The John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to promote sustainable improvements in food security and agricultural processing, production, and marketing by leveraging the expertise of U.S. volunteers.

ACDI/VOCA seeks a specialist in Organic Standards and Certification for a Volunteer Assignment in Kyrgystan. The selected Volunteer will collaborate with the host to introduce organic standards and certification procedures that are essential to unlock market opportunities, build consumer trust, promote environmental sustainability, enhance food safety, support rural livelihoods, and contribute to climate resilience and sustainable development efforts at both local and national levels. 

***As part of the Farmer-to-Farmer Consortium, this assignment is made possible through USAID funding. In accordance to USAID guidelines, any candidates submitted for consideration under this project must have a valid US passport or Green Card.***

This is a 2-week assignment, scheduled for Spring/Summer 2024. 

Provisions for the Volunteer:

• All international and local travel
• All lodging
• A per diem to cover meals and incidentals
• Travel Visa (if applicable)
• Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance
• In-country support from field office staff
• Local cell phone to use during assignment (if needed)

While in-country, the Volunteer will:

• Provide training and capacity-building for the host organization on organic certification procedures, and compliance with organic standards.
• Provide advice and support to the host organization throughout the certification process, including assistance with record-keeping, documentation, and compliance assessments.
• acilitate certification workshops and mock audits to prepare the host organization for the organic certification process.
• Coordinate with accredited certification bodies to conduct on-site inspections and audits of farms and processing facilities seeking organic certification.
• Advocate for the development and implementation of supportive policies and regulations that promote organic agriculture and facilitate the certification.
• Engage with government agencies, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to address barriers to organic certification and improve access to organic markets. n process.
• Develop guidance for farmers interested in transitioning to organic agriculture, including help with farm planning, soil management, and organic input selection.
• Develop educational materials such as brochures, pamphlets, and online resources explaining the principles of organic farming, certification requirements
• Support the development of organic markets by connecting certified organic producers with buyers, retailers, and consumers. certification process.
• Provide consulting services to agricultural businesses, cooperatives, and farming communities interested in pursuing organic certification. 

• University degree in Agruclture, Food Science, or a related field
• At least 5 years relevant work experience
• Excellent cross-cultural communication and interpersonal skills
• Previous international experience a plus
• Proficient computer skills including Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel and apps like Zoom, WhatsApp, Facebook Etc.