Voltunteer in Haiti in December

Unpaid Position. Volunteer to go Haiti to work on a MYAP Project for 2-3 weeks. This is a not paid position. All the expenses will be refunded and there will be a very small per diem. The volunteer will also be able to come to Washington for 3-4 days to share his/her experience with HQ staff. This is a great opportunity for people who have not been to Haiti and are interested to learn a bit about this country and its challenges. Travel in country is expected. Below the Statement of Work

ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION

Assignment Title: Food Security M&E Capacity Building
Assignment Location: Haiti
Summary of Assignment: Provide training on M&E best practices and impact assessment techniques for field staff in Haiti.
Acceptable Range of Start Date: November 15 -Dec 20, 2008
Preferred Assignment Start Date : November 24, 2008
Assignment Duration (in days): 21 days
Sub-sector of Assignment: Monitoring and Evaluation

DESCRIPTION OF VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT

Problem statement

The promotion of long-term sustainable food security requires an integrated approach that addresses availability, access, utilization and reduced vulnerability to shocks. ACDI/VOCA is now in its first year of a five year USAID Title II food security program in Haiti. The baseline survey has been completed with a draft of the results expected in mid-October, however, ACDI/VOCA and its partners would benefit from ensuring that effective best practices and evaluation techniques are being promoted during the life of the program. As such, ACDI/VOCA envisions enhancing its institutional capacity through staff training for itself and two partners who have never worked on a Title II food security program before in best practices for monitoring and evaluation.

b. Objectives of the assignment

· Assist M&E Manager to set up an M&E information data collection system at the field and office level
· Provide training to agricultural extension agents and col-vol (community health extension workers) on the collection of data relevant to the indicators listed in ACDI/VOCA Title II MYAP Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT) to bolster the start up of a new Title II program in Haiti.
· Present the training to HQ staff to sustain staff capacity and to inform future program design.

QUALIFICATIONS AND PRIORITIES

Technical Experience: Experience in M&E of food security programming with projects in developing countries is a prerequisite.

Training Skills: Good training skills to adult audience required

Country Experience/Previous knowledge of USAID Title II programs would be an added advantage.

Language Capability: French preferred

Availability for Assignment Timing: December 2008

Other: Hands-on experience in development programs in developing countries.

REQUESTING ORGANIZATION

Name: ACDI/VOCA
Primary Contact: Kelly Keehan, Project Coordinator
Telephone: 202 879 0260
Address: 50 F Street NW, Washington DC 20001
E-mail: kkeehan@acdivoca.org

Organization Profile

ACDI/VOCA is a private, nonprofit international development organization with 45 years of expertise in technical assistance, market development, capacity building and training in developing countries and emerging democracies. ACDI/VOCA is currently active in over 40 countries worldwide. Under Title II programs in Rwanda, Uganda and Cape Verde, ACDI/VOCA has been addressing the root causes of food insecurity and focusing on sustainability of interventions.

In Cape Verde, ACDI/VOCA has empowered local organizations to construct soil and water conservation works that contribute to agricultural productivity, improve the diets of food-insecure groups by increasing the availability of locally grown fruits and vegetables under appropriate technologies; provided low-income families access to quality microcredit services; and promoted the capacity of local organizations to act as developmental catalysts in their communities. In Rwanda, ACDI/VOCA has promoted agribusinesses, rehabilitated natural resources and improved access to markets through road rehabilitation. ACDI/VOCA has worked to help farmers restore and protect farmland, and promoted crops that are economically appealing to farmers while protecting the natural resource base. ACDI/VOCA has focused on increasing the production of high-quality, shade-grown coffee with a special emphasis on the importance of linkages in the production and marketing chain. Cooperatives have received training to strengthen their business skills and are linked with local banks. In Uganda, ACDI/VOCA has worked throughout the country on food security, agricultural and health initiatives, thereby raising the quality of life for some of Uganda’s most vulnerable populations.

ACDI/VOCA has considerable expertise in the kinds of crops, such as cacao and coffee, that are critical to Haitian smallholder farmer livelihoods and that can reduce environmental vulnerability.

Within ACDI/VOCA, the Food Security and Specialty Crops portfolio has extensive expertise managing Title II and USDA food aid programs and has managed over 900,000 metric tons (MT) of commodity for monetization and direct distribution. In Rwanda and Uganda, ACDI/VOCA has acted as the lead monetizer of Title II vegetable oil utilizing the small-lot sales method. These auctions supply a scarce food commodity and facilitate the reemergence of small-trader activity and an open, competitive market.