International Agribusiness Volunteer Program Offered Through Florida A&M University

The Agribusiness Volunteer Program (AVP) for Southern Africa is an international agricultural development program directed by the Florida A&M University College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture (CESTA), in partnership with the Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs (CNFA) in Washington, D.C.  Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), this program seeks to match U.S. farmers, agribusiness leaders, extension agents, cooperative/association managers, university personnel, and business and marketing professionals with African farmer organizations, trade associations and other agriculture groups in southern Africa.

AVP volunteer assignments are three weeks in length.  Once in country the volunteer works with the FAMU/CNFA field staff in one of five southern Africa countries (South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi), to help members of farmer and trade associations develop or improve their management and business skills such as bookkeeping, business plan development, marketing, cooperative/association management, advocacy, etc.  Beekeepers, fish farmers and other skilled agriculturalists are also needed.  Volunteers receive full logistic support and coverage of all expenses related to the assignment. As a requirement under USAID guidelines, all volunteers must be U.S. citizens.

FAMU is currently recruiting for assignments in all five countries.  If you have any of the skills noted above and would like to participate, please contact Harriett A. Paul, Director, International Agricultural Programs, CESTA, 204 South Perry Paige Building, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, Telephone: (850) 599-8867; Fax: (850) 561-2794 or the project staff - Gary Liebert, AVP Recruiter at gary.liebert@famu.edu; and Curtisha Randolph, AVP Program Assistant at curtisha.randolph@famu.edu.