Since the Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program was created in 1985, the volunteer technical assistance process has relied on volunteer recruiters to connect technical experts with host organizations in partnering countries. Our newest recruiter, Olivia recently returned from a visit to Senegal where she got to meet staff and the people who work with F2F every day. She recently graduated with a doctoral degree in agricultural education and communication from the University of Florida. Olivia has loved international development work since her first study abroad experiences in 2016 when she spent 1 month working at an agricultural school in Mozambique.

In general, there are four main steps for a volunteer recruiter – securing a volunteer, mobilization (for in-person assignments), assignment implementation, and assignment closure. I have become acquainted with flight itineraries, expense reports, visa processes, and other technical aspects of assisting volunteers with their assignments. Currently, Winrock’s F2F program works in Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Mali, and Senegal. About three months after starting, I was given the opportunity to travel to Senegal to support Winrock’s F2F efforts. This trip taught me more about Winrock’s in-country F2F operations, host organizations, and how to better communicate travel expectations to future volunteers.

While in Senegal, I had the privilege to meet with members of two host organizations – AMIDEF (Alliance of the Integrated Masses for the Development of Women’s Entrepreneurship Network) and COFLEC (Coalition of Women Against Illegal Immigration).

My meeting with Madame Ba at AMIDEF taught me about the wide range of agricultural products that F2F assignments have assisted with and the far-reaching impacts these assignments have on AMIDEF members across Senegal. AMIDEF has empowered women to learn soap creation, fruit and vegetable preservation techniques, and is now branching out into agricultural-based cosmetics. In addition, AMIDEF members have worked with F2F to increase pre-packaged meals that incorporate culturally important foods, and nutrition, and are readily available for purchase by busy city-dwellers in the capital – Dakar. I am looking forward to finding dedicated volunteers for upcoming assignments in 2023 that will support AMIDEF’s mission to empower women entrepreneurship such as SEN329 – Essential Oils Making Techniques for Soap and Cosmetics.

My visit with Madame Bayam at COFLEC was an extremely personal experience in which she described losing her son at sea while he was seeking job opportunities abroad. Madame Bayam has dedicated herself to supporting agricultural-related job opportunities that encourage Senegalese not to take dangerous boat trips in search of employment abroad. It was incredible to see the sustainability impacts of a recent F2F assignment which taught COFLEC members how to create paper bags to lessen the use of plastic and encourage local production of necessary business supplies. COFLEC has served as a host organization for many assignments on topics such as leadership and business management, fruit and vegetable processing, and body care products production. I am inspired by COFLEC’s commitment to increasing the quality of agricultural-product availability, improving their surrounding marine environment, and advocating for women’s empowerment throughout Senegal.

My recent trip familiarized me with the Senegalese in-country F2F team and gave me a chance to support ongoing programmatic efforts. Most importantly, this trip helped me understand that F2F assignments are so much more than assignment numbers, itineraries, and expense reports. Winrock’s F2F assignments are life-changing – promoting job opportunities, supporting gender equality, and encouraging climate-smart agriculture. This trip helped me better understand the interconnected components which must come together for a successful F2F assignment. F2F relies on expert volunteers (U.S. citizens, and National volunteers), support from our F2F in-country colleagues, receptive host organizations, and help from Winrock’s headquarters. I am happy to have returned to my home office energized and inspired to connect technical experts in the U.S. with our F2F host organizations to improve livelihoods and food security.

National Farmer Day is a day to celebrate and pay tribute to all the farmers throughout American history. The American farmer has historically been the provider of agriculture and horticulture production for not only Americans but for most of the world. The United States tops the list in production volume, accounting for more than 360 million tons of grain. The total exports of grain from the United States from 2021 to 2022, according to US Government statics, was approximately 104.4 million metric tons of grain. We truly are the land of plenty,

The American Farmer is historically generous with their time and compassion for other communities both here in the US and abroad. The USAID Farmer-to-Farmer program is one of the best examples of farmers taking their talents and knowledge overseas to help other people live a better life. A life where they don’t just get by but thrive as well. US volunteers donate their time and knowledge to help others with a wide variety of issues. Farmers do more than just plant a seed and hope for the best, they have to be knowledgeable in weather patterns, soil conditions, market fluctuations, business operations, pest management, and a myriad of other items! Their technical expertise is not only in food production, but also in marketing strategy, co-op development, and extension education, just to name a few.  The Farmer-to-Farmer program ensures the knowledge that has been passed from US farmers to international farmers will live on and grow for the future for all people around the world.

