Description
Guatemala faces high rates of food insecurity that disproportionally affect vulnerable populations living in rural areas. The government of Guatemala is working to meet the challenges of food insecurity by strengthening its national agriculture extension system, which is a system focused on rural development initiatives. Local specialists working within this system have expertise in the areas of agriculture, animal husbandry, home health and economics. While these specialists have strong technical expertise for their position, they often lack formal training on the teaching and group development methodologies necessary to effectively empower communities. Additionally, community promoters, who hold an important role in sharing new knowledge with fellow farmers, do not always understand their role and lack the skills necessary to provide the support and leadership required of them. Therefore, Volunteers do not need to be subject-matter experts themselves. Rather, Volunteers support the work of the specialists and community promotors by providing training, support and mentorship that will help them transfer their knowledge more effectively.
This program is in the beginning stage of the implementation of a new project framework. As part of the first groups of Volunteers, your task is to work towards the project goal: Increase food security among rural households in Guatemala through strengthening the delivery of national rural extension services. Volunteers will accomplish this goal by providing one-on-one and group training to specialists working within the national extension system as well as to community promoters. Training topics range from facilitation techniques and adult experiential learning methods to leadership and organizational skills. Volunteers will use their own facilitation skills to teach the process of participatory community development as well as techniques. In addition to providing trainings, Volunteers will conduct needs assessments, identify gaps in available resources, and develop new materials to support the work of rural development initiatives. Volunteers are expected to play a facilitator role to minimize community dependency on their skills and to improve the sustainability of the project within the national extension system and the greater community.
Guatemala faces high rates of food insecurity that disproportionally affect vulnerable populations living in rural areas. The government of Guatemala is working to meet the challenges of food insecurity by strengthening its national agriculture extension system, which is a system focused on rural development initiatives. Local specialists working within this system have expertise in the areas of agriculture, animal husbandry, home health and economics. While these specialists have strong technical expertise for their position, they often lack formal training on the teaching and group development methodologies necessary to effectively empower communities. Additionally, community promoters, who hold an important role in sharing new knowledge with fellow farmers, do not always understand their role and lack the skills necessary to provide the support and leadership required of them. Therefore, Volunteers do not need to be subject-matter experts themselves. Rather, Volunteers support the work of the specialists and community promotors by providing training, support and mentorship that will help them transfer their knowledge more effectively.
This program is in the beginning stage of the implementation of a new project framework. As part of the first groups of Volunteers, your task is to work towards the project goal: Increase food security among rural households in Guatemala through strengthening the delivery of national rural extension services. Volunteers will accomplish this goal by providing one-on-one and group training to specialists working within the national extension system as well as to community promoters. Training topics range from facilitation techniques and adult experiential learning methods to leadership and organizational skills. Volunteers will use their own facilitation skills to teach the process of participatory community development as well as techniques. In addition to providing trainings, Volunteers will conduct needs assessments, identify gaps in available resources, and develop new materials to support the work of rural development initiatives. Volunteers are expected to play a facilitator role to minimize community dependency on their skills and to improve the sustainability of the project within the national extension system and the greater community.
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Benefits
Health coverage, Housing, Living allowance, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Stipend, Training
Education Benefits
College Degree
Education Requirements
College Graduate
Desired Languages
English, Spanish
Other Conditions
Subject to criminal background check