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Current Openings
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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Entrepreneurship and Farm Business Management
Location: Kissidougou, Guinea
Assignment Number: GUI322
Volunteers Requested: 1
Recruiter: Jennifer Robinson | Jennifer.Robinson@winrock.org |
Winrock International is seeking a Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer to support a 17-day assignment (including travel) in Kissidougou, Guinea. The volunteer will deliver entrepreneurship and farm management training to the Union of Pineapple and Ginger Producers in Kissidougou (UPAG-K). This training aims to equip participants with essential skills to manage new or existing farm businesses effectively and entrepreneurially.
Guinea boasts significant agricultural potential, with natural conditions favorable for cultivating diverse agricultural products. Agriculture accounts for 20% of the GDP and is the primary livelihood for nearly 80% of the rural population. The pineapple sector, in particular, has garnered increased attention from national authorities and agricultural development stakeholders due to its capacity to create jobs and generate income.
However, many agricultural products face challenges, including limited market access, high post-harvest losses, inadequate storage, and insufficient transportation services. This results in surplus produce flooding the market during the harvest season (April–July), while off-season demand remains unmet due to a lack of storage, processing, and delivery technology. UPAG-K has recently received training in processing its products to address these challenges but understanding entrepreneurship and agricultural business management remains critical to sustaining growth.
Key Volunteer
Responsibilities:
·
Guide participants in developing their roles as agricultural enterprise
managers while promoting work-life balance.
·
Analyze the financial performance and budgeting of farm businesses.
·
Support the planning of marketing strategies or improved agricultural
practices.
·
Teach simplified accounting and day-to-day administrative tasks.
· Provide guidance on managing workforces and personnel effectively.
The
ideal volunteer for this assignment should have the following qualifications
and background:
· A bachelor’s degree or higher in agricultural
economics, agronomy, agribusiness, or a related field.
·
Prior experience in
entrepreneurship working in the agriculture sector, preferably focusing on pineapple
and ginger cultivation.
·
Ability to adapt
strategies to address emerging challenges and opportunities in the agriculture
sector, such as climate change adaptation and market diversification.
·
Strong written
and oral communication skills.
·
French language
skills are preferred but not required. Interpreters will be provided.
·
Collect
information about what went well and what was challenging.
·
Be physically
able to travel to the host site during the placement.