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Perspectives: |
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"Most
of the world’s poor depend on agriculture for a key part of
their livelihoods. The future of about 350 million small
farms and the people employed by them in low and
middleincome countries around the world depends upon
improved access to wellfunctioning markets."
—Joachim
von Braun
Director
General, IFPRE
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ACDIVOCA’s
Volunteer of the Year, Dr. John Carlson (center), a
professor of animal science at Western Illinois University,
is a veteran of nine assignments, all in Russia. Executive
VP Don Crane (left) said, "Dr. Carlson's contributions have
consistently been outstanding and have had a strong
multiplier effect."
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ACDIVOCA Helps
Growers Cope with Coffee Crisis
A Starbucks on every other
urban street corner suggests a healthy coffee industry, yet coffee
growers worldwide can hardly recover their costs of production.
ACDIVOCA's work to make
coffee production pay was on display April 2327 at the Specialty Coffee
Association of America confab in Atlanta where our client grower
organizations from Ethiopia and Colombia were among 440 exhibitors.
Their ACDI/VOCAsanctioned strategy is to move as much production as
possible into the high-priced "specialty coffee" market, which is small
but growing fast as consumers continue to be drawn to upscale coffee.
ACDI/VOCA assists the Oromiya, Sidamo and
Yergacheffe cooperative unions in Ethiopia and the Colombian Specialty
Coffee Program by providing technical assistance and training in
production, post-harvest handling, processing and business techniques.
USAID is the funder and, in the case of Colombia, the Coffee Quality
Institute and the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia are
partners. The Atlanta show was attended by more than 7,500 coffee
professionals and enthusiasts from more than 40 countries. Amid the
highly caffeinated swirl of activity on the show floor, which included
barista competitions and cuppings (coffee tastings), the Colombian and
Ethiopian representatives poured coffee, gave out samples of green
beans, talked up their product with brokers, roasters and consumers and
closed sales.
(back to top)
More Coffee Buzz
On March 14, Undersecretary
of the U.S. Treasury John Taylor, two Deputy Assistant Secretaries, Bobby Pittman and Tony Fratto, the two U.S. Ambassadors
assigned to the World Bank and the African Development Bank, Ms. Cynthia
Perry and Carole L. Brookins, respectively, and the U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda,
Margaret McMillion, visited the construction site of the coffee washing
station of the Union des Caféiculteurs du Rwanda Central, an
ACDI/VOCA project in Kamonyi District. The tour of the station included
a welcoming speech by the Minister of Agriculture, Patrick Habamenshi, a
presentation on the Rwanda coffee sector's more
highquality fullywashed coffees and USAID and its partners’ roles in
this effort, and, not least, traditional dancing.
(back to top)
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from HQ: |
Deegan Resigns ACDIVOCA
Presidency; Baker named Interim Replacement
After an eightyear tenure as president and CEO, during which ACDI/VOCA
experienced record growth, Michael Deegan announced on April 28 his
departure to pursue other career opportunities. Speaking for the board
of directors, chair JeanMari Peltier expressed appreciation to Mike for
his efforts and wished him well. She said that the board has commenced a
search for a permanent replacement. In the meantime, Christopher E.
Baker of St. Mary’s City, MD, who was for seven years the chief
executive officer of the World Council of Credit Unions, has been named
interim president and CEO. Baker, a 25year veteran of international
development, grew up in Cuba and holds a PhD from the University of
Florida. During his tenure at WOCCU he helped that organization revamp
its operations, reconcile relations between board and staff, gain cost
efficiencies and rebuild reserves. He is expected to serve for at least
three months.
(back to top)
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ACDI/VOCA Volunteers Honored
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From left: U.S. Representative Doug Bereuter of Nebraska, ACDI/VOCA
volunteer Damon Szymanski, and USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios |
On May 18, the U.S. Agency for International Development
commemorated the 50th anniversary of volunteer programs in economic
growth and agricultural development. A special guest at the ceremony
at USAID headquarters was U.S. Representative Doug Bereuter of
Nebraska, widely considered the father of the FarmertoFarmer
volunteer program. ACDI/VOCA’s most prolific volunteer, Wisconsin
dairyman Damon Szymanski, was named the symbolic 10,000th FtF
volunteer and received the Presidential Call to Service Award in
recognition of
"Volunteerism is an important
part of America's response to problems in
the developing world,"
--USAID Administrator
Andrew Natsios. |
his 9,000 hours of service on 64 assignments. Also, USAID's new Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA) was
formally kickedoff at the event. Other ACDI/VOCA volunteers in
attendance were Harold Handley, Lucas Gallegos, Brian Gurr, John
Marenic, possibly Ken Hennings and Jim Matson, who were supposed to
be there though they weren't spotted in the crowd, and ACDI/VOCA's
newly crowned 2003 Volunteer of Year, Dr. John Carlson
(see story at
left). (back to top)
Now! Together in Action
 The
logo at left translates as "Now! Together in Action" and expresses
the operating philosophy of ACDI/VOCA's Community Revitalization
through Democratic Action project. The fiveyear $200 million
project has organized over a million people throughout central
Serbia by means of 192 town hall meetings and the subsequent
establishment of 77 representative boards to manage development
projects prioritized, and partially funded, by the communities. As
the fourth year of the project gets underway, ACDI/VOCA is working
in every borough of central Serbia's 22 municipalities. Cash
contributions from the communities represents a whopping 42 percent
of total expenditures, and the rest is provided by the U.S. Agency
for International Development. An education component urges every
citizen to participate, gives background on economic development and
environmental sustainability, and trains board members and others on
proposal writing, fundraising, message delivery, stakeholder
outreach and media relations. So far 3,500 stories have appeared in
local media about the extraordinary civic involvement and good works
engendered by the project. More than 9,000 CRDA volunteers have been
mobilized to help with project activities, and 750 stakeholder
groups are participating. Improvements in infrastructure and
environment economic development head the list of activities. Others
include economic development activities such as valueadded
livestock and fruit production and incomegeneration projects to
benefit IDPs and refugees. These offer micofinance options.
