Social Entrepreneurship Mentor - Volunteer in Papua New Guinea
Closing Date: 14 November 2025
Category: Youth Engagement & Community Development
Kia ora, Gude and warm Pacific greetings,
Te Whāinga | Our Purpose is
Te Hono Tangata - Te Huringa Ora.
Ka hono a Te Tūao Tāwāhi i ngā tūao pūkenga ki ngā whakahaere me ngā hapori i te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa me tua atu, hei tautoko i ngā wawata kua tautuhia ā-rohe, ā, kia tutuki ai te panoni toitū.
Connecting People – Transforming Lives.
Volunteer Service Abroad connects skilled volunteers with organisations and communities in the Pacific and beyond to support locally identified aspirations and achieve sustainable change.
Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About the role
This is your opportunity to become a VSA Volunteer to share your experience, skills and knowledge to serve and build capacity in Papua New Guinea. Work alongside our local partner organisation to plan and create a brighter future for all.
We are looking for an experienced Entrepreneurship Mentor or someone with the right level of transferrable skills, who understands and shares the spirit of volunteering, with a keen interest in building capability in the Pacific (while embracing a new cultural experience).
The length of this assignment in the Papua New Guinea will be 6 months.
VSA will support you by funding and organizing your flights, visas, insurances, accommodation, living allowance and utilities while you are on assignment.
Ngā tino Pūkenga/Wheako – Essential skills/experiences for the role
If you are interested in this opportunity, below are some of the key skills and experiences that we’re looking for.
Important note: Due to our VSA funding requirements, our volunteers must be a NZ citizen or NZ Permanent Resident to progress further in our recruitment process.
Our Partner Organisation – Archdiocese of Rabaul
The Archdiocese of Rabaul (AoR) delivers essential healthcare, education, and social support across East New Britain Province. It operates St Mary’s Hospital and rural clinics via Catholic Church Health Services (CCHS), and contributes to education through institutions like St Mary’s School of Nursing, Kabaleo and OLSH Teachers’ Colleges, and St Peter Chanel College. Its vocational institutes foster practical skills and entrepreneurship, helping youth transition into self-employment.
To address youth unemployment, limited livelihoods, and social cohesion challenges, the Archdiocese is expanding vocational training and social enterprise initiatives that build skills, create jobs, and strengthen communities.
The Assignment
As Social Entrepreneurship Mentor, you will support the development of sustainable social enterprises and agribusiness initiatives that improve livelihoods in East New Britain. You’ll guide vocational training in food processing, spice production, and agricultural value addition—empowering youth, women, and marginalised groups to build skills, generate income, and enhance community resilience.
The Archdiocese will pilot at least one fully operational community enterprise, offering hands-on training and initial employment opportunities in food processing, spice production, or agribusiness.
The Country – Papua New Guinea
Most people living in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are Melanesian, but some are Micronesian or Polynesian. PNG has over 800 known languages although there are three official languages: Tok Pisin, English, and Hiri Motu. Numerous indigenous languages are still used by people from a society that ranges from traditional village-based life to modern urban living.
Underlying the Papua New Guinean culture is the wantok system. Wantok, or ‘one talk’, refers to the people who speak your language or your extended family/clan; a Papua New Guinean’s primary loyalty will be to their wantok.
The country is predominately Christian, with indigenous faith and spirituality still important to many locals.
The people of Papua New Guinea are famously warm and hospitable and the isolated mountain ranges are often home to unique fauna and flora found nowhere else in the world.
Me pēhea te tuku tono| How to apply:
Apply for this opportunity through our website.
For more information or if you have any questions on this assignment, email volunteer@vsa.org.nz.
For a copy of the Assignment Description, please click the apply button which will direct you to the VSA website. You will be able to download a copy from the advertisement.
Te Whāinga | Our Purpose is
Te Hono Tangata - Te Huringa Ora.
Ka hono a Te Tūao Tāwāhi i ngā tūao pūkenga ki ngā whakahaere me ngā hapori i te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa me tua atu, hei tautoko i ngā wawata kua tautuhia ā-rohe, ā, kia tutuki ai te panoni toitū.
