Empleos actuales relacionados con Food Security Extension Facilitator - Guatemala - Peace Corps

Job Description
Since 1963, over 5,000 Volunteers have served in Guatemala making it one of the Peace Corps' longest standing posts. Volunteers serve in municipalities in one of six departments in the Western Highlands. A country of striking features and a strong indigenous culture, Guatemala's natural beauty and powerful identity stand prominent in Central America. Indigenous populations make up about half of the population, with a high concentration in the Western Highlands. More than 20 indigenous languages are spoken alongside Spanish, the official tongue. Strategically located, with substantial natural resources and a young multi-ethnic population, Guatemala has enormous potential to generate growth and prosperity for its people. However, poverty and inequality in the country are persistently high. High rates of childhood stunting and lack of opportunities for youth, women and the indigenous populations threaten Guatemala's ability to reach its full potential. Peace Corps Guatemala responds to these inequalities through strategic governmental collaborations and community empowerment.

Guatemala faces high rates of food insecurity that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations living in rural areas. The government of Guatemala is working to meet the country's food insecurity challenge by strengthening its national agriculture extension system, which is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Nutrition and focuses on rural development initiatives that provide education and technical assistance to rural households.

The Food Security Extension Program seeks to increase food security among rural households in Guatemala through collaboration with community partners to strengthen the delivery of national rural agricultural extension services. Extension involves working with farmers and community members on technical/agricultural strategies, income-generating activities, women's empowerment, and nutrition to improve their livelihoods.
The program aims to collaborate with extension agents, who are local specialists with expertise in the areas of agriculture, animal husbandry, home health, and economics, as well as with community leaders who hold an important role in sharing new knowledge with fellow farmers and community members. These partners have the technical knowledge and/or expertise but sometimes lack formal training on adult learning, participatory development, and inclusion strategies. Volunteers do not need to be subject-matter experts themselves. Rather, the role of the Volunteer is to work alongside extension agents and community leaders to provide one-on-one field-based instruction and/or group trainings to guide their learning in topics related to adult learning, participatory approaches to community development, organizational skills for group development, and social inclusion. Volunteers support participatory community development processes, promote empowerment within community groups, provide training, and often serve to connect extension agents with existing community resources to increase their capacity. Volunteers work alongside communities to conduct participatory assessments, identify gaps, available resources, develop new materials to support the work of rural development initiatives, and guide extension agents and community promoters to further develop their capacities as trainers and facilitators.

Volunteers are expected to take the role of a co-facilitator and co-trainer as they facilitate continual learning processes to promote sustainability through capacity building within the national extension system and the greater community. All Volunteer engagement is intended to contribute to improved performance of the extension system workers. Through the collective efforts of all Volunteers and community partners, the program seeks to increase the agency of rural households to support and sustain increased food security.

Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have an expressed interest in working in agriculture and one or more of the following criteria:

• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field

OR

• 5 years' professional work experience

SPECIAL NOTICE ABOUT CITIZENSHIP: Candidates who are dual citizens of Guatemala and the U.S. are not eligible to serve with Peace Corps Guatemala. Volunteer safety is of paramount importance, and the protections of U.S. citizenship promote Volunteer safety. Under Guatemala law an individual holding dual U.S. and Guatemalan citizenship, is considered a citizen of Guatemala. If such an individual were to face a legal, safety, or other emergency situation in Guatemala, the Peace Corps' ability to intervene would be limited. If you fit either of this category, we encourage you to look for other opportunities with Peace Corps.

Desired Skills
Competitive candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:

• A degree in a field of study related to food security, agriculture, adult learning, international development, women and/or economic development.

• Experience with agriculture extension and/or home health in rural communities is ideal.

• Experience employing organizational capacity development strategies including participatory assessment, decision making, and planning processes with community-based organizations and/or in community development projects.

• Experience organizing, sustaining and/or motivating groups of adults: facilitating asset-based and participatory processes.

• Experience in resource and/or inventory management of educational media and information

• Experience implementing behavior change approach and/or coaching techniques.

• Experience teaching or providing training to adults in non-formal settings; especially with women, youth or indigenous populations.

• Experience in business or organizational management or development.

• Experience working in an unstructured setting: building relationships, proactive and effective communication, and organizing consistent work.

Living Conditions
Work Site and Housing
Most Volunteers live in medium-sized to larger rural communities (3, ,000 people). Most communities have electricity and running water, but the supply may be intermittent. Fruits, vegetables, and meats are available within or in nearby communities. Housing typically consists of cement block structures with a private bedroom and shared kitchen, bathroom, and living rooms. The phone plan Peace Corps provides includes credit for some local calls and limited internet. Most Volunteers have access to internet in their communities either in a local internet café or by purchasing additional internet data.

Host Family Situation
Volunteers are required to live with a host family during the 10-week Pre-Service Training and during the two years of service to increase integration and for continuous orientation to the local safety and security concerns. Many Volunteers cook for themselves during service, but some opt to eat with their host family or in small local restaurants.

While Guatemala is generally tolerant, values may be different from those in the U.S. Volunteers will need to be mindful of cultural norms and use their judgement in their communities and host countries. Volunteers may find they experience a high degree of curiosity or unwanted attention from host country nationals. Staff and currently serving Volunteers will address these topics during Pre-Service Training and identify support mechanisms for incoming trainees.

Weather
Volunteers are placed in Guatemalan communities which may be quite mountainous and, due to the altitude, can be cool to cold at night. Dressing in layers is the best way to deal with the daily temperature variations. The sunlight is strong, even during colder temperatures.

Dress
Personal appearance is important to people in Guatemala, so professional or business casual dress is expected. Dressing appropriately helps Volunteers to gain respect in their host community, facilitate integration, and increase credibility and effectiveness. It is advised to take cues from Guatemalan colleagues, and dress to meet/exceed their standards of professionalism.

Volunteers with visible body piercings must remove them before arriving to Guatemala. Those with tattoos will need strategies to conceal them. In Guatemala, tattoos may be associated with criminal activity. Likewise, having visible body piercings may make it more difficult to integrate into the host community. Keep in mind that Peace Corps/Guatemala staff ask Volunteers to be flexible regarding personal appearance to facilitate integration in training and during service. Remaining flexible is the key to Peace Corps service in any country.

Cultural Considerations
Guatemala is a very traditional and religious society. People's roles in regard to work, and the community are much more clearly defined along gender roles than in the U.S. Volunteers must be aware, tolerant, and respectful of their practices, customs, and way of life and they may need to adapt certain behaviors to demonstrate that respect.

The cultural and security considerations for alcohol use differ greatly in Guatemala and the United States. Volunteers must understand and evaluate the social and cultural implications of alcohol use in their communities. Peace Corps service has many stressors, and it is important for applicants to bring healthy self-care practices and coping strategies that will help them serve positively within country. Additional conversations and guidance on coping strategies will be shared during the Pre-Service Training period.

---