Reproductive health and family planning and youth services
programming round out the list. ACDI/VOCA is successfully
replicating this project in other countries where grassroots
organization is critical in overcoming communal strains. (back to top)
Longtime ACDI/VOCA Staffer Al Harding Dies
Long-time staffer Al Harding passed away on May 22, 2004, due to
complications from cancer. Al performed rural finance assessments in
Ethiopia and Uganda in 199596, served three years in Russia
directing the Mobilizing Agricultural Credit project and was most
recently credit advisor to our rural lending institution, CredAgro,
in Azerbaijan. He spent his career committed to rural development
and in improving the lives of farmers and rural entrepreneurs. Al
had recently returned from an assignment in Peru and was scheduled
to travel to Russia under the FarmertoFarmer program as an ACDI/VOCA
volunteer in May, turning down paid assignments in order to be
available, but couldn't make the trip because of his deteriorating
condition. As ACDIVOCA's Jeff Singer said, "Al will be sorely missed, but the
contributions he has made will never be forgotten." Fred Smith
added, "He had enormous respect for the talents and capacities of
our colleagues and described working with them as 'more of a passion
than another job.'" (back to top)
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Become a Member of ACDI/VOCA! |
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Members make
valuable contributions to ACDI/VOCA's Development Fund, which is
key to our financial well-being. The Fund provides us with
discretionary resources to:
» hedge against the risks we face from unexpected costs and
disruptions due to developments beyond our control
» provide necessary matching funds for projects
» explore programming initiatives
» improve core operations
Please consider becoming a member of ACDI/VOCA and helping us to
create a more prosperous and stable world.
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 ACDI/VOCA currently needs
volunteer experts for the following assignments:
390017 Uzbekistan: Volunteer
to inspect fruit and vegetable processing operations and recommend
strategies for development and improvement, particularly with respect to
expanding and/or upgrading product line and determining financial
feasibility of augmenting production facilities. 6-10 weeks ASAP
390018 Tajikistan: Volunteer to assist processor of apricots, raisins
and almonds in product quality and packaging, specifically providing
input on raw product selection, technological processes of drying,
product quality assurance, new processing and packaging equipment. July
1 for 6 weeks to 3 months.
332153 Armenia: Volunteer needed to introduce the technology of making
blue cheese from sheep's milk to soft cheese producer who wants to
expand product line. 2 weeks ASAP
080014 Paraguay: Credit union
specialist to work with multipurpose credit cooperative's management and
board of directors, assisting in SWOT analysis and developing strategic
plan. 3-4 weeks, June/July.
358026 Bolivia: Food technologist with
GMP experience needed to work with annatto producers association and
assist with microbiological contamination problem. Starting in June for
3-5 weeks.
358027 Bolivia: Agribusiness
development specialist needed to train producer association
representatives on managing new business contacts and opportunities.
Starting in June for 4-5 weeks.
331497 and
331498 Russia: Two fruit and vegetable
specialists, one in storage and handling and another in processing, to
advise on technological component of firm's investment plan, determine
equipment requirements and suppliers, and work with engineering team on
the technological chain and equipment layout for future processing and
distribution facility. July 18 - August 3.
331450 Russia: Soybean processing
specialist with experience using solvent extraction technology to review
business plan, advise on equipment and training needs, plan start-up of
facility and assist with management aspects of operating a large-scale
soybean processing facility. August 1 - 17.
331469 Russia: Meat processing
specialist skilled in sausage production and meat product quality
control to advise on extending product shelf-life and expanding sausage
and deli product line. Date open.
331487 Russia: Oyster mushroom
production specialist to set up technology for start-up mushroom
production operation. Provide hands-on training in substrate
preparation, disease control, appropriate micro-climatic conditions,
mushroom packaging and recommend equipment. Date open.
331496 Russia: Baker with experience
producing plain and seasoned crouton snacks to assist in quality
improvement, advise on sanitation issues, train staff and recommend
modern equipment for small- and medium-scale operation. July 19 - August
3.
If you or a colleague is
interested in these assignments, please contact our recruitment
department at:
volunteer@acdivoca.org.
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