About this role
Food Security Advisor
Project Description: Agroecology and agroforestry specialists are needed to strengthen a farmer training program and expand its reach in Madagascar.
Over 75% of Madagascar’s population relies on smallholder farms that face persistent land degradation, soil fertility loss, and low productivity. These farmers have limited access to modern agricultural techniques and tools, making it difficult to build resilience for weather-related shocks. Agroforestry and agroecology offer promising, nature-based solutions for land management and environmental adaptation. However, food security organizations and agroforestry training centers under the Ministry of Agriculture currently lack the technical expertise to integrate these practices into their training materials. At the same time, these institutions are eager to strengthen their fundraising capacity and monitoring systems so they can better mobilize resources and effectively track their results.
As a Food Security Advisor, you will collaborate with the staff at food security organizations and agroforestry training centers to deliver high‑quality, field-based training programs that reach more Malagasy farmers. Together, you will promote practices that improve soil health and increase crop yields, helping to meet the country's food demands.
Required Skills: Master's degree in agriculture or related field. AND Three or more years of work experience in one of the following areas: farming systems, irrigation design, crop and animal production, post-harvest and pest management for commercial industry, or in agriculture program management at a university or extension service.
Living Conditions: The Volunteer will live in medium‑sized villages within the East Coast, Highland, and North-West regions. Housing is typically modest and may include inconsistent electricity or water access. Daily commutes consist of walking or biking to the work site or markets.
Activities: Develop improved agroecology and agroforestry training materials.
Facilitate workshops on curriculum delivery and nature-based solutions.
Train technicians and field agents in agroforestry, agroecology, and effective extension methods.
Support grant development and refinement of budgets, narratives, and expected outcomes.
Review and provide feedback on existing grant submissions.
Strengthen organizational planning by assisting partners with program design and documentation.
Create or refine monitoring, evaluation, and learning plans to track progress.
Train teams on data collection, reporting, and using results for program improvement.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as English conversation classes and nutrition education.
Training: After a five-week training on topics such as health and safety, you will move to a rural or semi-urban community where you will collaborate with a food security organization or an agroforestry training center to assess the agricultural needs and develop a work plan in line with their established goals.
Peace Corps/Madagascar will equip you with Malagasy language resources and you may work with a tutor who can help you build basic language skills to connect with the community.
Job Highlights: Gain hands-on experience working with farmers to adopt agroecology and agroforestry techniques.
Develop practical expertise in project design, grant writing, and resource mobilization.
Build Malagasy language proficiency and cultural understanding in a way only possible through extended, immersive living in the community.