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Overseas assignments last from two to six weeks. Click the assignment title to obtain additional details. Volunteers must meet basic qualifications for the assignment.
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Farming as a Business for Vocational Training Center
Location: Djilor Saloum
Assignment Number: SEN374
Volunteers Requested: 1
Recruiter: Jennifer Robinson | Jennifer.Robinson@winrock.org |
Winrock International requests the support of a Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer for a 17-day volunteer assignment (including travel) located in Djilor Saloum. The volunteer will train the Vocational Training Center’s trainers and students, particularly the Havener-Dowswell Scholarship (HDS) recipients, as well as develop a syllabus and training materials to build the capacity of the center’s trainers and learners in farming as a business skill. The VTC seeks support to enhance its training on efficient methodologies, understanding farming functions, leadership, delegation of duties, tasks, and management of farm business resources.
The HDS, managed by Winrock International, offers a simple and effective way of increasing the number of women qualified to join the agricultural field as extension agents. This enables the center to fill the gap in the low number of learners, increase public confidence in the center, and encourage some parents to approach the center, find out more, and enroll their children. This scholarship came at the right time. It is a wake-up call for the VTC and, above all, for the horticultural sector.
The scholarship motivates women who cannot continue their studies before or after obtaining their baccalaureate. It also encourages other women who have stayed at home to come closer to the center, enabling the center to increase its enrollment.
The volunteer will play a crucial role in discussing and imparting knowledge on the importance of record-keeping, budgeting, motivation in farming, time management, human resources, trainer and staff skills and capacities, and the planning of operations (calendarized production, choice of seasonal vegetables, production, cost estimation, etc.). These are not just topics, but essential skills that will empower our HDS recipients to understand the impact of improved management, diversification, and market selection on their future businesses after graduation.
These skills will help HDS recipients understand the impact of improved management, diversification, and market selection on their future businesses after graduation.
The volunteer should have the following qualifications and background:
• University degree in agriculture, agribusiness, or another related field.
• Ten years’ experience developing and/ or running farm businesses.
• Experience providing training on business development.
• Ability to train trainers and learners together.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• French language skills are preferred but not mandatory; an interpreter will be available.