In May 2022, volunteer Daniel Lavin was Winrock’s first volunteer to travel from the US to West Africa for the Farmer-to-Farmer program in over 2 years. Dan traveled to Senegal to assist the Fass Jom Association in Financial Farm Management. He, along with country staff, trained a group of mostly women on managing their farming practices so they could take part in the development of their community and improve living conditions. Fass Jom Association’s goal is to establish a modern micro-enterprise capable of generating sufficient income and creating sustainable and economically profitable activities for its members.

Why did you want to volunteer?

For the last few decades, my focus has been on my children and my work.  My kids have moved on and my work requires much less time.  I continually recall memories of my service in the Peace Corps and wished there was a way to get involved with international development.  When I learned about Farmer-to-Farmer and specifically saw that their mission was to teach, I knew I had to get involved.  I’ve been working independently in Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Kenya, but hoped to find organizations that had greater reach to other countries and connections to communities seeking to empower themselves.  In the United States, even big “efforts” seem to have little effect.  When serving with Farmer 2 Farmer, even small “efforts” seem to have a big effect.   The appreciation from the host organizations, from the in-country staff, and from all those I come in contact with feeds the soul.

What was the highlight of being back in the field?

One big highlight from my experience in Senegal was a response from one of the students, a Muslim woman who surprised even herself.  Our focus was on teaching financial literacy, giving the students a chance to learn how to analyze business concepts and make educated decisions to improve profitability.  This woman returned to the training with a “spring in her step,” anxious to update the others.  She had returned home to educate her husband on the concepts of tracking revenue, identifying labor and material costs, comparing financial models, and creating a budget.  Even though he ran the family business, they both realized that her new skills would serve them both and help improve their financial situation.  It wasn’t our aim to create a cultural “shift,” but the result was amazing.  The other students applauded with delight.

What advice would you give a new volunteer?

The most important skills you can bring are flexibility, respect, creativity, and humility.  The more you can encourage active participation, questions instead of answers, and the willingness to “pivot,” the more likely you are to achieve success. Don’t try and solve all problems prior to your arrival; you really need to see the issues in context and listen to the host prior to making even the most basic suggestions.

How do you feel that your volunteer assignment has contributed to creating a shared understanding across different cultures through person-to-person interactions?

As I grow older, I realize how little I know, but I maintain the willingness to learn.  I believe I contribute to a shared understanding from culture to culture by having everyone become a student and a teacher.  We all have something to share, and a lot to learn.

What, if anything, has surprised you on your assignments?

The world has become very small.  In 1988 it took me 54 hours to travel to Sierra Leone.  Letters took three months to arrive, and phone calls were reserved for emergencies.  World events meant little unless you were able to hear a faint BBC broadcast.  Now, travel takes half the time.  Emails are instantaneous, pictures and videos can be shared in real-time, and news reaches even the most remote villages.  This new reality allows me to participate in amazing communities, and share events with friends and family all over the world.  When the assignment ended, friendships built are maintained.

How does your experience affect your worldview?

Americans often think that development means “how do we make the world more like us?”  That is NOT my worldview.  Everyone lives with different challenges, unique cultural approaches, and solutions that make the world interesting.  I feel fortunate that I get to witness such differences, and then share these experiences.

The Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program connects U.S.-based volunteers with our partners in developing countries to provide technical, hands-on training in communities. F2F is supported by funding through the U.S. Farm Bill which is then administered by USAID. Winrock is one of several implementing partners that sends volunteers around the world and currently works mostly in West Africa – Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal. Part of running the project successfully is having dedicated and enthusiastic volunteer recruiters. Darla, a Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) volunteer recruiter, has placed hundreds of volunteers in countries around the world over the course of her career spanning 21 years!

Darla Emby at the beginning of her Winrock career

Darla credits learning about Winrock to a serendipitous moment when she and her husband, Jeffery, were invited to the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute which sits atop beautiful Petit Jean Mountain in Morrilton, Arkansas. At the time, Darla was completing her Bachelor of Science degree in sociology and was looking for a career in something that would give her meaning and purpose. After the visit to the Rockefeller Institute, Darla was hired as a Payroll Clerk, kickstarting her career at Winrock International.

