Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator
Project Description
Jamaica is rich in biodiversity and has multiple opportunities for Volunteers to collaborate with farmers on locally prioritized projects.
The Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator seeks to support Jamaicans in rural communities to achieve sustainable livelihoods and resilience to environmental shocks and stresses. This goal will be achieved through the following objectives:
Objective 1: Increase Agricultural Diversity, Productivity, and/or Sustainability
Objective 2: Increase Agriculture-based Income
Objective 3: Strengthen Agricultural Organizations
Potential activities include working alongside community partners to promote climate smart agricultural practices, post-harvest management, basic agribusiness skills, and support organizational capacity development processes. Volunteers will work with organizations and project partners to plan and co-facilitate trainings, and promote knowledge exchange on business skills needed to implement sustainable agricultural projects and income generation activities.
COVID-19 Volunteer Activities
As a Volunteer, you will be trained in how to best protect yourself from COVID-19 exposure and understand the impact of and steps to reduce stigma related to COVID-19. You may also have the opportunity to engage with your community on implementing or enhancing COVID-19 mitigation activities, such as COVID-19 prevention and risk reduction strategies including social distancing, hand washing, mask wearing, addressing myths and misconceptions related to these practices, and vaccine hesitancy. Activities will be tailored to address the COVID-19 circumstances in the communities where you will serve.
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have an expressed interest in working in agriculture and at least one of the following criteria:
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field
• 5 years professional work experience
Desired Skills
Competitive candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any business discipline
• 5 years professional experience in business management
• BA/BS in environmental/agricultural science, business or related field discipline
• Experience in commercial or small business, vegetable gardening, soil and water management, cultivation/production, sustainable agriculture, organizational capacity building.
• Academic and work experience in environmental and agricultural science, agri-business, agro-forestry, and/or environmental studies, organizational development, small business development
• Experience with organizational development and/or small business development, including project design and management
• Experience with public speaking and presentations, including facilitation of small and large groups of adults
Required Language Skills
There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position.
There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position, however Volunteers will be required to learn Patwa for successful safety, security and integration. By the end of Pre-Service Training Trainees will be expected to have an Intermediate Low Patwa proficiency (assessed through the Language Proficiency Interview) in order to successfully complete training.
Jamaica is a bilingual country. English (Standard Jamaican English) is the official language, however there is also a Creole known as the Jamaican Patwa which is the language spoken throughout Jamaica, especially in rural areas. While a few Jamaicans, especially those living in urban areas, move easily between Jamaican Patwa and English, the majority speak neither of these in their pure forms. The language and cultural training presented throughout the 27-month training continuum will help prepare Volunteers to speak and understand Jamaican Patwa and culture. This is crucial in order to facilitate smooth and successful integration into their community.
Living Conditions
All Volunteers live in a host family setting for the duration of their service. The majority of community assignments are in rural areas, predominantly in the interior and mountainous regions of the island. The standard of living varies widely within individual communities. The most common living situations are a room in a home with a Jamaican family with access to a shared bathroom and kitchen, although some Volunteers may have an independent unit near a family home. Cellular phone coverage is available in most rural communities, but there may not be internet access. Your host family will assist you with orientation in your community, Jamaican home life, and cross-cultural adjustment during Pre-Service Training and in your assigned community. Laundry is most often washed by hand in a sink or washtub although some volunteers have access to a washing machine to use occasionally.
Electricity is present island wide, except in very remote areas. The amenities that each Volunteer will have with their assigned host families will vary, however all Volunteers will have access to basic amenities, including a stove and refrigerator. Due to scarcity and high prices, conservation of electricity and water is critical while living with Jamaican host families. Peace Corps staff will support you with training and strategies to integrate and adapt effectively and appropriately to living in the new intercultural context of your host community.
The Jamaican diet consists of mostly chicken although beef, goat, and fish are readily available. Vegetarians and vegans can be well accommodated with a wide selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, beans, and grains available, especially in larger supermarkets.
Serving in Jamaica
Learn more about the Volunteer experience in Jamaica: Get detailed information on culture, communications, housing, health, and safety -- including health and crime statistics -- in order to make a well-informed decision about serving.
Couples Information
Jamaica happily accepts cross-sector couples. Your partner must apply and qualify for:
Primary Literacy Educator
Couples will live in the same community, but will work on different projects. Couples will live together with a host family during both Pre-Service Training and service.
Medical Considerations
Before you apply, please review Medical Information for Applicants to learn about the medical clearance process.
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