Description
Sustainable Agriculture Volunteers introduce improved technologies to maximize crop production, diversify farming, encourage appropriate agricultural practices, and create new opportunities for farmers. Through training and capacity building, Peace Corps Tanzania’s Sustainable Agriculture project promotes food security, sustainable livelihoods, and increased resilience. Volunteers mobilize community leaders, identify community counterparts and work with community-based organizations interested in learning new and improved ways of farming. They support awareness raising and play the role of catalyst. Examples of Volunteer activities include:
• Train farmers to employ new crop cultivation technologies and management practices to improve crop production and food security.
• Educate farmers on sustainable soil and water conservation technologies and management practices.
• Train farmers on basic business skills to facilitate a process to identify, develop, and implement agriculture-based income generating activities (IGAs).
• Train farmers on technologies and management practices to conserve, store, and/or transform agricultural products to add value.
• Train farmers on improved small animal husbandry technologies and management practices.
• Teach women of reproductive age and/or key household decision makers the importance of consuming and cooking nutrient-rich foods.
• Train farmers on agroforestry tree production and system design technologies and management practices.
Volunteers work in partnership with community leaders and community members. Using this approach, Volunteers help to assess the local knowledge, resources and needs, collaboratively determine the best and most appropriate interventions, and select sustainable projects that they can undertake during the time frame of their two-year service.
Working with a community counterpart, Volunteers also have the opportunity to undertake secondary projects that address other community needs. Examples include: teaching English or science at local primary schools, promoting healthy behaviors through sports for boys and girls, improving school or health center facilities, supporting rain water catchment projects, and rehabilitating latrines. While much of the work will take place during weekday daytime hours, some activities, particularly in the community, may take place at night or on weekends. Key dates such as the International Malaria Day and World AIDS day are opportunities to implement social-mobilization activities, and many Volunteers work with their village government to prepare a community-wide awareness event. Of great importance in Peace Corps community development work is Volunteer integration in the community, being present in the community, developing relationships with neighbors and key community members such as teachers and religious leaders, and building trust.
Having a laptop is important as it enables Volunteers to complete required reporting assignments offline, and uploading them at a later date. While Volunteers may also complete assignments through local internet cafes or other access points, having a laptop will alleviate challenges of connectivity and facilitate access to technical resources for service as an Agriculture Volunteer and for secondary projects. Unfortunately, as is the case across the world, this also comes with the risk of potential damage and theft of your laptop.
Peace Corps Tanzania promotes gender awareness and girls’ education and empowerment. Volunteers receive training on gender challenges in Tanzania and have the opportunity to implement gender-related activities that are contextually appropriate, to promote gender-equitable norms and increase girls’ sense of agency. As part of their work, Volunteers will also report on these activities and results achieved.
Sustainable Agriculture Volunteers introduce improved technologies to maximize crop production, diversify farming, encourage appropriate agricultural practices, and create new opportunities for farmers. Through training and capacity building, Peace Corps Tanzania’s Sustainable Agriculture project promotes food security, sustainable livelihoods, and increased resilience. Volunteers mobilize community leaders, identify community counterparts and work with community-based organizations interested in learning new and improved ways of farming. They support awareness raising and play the role of catalyst. Examples of Volunteer activities include:
• Train farmers to employ new crop cultivation technologies and management practices to improve crop production and food security.
• Educate farmers on sustainable soil and water conservation technologies and management practices.
• Train farmers on basic business skills to facilitate a process to identify, develop, and implement agriculture-based income generating activities (IGAs).
• Train farmers on technologies and management practices to conserve, store, and/or transform agricultural products to add value.
• Train farmers on improved small animal husbandry technologies and management practices.
• Teach women of reproductive age and/or key household decision makers the importance of consuming and cooking nutrient-rich foods.
• Train farmers on agroforestry tree production and system design technologies and management practices.
Volunteers work in partnership with community leaders and community members. Using this approach, Volunteers help to assess the local knowledge, resources and needs, collaboratively determine the best and most appropriate interventions, and select sustainable projects that they can undertake during the time frame of their two-year service.
Working with a community counterpart, Volunteers also have the opportunity to undertake secondary projects that address other community needs. Examples include: teaching English or science at local primary schools, promoting healthy behaviors through sports for boys and girls, improving school or health center facilities, supporting rain water catchment projects, and rehabilitating latrines. While much of the work will take place during weekday daytime hours, some activities, particularly in the community, may take place at night or on weekends. Key dates such as the International Malaria Day and World AIDS day are opportunities to implement social-mobilization activities, and many Volunteers work with their village government to prepare a community-wide awareness event. Of great importance in Peace Corps community development work is Volunteer integration in the community, being present in the community, developing relationships with neighbors and key community members such as teachers and religious leaders, and building trust.
Having a laptop is important as it enables Volunteers to complete required reporting assignments offline, and uploading them at a later date. While Volunteers may also complete assignments through local internet cafes or other access points, having a laptop will alleviate challenges of connectivity and facilitate access to technical resources for service as an Agriculture Volunteer and for secondary projects. Unfortunately, as is the case across the world, this also comes with the risk of potential damage and theft of your laptop.
Peace Corps Tanzania promotes gender awareness and girls’ education and empowerment. Volunteers receive training on gender challenges in Tanzania and have the opportunity to implement gender-related activities that are contextually appropriate, to promote gender-equitable norms and increase girls’ sense of agency. As part of their work, Volunteers will also report on these activities and results achieved.
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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
Other Conditions
Subject to criminal background check