A few months into her new job, Darla had the privilege to hear Mr. David Pearce, a long-time Winrock volunteer, share his passion for the F2F program. David told Darla about the transformational influence F2F had had on his life and those he worked with abroad. According to Darla

“David was talking about getting the [Volunteer of the Year] award, and his recollection of volunteering and what all it meant to him, how much he loved it, and by that time Jeffery had done a volunteer assignment as well… it was speaking to me… I had chills, I had tears in my eyes, and I thought – You want to matter. You want what you do to matter and not just to me, but to other people as well. It all fell into place.”

Darla then transitioned to being a F2F volunteer recruiter. Darla explained she is most inspired by F2F because of the opportunities to meet different people and facilitate volunteer assignments that help people live better lives. “Everyone deserves to have food for their family and a roof over their heads”. Darla has traveled to countries in Central Asia and West Africa where over the years Winrock has placed F2F volunteers in countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Senegal. Darla’s trips abroad to visit with the Country Directors, host organizations, and volunteers gave her a deeper understanding of her work as a volunteer recruiter which further fueled her passion for F2F. Darla shared that one of the amazing aspects of the F2F program is the “person to person connection”.

Darla in West Africa with fellow Farmer-to-Farmer colleagues

The number one trait Darla looks for in a successful volunteer is compassion and empathy. Darla enjoys crafting relationships with each volunteer and has noticed those who are respectful, adaptable, and open to other cultures have the greatest level of success. Darla explained, “I want a volunteer that knows their field, but that is the easy part. It used to be the volunteer would stay in the host’s home and in some cases, they still do. There are literally no hotels in some of these areas. So, you want someone who is going to be respectful.”

During her 21 years with F2F, Darla has experienced many changes to the volunteer recruitment and mobilization process. The greatest change has been the use of cell phones. When Darla’s husband volunteered with F2F in Turkmenistan: “He didn’t have a cell phone. He had traveled once… He literally got on the plane and a day and a half later he landed in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan…It was like someone saying, ‘jump off this cliff and we are going to catch you before you hit the ground’. I didn’t hear from him for two weeks. I knew roughly when his plane got home. So, about 11 o’clock he flew in from Chicago and got off the plane [in Little Rock] and it was like, ‘what a leap of faith!’”

Now, because of cell phones, Darla can stay in more constant communication with volunteers, host organizations, and Country Directors, to more readily communicate safety information. Thinking into the future, Darla would like to see the Farm Bill and tax dollars continue to support F2F and expand volunteer support on additional Winrock projects.

In October 2021 the West Africa Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) project in Ghana was invited to present a brief statement in the Eastern Region, Koforidua; at the maiden two-day Eastern Commodity Satellite Market Fair, organized by the Regional Agricultural Department of the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council on the theme: “Developing the Eastern Commodity Satellite Markets: The Role of Agro-input Dealers and Processors.” 

Country Director, Mina Lassey, gives a statement at the Eastern Commodity Satellite Market Fair

New packaging developed with help from F2F Volunteers

The Regional Agricultural Department has the mandate to foster market linkages for smallholder farmers, processors, and aggregators under the Modernizing Agriculture in Ghana (MAG) Program. The region adopted the development of commodity satellite markets as its main strategy to ensure that farmers have access to markets. Under this initiative, each District Agricultural Department was tasked with a responsibility to facilitate the branding and selling of at least one agricultural commodity in which they have both competitive and comparative advantage. Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) volunteers April Thompson and Molly Hamilton trained the Department of Agriculture on branding, packaging, and labeling of rice. The neatly and beautifully packed products at the fair were the results of the F2F volunteer assistance. The Country Director of the F2F project pledged their continued collaboration with the MAG secretariate and the Department of Agriculture to increase income and livelihoods of farmers, agro-processors, and support the agricultural sector in general.

Farmer-to-Farmer Ghana Country Director, Mina Lassey, helps cut the ribbon

The Eastern Regional Minister, Hon Seth Kwame Acheampong, officially opened the fair and commended the Department of Agriculture for the job well done. He also greatly commended the USAID-funded West Africa Farmer-to-Farmer Project for the support to the agricultural sector.