Connecting People – Transforming Lives.
Volunteer Service Abroad connects skilled volunteers with organisations and communities in the Pacific and beyond to support locally identified aspirations and achieve sustainable change.
Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About the role
This is your opportunity to become a VSA Volunteer to share your experience, skills and knowledge to serve and build capacity in Papua New Guinea. Work alongside our local partner organisation to plan and create a brighter future for all.
We are looking for an experienced Entrepreneurship Mentor or someone with the right level of transferrable skills, who understands and shares the spirit of volunteering, with a keen interest in building capability in the Pacific (while embracing a new cultural experience).
The length of this assignment in the Papua New Guinea will be 6 months.
VSA will support you by funding and organizing your flights, visas, insurances, accommodation, living allowance and utilities while you are on assignment.
Ngā tino Pūkenga/Wheako – Essential skills/experiences for the role
If you are interested in this opportunity, below are some of the key skills and experiences that we’re looking for.
- Degree in Business, Economics, Agribusiness, Development Studies, Social Enterprise, or a related field.
- Minimum 3–5 years’ experience in social enterprise development, small business incubation, agribusiness value chains, or community-based livelihood programmes.
- Enterprise planning, business modelling, and financial management.
- Agribusiness development and value-adding (food processing, spice production, or similar).
- Able to design and run training sessions for different groups of people.
- Understanding of community development, sustainable livelihoods, and inclusive economic participation.
- Facilitation and relationship-building skills, with the ability to mentor and motivate others.
- Strong communication, organisational and time management skills.
Important note: Due to our VSA funding requirements, our volunteers must be a NZ citizen or NZ Permanent Resident to progress further in our recruitment process.
Our Partner Organisation – Archdiocese of Rabaul
The Archdiocese of Rabaul (AoR) delivers essential healthcare, education, and social support across East New Britain Province. It operates St Mary’s Hospital and rural clinics via Catholic Church Health Services (CCHS), and contributes to education through institutions like St Mary’s School of Nursing, Kabaleo and OLSH Teachers’ Colleges, and St Peter Chanel College. Its vocational institutes foster practical skills and entrepreneurship, helping youth transition into self-employment.
To address youth unemployment, limited livelihoods, and social cohesion challenges, the Archdiocese is expanding vocational training and social enterprise initiatives that build skills, create jobs, and strengthen communities.
The Assignment
As Social Entrepreneurship Mentor, you will support the development of sustainable social enterprises and agribusiness initiatives that improve livelihoods in East New Britain. You’ll guide vocational training in food processing, spice production, and agricultural value addition—empowering youth, women, and marginalised groups to build skills, generate income, and enhance community resilience.
The Archdiocese will pilot at least one fully operational community enterprise, offering hands-on training and initial employment opportunities in food processing, spice production, or agribusiness.
The Country – Papua New Guinea
Most people living in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are Melanesian, but some are Micronesian or Polynesian. PNG has over 800 known languages although there are three official languages: Tok Pisin, English, and Hiri Motu. Numerous indigenous languages are still used by people from a society that ranges from traditional village-based life to modern urban living.
Underlying the Papua New Guinean culture is the wantok system. Wantok, or ‘one talk’, refers to the people who speak your language or your extended family/clan; a Papua New Guinean’s primary loyalty will be to their wantok.
The country is predominately Christian, with indigenous faith and spirituality still important to many locals.
The people of Papua New Guinea are famously warm and hospitable and the isolated mountain ranges are often home to unique fauna and flora found nowhere else in the world.
Me pēhea te tuku tono| How to apply:
Apply for this opportunity through our website.
For more information or if you have any questions on this assignment, email volunteer@vsa.org.nz.
For a copy of the Assignment Description, please click the apply button which will direct you to the VSA website. You will be able to download a copy from the advertisement.
We are looking for a volunteer with:
- Full time 6-month Volunteering opportunity in Kokopo, Papua New Guinea.
- Flights, accommodation and other expenses covered by VSA.
- Make a lasting difference across the Pacific.
VSA covers flights, accommodation, insurance and some expenses. A living allowance is also provided.
Does volunteering with one of the largest and most experienced agency in international development interest you?