Job 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.
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 Jamaica and the U.S. are not eligible to serve with Peace Corps Jamaica. Volunteer safety is of paramount importance, and the protections of U.S. citizenship promote Volunteer safety. If anyone holding dual U.S. and Jamaican citizenship were to face a legal, safety, or other emergency situation in Jamaica, the Peace Corps' ability to intervene would be limited. If you hold citizenship with both the U.S. and Jamaica, we encourage you to look at other opportunities with Peace Corps.
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
• Strong interpersonal skills
Living Conditions
All Volunteers live in a host family setting for the duration of their service. All assignments are in rural areas, predominantly in the interior and mountainous regions of the island. The standard of living varies widely within rural communities. The most common living situation is a self-contained unit in a family yard or attached to a family home, although some Volunteers may be in a room within the family home with a private bathroom and shared living area and kitchen. During Pre Service Training or occasionally at a 2-year site (i.e., when a host family has visitors) Volunteers may have a shared bathroom situation. Cellular phone coverage is available in most rural communities, but there may not be internet at the home. All Volunteers will have access to internet either by purchasing data for home use from their living stipend or by traveling to their worksite or nearby access point. Host families assist Volunteers with orientation in the community, Jamaican home life, and cross-cultural adjustment during Pre-Service Training and in the assigned 2-year community.
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. Volunteers may also experience short or extended power and water outages on a semi-regular basis and especially in the wake of adverse weather events such as storms. In addition, Volunteers should expect to encounter high temperatures on a regular basis and be prepared to cope with extreme heat, as air conditioning is not widely available on the island. Some sites in wet climates have challenges with mold. In these situations, staff will provide support to PCVs to mitigate mold growth. Peace Corps staff support Volunteers with training and strategies to integrate and adapt effectively and appropriately to living in the new intercultural context of their 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.
Language Skills Additional Information
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 to facilitate smooth and successful integration into their community.
Couples Comments
Jamaica happily accepts cross-sector couples. Your partner must apply and qualify for:
Literacy Teacher
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.
Language Requirements Information
There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position.
