Company Description The National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA) is the trade association for cooperative businesses in the United States and an international development organization. For over 100 years, NCBA CLUSA has sought to advance and protect cooperative enterprises, highlighting the impact that cooperatives have in bettering the lives of individuals and families. In the last 70 years, NCBA CLUSA has worked in over 100 countries in the areas of food security, agricultural development, strengthening of communities and farmer organizations, natural resources management, and empowerment of smallholder farmers, women, and youth. We currently work in over 20 countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
NCBA CLUSA's USAID-sponsored Farmer-to-Farmer program sends American farmers and agribusiness professionals on a 2-week agricultural development assignment, promoting sustainable economic growth and agricultural development worldwide. Volunteer technical assistance from US farmers, agribusinesses, cooperatives, and universities aims to increase the resiliency of smallholder farmers' businesses by focusing on diversification in production, value addition, and other income-generating activities; climate-smart production and strengthening farmers' cooperatives and producer organizations (POs), with a cross-cutting emphasis on gender, youth, and social inclusion.
Job Description This Farmer-to-Farmer will be implemented in the Puyango, Loja province in Ecuador. The goal of this assignment is to support the members of the Puyango Highland Coffee Producers' Agroartisanal Association or Asociación Agroartesanal de Productores de Café de Altura Puyango (PROCAP) in Spanish, with harvest and post-harvest management for coffee. The objective of this training is for members to:
Acquire knowledge on how to improve the coffee flavor profile and quality of the final product by identifying and selecting ripe, high-quality beans during harvest.
Use effective sorting methods to ensure that only the highest quality beans are sent to processing.
Understand post-harvest processing methods such as washing, fermentation, and drying to maintain the integrity and flavor of the coffee.
Implement techniques to prevent contamination and spoilage during processing to ensure the quality of the final product.
Understand how to apply proper storage techniques to preserve the freshness and quality of coffee after harvest.
Deliverables:
Analyze the current harvest and post-harvesting process and provide constructive feedback about improvement opportunities.??
Provide a brochure, a power point presentation or any resource that easily explains the good practices in coffee harvesting and post-harvesting, and their importance for the delivery of a high-quality product that will support the development of the association.
A Trip Report with SMART Recommendations that will help to improve the HO business.
An outreach activity. Upon return to the United States, the volunteer is asked to share his or her Farmer-to-Farmer Program experience with their community and networks.
Qualifications Experience in harvest, post-harvest, and coffee quality.
Knowledge of coffee quality inspections is highly desirable.
Degree in food technology, coffee production, agricultural engineering, and/or a related field.?
Background?working with associations?in?agriculture?is a plus.
Speaking Spanish is not mandatory, but desirable.
Additional Information SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL ALSO HAVE THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS: Ability to be flexible and available for two week volunteer assignments;Desire to promote cross-cultural learning and exchanges through technical assistance;Available for virtual communications with Host Organization and Staff;U.S. citizen or resident; andAdvanced English language skills in reading, writing, and speaking.All application materials must be submitted in English. Compensation in the form of lodging, transportation, and per diem, is provided by NCBA CLUSA. No salary/consultant fees are paid. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. Submit your CV on SmartRecruiter.com or [email protected].
NCBA CLUSA is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a commitment to diversity. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, and legally protected characteristics for non-merit factors.