Development Fellowship Program

Transcription

1 Development Fellowship Program OVERVIEW OF SEMILLA NUEVA Semilla Nueva (SN) is an agricultural development organization working in farming communities on the southern coast of Guatemala. Officially founded in 2010, the organization has grown significantly over the last four years to include a staff of 12 employees (4 Americans and 8 Guatemalans), a highly-active Board of Directors, a scientifically-based Technical Advisory Committee, a growing budget, and several prestigious awards from organizations including Ashoka, Ignite Good and Rotary International. A cornerstone of our success has been collaborations with partnering organizations including CIMMYT, HarvestPlus, the Inter-American Foundation and various universities. Our funding structure is built on a foundation of grassroots support with growing institutional support from diverse granting foundations. We are a growing team of very passionate individuals who believe in the change we promote every day. Semilla Nueva s main office is located in Guatemala City, with our field office in La Maquina, Suchitepéquez in the coast. We currently work in 25 villages in the coastal departments of Retalhuleu and Suchitepequez. Our mission is to develop locally-led farmer education programs that increase the income, rebuild the soils, and improve the food security of Guatemala's rural poor. We achieve this through a threepronged approach of 1) Farmer to Farmer Development, 2) Technology Research and Development, and 3) Institutionalization. Farmer to Farmer SN works with farmers using the Campesino a Campesino methodology which employs collaborative education and local leadership to bring new farming techniques and technologies to communities. The basics: 1. Experimentation: Extensionists help farmers set up small-scale experiments on a portion of their land to try out a new technology 2. Analysis: Farmers work with extensionists to analyze the experiment through environmental, economic and social lenses, and compare results to a control plot of conventional methods. 3. Sharing: SN facilitates farmer-led conferences in which individuals share results from their experimental plots with their neighbors. Technology Research and Development In addition to helping local farmers lead their own experimentation, we are dedicated to using our resources to investigate new and different technologies that can make the greatest impacts to farming families in the region where work. We partner with regional and international institutions to explore new technologies and new ways to adapt existing technologies to better serve our farmers. On our own experimental farm we are testing

2 various forms of conservation agriculture, organic agriculture, as well as seed varieties. These results will help us better train farmers as well as produce valuable on-farm research for the region. We value pragmatism very highly in our choice of new technologies to promote to farmers, recognizing that resource-poor farmers cannot afford to take large risks on new ideas. We provide easy-to-learn, affordable, locally-appropriate and effective technologies including, but not limited to, the following: 1. No-burn agriculture 2. Incorporation of Crop Residues 3. No-till 4. Green manures and crop covers 5. Pigeonpea 6. Chaya 7. Quality Protein Maize Institutionalization Our long-term goal is to institutionalize these research and extension services such that Semilla Nueva moves out of the way, local institutions take over, and there exists a sustainable resource for solutions to the problems rural families are facing. We are interested in building the capacity of appropriate local entities in such a way that agricultural extension is institutionalized in the country. We are currently collaborating with the Guatemalan Ministry of Agriculture and the Guatemalan Institute for Agricultural Science and Technology. Additionally, we are working with municipal governments to hire and train local farmers as extensionists, creating a model that can eventually become part of a legalized budget. PURPOSE OF THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM The SN Development Fellowship is designed for individuals who want to further their on-theground experience in agricultural development, nonprofit management and research. We will provide an exceptional opportunity to be part of a growing team, and see all the behind-the-scenes activities required to make an organization grow. We promise to provide the fellow with all organizational and educational resources necessary to achieve their objectives for the organization as well as excel, learn and grow in the areas they need to move forward in their career. The fellow will serve alongside the leadership team of SN to further our organizational goals both in Program and Administrative departments. This includes further development of our Farmer to Farmer philosophy and methodology, ongoing agricultural technology research, development and implementation of our Monitoring and Evaluations Programs, assistance to our Extensionists in the field, as well as administrative support in the office including social media, promotional materials design, and logistical support. The fellow should be an ambitious, young leader who wants the experience of being part of a growing organization and the opportunity to test and refine their skills on the ground. Our hope is to give Fellows adequate to succeed in post-graduate degrees in Agricultural/Rural Development or Non-profit Management, or careers such as those with the World Food Program, USAID, or other development institutions. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM - Agricultural/Rural Development Experience

3 - Expertise in Campesino a Campesino methodology - Organizational Management Experience - Monitoring and Evaluation Experience - Research Deliverables - Leadership Development SCHEDULE Two fellows will be selected for each of two 6 month seasons: Planting Fellowship: February 15 th August 31 st Fellows arrive in time for annual community conferences during the months of February and March. In April, fellows assist in marking of experimental parcels with participating farmers. In May, rains begin and fellows assist in corn planting and play a primary role in data entry of experimental plots planted. During June and July our team is focused on Farmer to Farmer leadership development conferences and workshops, which the fellow helps design and direct. In August fellows will help plant pigeonpea as well as train the incoming group of Harvest Fellows. Additionally, fellows will always assist with and participate in various other organizational activities such as fundraising campaigns, promotional/educational materials development, research, and various administrative tasks. Harvest Fellowship: August 15 th March 1 st Fellows arrive just in time for corn harvesting, assisting extensionists in the manual harvest as well as the economic analysis with farmers in the field. Following the harvest, fellows lead data entry and analysis of the year s harvest. After October, the rains end and the dry season begins in which the fellows assist in the preparation of annual community conferences and other educational activities in the field. In January and February the fellow assists in the design and direction of annual community conferences as well as train the incoming group of Planting Fellows. Additionally, fellows always assist with and participate in various other organizational activities such as fundraising campaigns, promotional/educational materials development, research, and various administrative tasks. COSTS AND LIVING STIPENDS SN will provide $200 per month as a living stipend for the six months of the fellowship; this will cover a safe and comfortable place to live with a little extra for spending money. Help will be provided from the Fellows Coordinator for housing upon arrival. In-country travel associated with work will be covered as well as an in-country cell phone provided upon arrival. Fellows are responsible to purchase their own air (or otherwise) travel to arrive in Guatemala. No health or other insurance coverage will be provided. REQUIREMENTS - Spanish Proficiency - Undergraduate degree - Interest in rural development - Interest in working for a start-up non-profit - Experience in Developing Country or Rural Development project

4 - Experience or Degree in one of the following preferred: Agronomy/Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural engineering, International Development, Nonprofit Management, Sustainability, or any other related degree APPLICATION PROCESS Applicants must fill out the application form (attached) and submit along with cover letter and resume to: Please put Fellowship Application in the Subject Line. Finalists will be selected from the applications and interviews will be conducted. Planting Fellowship applications must be submitted by January 15 th Harvesting Fellowship applications must be submitted by June 15 th To find out more about our organization please visit our website and read our blog:

5 Application for Development Fellowship Program 2015 NAME AGE EDUCATION (institution, degree, year) WORK EXPERIENCE (list the last two significant job experiences you have had) WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO LEARN BY BECOMING A SEMILLA NUEVA FELLOW? WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GIVE BY BECOMING A SEMILLA NUEVA FELLOW?

6 WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES? IN 25 WORDS OR LESS, HOW DO YOU DEFINE DEVELOPMENT? PARTICIPATION IN DEVELOPMENT IS A HOT NEW TREND, BUT WHAT MAKES FOR GENUINE AND CONSTRUCTIVE PARTICIPATION IN DEVELOPMENT? IN 25 WORDS OR LESS, WHAT DOES SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL FOR THE SMALLHOLDER MEAN TO YOU?