 VSO needs your skills…Apply today and you could be…Tajikistan is a poor country, where most of the people live below the poverty line, particularly in rural areas. In the past 66% of the population relied on remittances from casual labour in Russia. With the economic downturn, these have fallen by more than 30%, resulting in increased poverty and hunger. With a very moutainous landscape and extreme temperatures, much of Tajikistan's landscape is unsuitable for standard crops. However duting Soviet times Muminabad was renowned for the quality of its potato crops, considered the best in the USSR. Biotech are working with local producers to update the knowledge and skills of farmers to develop this market once again. You'll work with local faremrs associations Biotech and Aini to develop and implement modern farming methods in the area. You'll support locakl producers to improve the quality and quantity of their crops, as well as diversifying with new varieties of potatoes. What does the role involve?
With an advanced qualification in potato cultivation and cropping, you'll have a minimum of 2 years' relevant work experience. You'll need up-to-date technical knowledge of diseases and pest control affecting potato crops. It's essential that you have experience of training others and have very strong communication skills. You'll need to be comfortable working in a different cultural context and be able to adapt your knowledge to a low-tech context. You'll be able to show initiative and work with little supervision. Finally the ability to work effectively with limited resources and retain a positive and flexible approach is a must for VSO volunteers, as is a good sense of humour! And the rest… Muminabad District is situated in the south, between one of the few lowlands of Tajikistan and the foot of the Pamir mountain range. It takes about a 4 hours drive from the capital Dushanbe to reach. The town feels more like living in a large village, with mostly single-storey, loam plastered houses, than in a city. The atmosphere in Muminabad is very laid-back and calm. Foreigners are very welcome and in Tajik there isn't even a word for "foreigner", the closest word to it is guest. This is a short-term volunteering position for 7-8 months. In return, well provide you with invaluable training before your placement, a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation and insurance. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and we'll invite you to stay involved with us through campaigning, development awareness raising and fundraising. Applications Please send your CV to Hannah Gilman at hannah.gilman@vso.org.uk quoting 'earthworks'For more information about VSO please visit www.vso.org.uk or call 020 8780 7500 |
