The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recently awarded ACDI/VOCA with the latest USAID Farmer-to-Farmer Program in Europe, Caucuses, and Central Asia (ECCA). This five-year program will operate from 2023 to 2028 with funding from USAID in Armenia, Georgia, and the Kyrgyz Republic. Our efforts will build upon our extensive experience in the region, as ACDI/VOCA was the implementer of the previous ECCA program that operated there from 2018 to 2023.
The goal of the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer Program is to promote sustainable economic growth, food security, and agricultural development worldwide. The program does so by mobilizing United States-based volunteers to provide technical assistance to farmers and others who work in the agriculture sector within emerging economies.
Our ECCA strategy will focus on the development of rural enterprises, including boosting productivity and profitability in the agricultural sector, generating jobs, promoting climate-smart practices, and encouraging gender equity and youth engagement. Through this program, ACDI/VOCA will also aim to strengthen trade linkages beyond Russia, improve agricultural extension and training, and expand the sector’s access to financial services.
During the next five years, we plan to recruit a diverse network of not only United States-based volunteers, but also host country-based women and youth volunteers to work on paired assignments with United States-based volunteers. We will also connect with educational institutions to engage students and university staff as volunteers. Ultimately, ACDI/VOCA intends to work toward strengthening the agricultural sectors in these countries, while also improving conservation and the sustainable use of their environmental and natural resources.
This article was originally published by: ACDI/VOCA