthen the team’s English language presentation skills. These activities focus on capacity strengthening rather than fulfilling staff functions.
ORTALMA has not previously worked with Peace Corps Volunteers or Response Volunteers and understands the distinct virtual, collaborative role of a VSPP.
Desired Qualifications
Education: Certificate in communication
Language: Intermediate French
Experience: Virtual engagement and communication
Required Skills
Education: Certificate in tourism management, marketing, international relations, nonprofit management, or related fields
Experience:
• Creating promotional materials or professional presentations
• Familiarity with the international tourism industry or sustainable travel trends
• Grant writing or fundraising for nonprofit organizations
Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, 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
The Alaotra Mangoro Regional Tourism Office (ORTALMA) is a nonprofit organization with a primary mission to structure, promote, and develop sustainable tourism within the region. The organization aims to enhance the visibility of local tourism operators, including hotels and community-based circuits, while fostering economic growth through strategic professional partnerships. ORTALMA promotes hospitality structures, develops technical, institutional, and financial partnerships, and supports interregional cooperation. The organization’s vision is to offer an innovative and sustainable approach to the relationship between humans and nature in the Alaotra Mangoro region. By valuing its unique biodiversity, natural riches, and local expertise, they strive for a harmonious and responsible future.
Four fundamental values guide every action taken by the Alaotra Mangoro Regional Tourism Office:
• Hospitality (Accueil): This is a priority. We believe every visitor should feel expected, listened to, and respected upon arrival. Alaotra Mangoro is known for the warmth of its people, and we are committed to providing a friendly, caring experience faithful to Malagasy hospitality.
• Authenticity: This is the very soul of our territory. We value local traditions, ancestral knowledge, preserved landscapes, and simple yet meaningful lifestyles. Promoting authenticity means inviting visitors to discover the region as it truly is, without artifice, while respecting local cultures and identities.
• Preservation: Protecting our natural and cultural environment is a strong commitment. Our exceptional biodiversity, fragile ecosystems, and historical heritage deserve special attention. We work toward responsible tourism that limits its impact, supports the conservation of species (such as the Bandro or the Indri Indri), and protects local resources.
• Sharing: Sharing is at the heart of our vision. To us, tourism is an exchange. It must create links between travelers and local communities, encourage encounters, transmit knowledge, and generate positive, equitable benefits for all stakeholders in the territory.
Virtual Service Engagement and Tasks
The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners:
• Co-design a “Strategic Partnership Prospectus” highlighting the region’s tourist attractions, aimed at international travel agencies and tour operators, environmental NGOs, and private foundations interested in sustainable tourism
• Conduct targeted research to identify and create a verified database of 20 high-potential international contacts (10 travel agencies/tour operators and 10 technical or financial organizations) whose missions align with sustainable tourism in Madagascar
• Develop a “communication toolkit” for ORTALMA, including three high-quality email templates: one for commercial partners (travel agencies), one for technical partners (NGOs), and one for potential donors. This ensures professional and consistent communication from ORTALMA
• Organize a monthly virtual knowledge-sharing session with the ORTALMA team to practice presenting the regional offering in English and to review the progress of strategies for raising awareness of international partnerships
VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be 10 hours per week.
Online collaboration will generally occur between 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Madagascar time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.
The host country counterpart will have access to WhatsApp, Google drive, 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.
