City Alcalá, Bolivia

Start Date Feb - Apr 2018(flexible)

Length of Placement 12 Months

Language Requirements Spanish

Please submit a Spanish Resume and Statement of Interest

Open to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada only

The Volunteer’s Role

Our partner, APAMA is an association made up of 25 women farmers and artisans from the municipality of Alcala, Chuquisaca. APAMA was established on May 13, 2001 and since then the association has been involved in a variety of enriching economic activities. APAMA is an organization consisting of only women, and thus their activities promote the participation of women in business management, ensuring greater economic empowerment and involvement of its members in the socioeconomic and political context of their municipality. Currently, their economic activities are related to obtaining raw material and the production of a variety of herbal medications.

We are now looking for a volunteer like you to support in designing and overseeing the implementation of sustainable strategies for marketing and business of organically produced medicinal plants.

We are trying to match the perfect volunteer to the perfect experience so our start dates can be flexible. It would just depend on the partner organization’s needs.

As a volunteer, you will:

• Carry out market research and analysis of current and prospective products for APAMA, considering both direct sale opportunities and potential wholesale partners.
• Design and implement tools for better interaction with buyers such as promotional web and print material, buyer feedback mechanisms, trademark recognition methods.
• Work directly with the women in the association by supporting their attendance at strategic meetings, events, and fairs as well as providing trainings in areas such as sale methods and basic marketing concepts.
• Implement and follow-up of the activities.

Essential Academic Qualifications:

- Degree related to the cultivation of organically grown medicinal plants, Permaculture certificate, Master Gardener, Organic Master Gardener, Degree in organic agriculture, etc.) Non-formal education related to the cultivation of organically grown medicinal plants will also be considered (Herbaculture Apprenticeships, Practical work experience on the job, Herb Farmers, etc.)

Essential Professional Background:

• Experience growing medicinal plants and knowledge related to their needs in distinct areas and growing conditions is required.
• Experience designing gardens and pieces of land with permaculture principles considered incredibly valuable.
• Experience designing water-collecting systems also considered extremely valuable.
• Experience building and strengthening intercultural relationships, and the understanding that these relationships are required to begin any of the other activities.

Support Package

• Modest monthly living allowance (varies depending country)
• Accommodation while in placement
• Return airfare and visa/work permit costs
• Cost of required vaccinations, antimalarial medication and health insurance
• Pre-departure training and in-country orientation
• Travel and accommodation for reintegration debriefing weekend
• Modest support for accompanying partners and dependents going on placement with you for 12 months or longer (Return flight, emergency medical insurance, vaccinations)
• Access to Employee Assistance Program while in placement and upon return
• Cuso International assessment day (Candidates must cover the first $200 of the most cost-effective travel expenses and all accommodation costs).
• Travel and accommodation for the five-day pre-departure training course and for in-country orientation