The goal of the Environment program is to help Malawian communities living near or around protected areas improve their livelihoods through better agricultural and natural resource management practices. Natural Resource Management Extension Volunteers will work with individuals or groups within their catchment areas to teach and transfer skills in sustainable agriculture including promoting household permagardens for greater food security and improved cook stove use and forestry management as their primary assignment area.
An essential component of your work will be getting to know the local communities to determine their greatest needs. Initial tasks include leading community assessments to understand the local environment and resources, identifying local counterparts to implement evidence-based interventions to help communities adopt practices that improve the productivity and sustainability of their agricultural resources.
As most environmental and agriculture work is seasonal, Volunteers may work very long hours and days during some of the year (planting, harvesting, etc) and have a slower pace during certain months due to the seasons.
Extension work in communities will be an essential part of your day to day work and learning the local language will be crucial for success. Since Volunteers live in the same villages that they work in, Peace Corps Malawi encourages secondary activities and cross-sector collaboration with other Volunteers to address the expressed needs of communities.
Malawi is one of the Peace Corps countries participating in Let Girls Learn, an important initiative promoting gender awareness and girls’ education and empowerment. You will receive in-depth training on incorporating methods of gender analysis into community assessment and development efforts. During your service you will find culturally appropriate ways to incorporate gender awareness and the promotion of youth- especially girls- into your work. As part of the initiative, you will also report on these efforts and their impact.
An essential component of your work will be getting to know the local communities to determine their greatest needs. Initial tasks include leading community assessments to understand the local environment and resources, identifying local counterparts to implement evidence-based interventions to help communities adopt practices that improve the productivity and sustainability of their agricultural resources.
As most environmental and agriculture work is seasonal, Volunteers may work very long hours and days during some of the year (planting, harvesting, etc) and have a slower pace during certain months due to the seasons.
Extension work in communities will be an essential part of your day to day work and learning the local language will be crucial for success. Since Volunteers live in the same villages that they work in, Peace Corps Malawi encourages secondary activities and cross-sector collaboration with other Volunteers to address the expressed needs of communities.
Malawi is one of the Peace Corps countries participating in Let Girls Learn, an important initiative promoting gender awareness and girls’ education and empowerment. You will receive in-depth training on incorporating methods of gender analysis into community assessment and development efforts. During your service you will find culturally appropriate ways to incorporate gender awareness and the promotion of youth- especially girls- into your work. As part of the initiative, you will also report on these efforts and their impact.
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have an expressed interest in working in agriculture and one or more of the following criteria:
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field
OR
• 5 years professional work experience
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field
OR
• 5 years professional work experience
Desired Skills
Candidates with degrees in environmental sciences, forestry, ecology, agriculture, natural resources are encouraged to apply
Individuals with general degrees will receive technical skills-based Pre-Service Training. Previous experience in gardening/farming, natural resource management, conservation and/or a demonstrated commitment to community development are highly valued.
Flexibility and adaptability are important traits along with strong interpersonal skills and creativity and the ability to use locally available resources.
Individuals with general degrees will receive technical skills-based Pre-Service Training. Previous experience in gardening/farming, natural resource management, conservation and/or a demonstrated commitment to community development are highly valued.
Flexibility and adaptability are important traits along with strong interpersonal skills and creativity and the ability to use locally available resources.
Required Language Skills
There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position. Please take a moment to explore the Language Comments section below to find out more on how local language(s) will be utilized during service.
Additional Language Information
•Trainees in this assignment will be trained in the local language used in their assignment area such as Chichewa or Chiyao languages (in the Central and South) and Chitumbuka, Lambya or Tonga languages (in the North)
•All volunteers are required to learn a local language and attain fluency level of Intermediate-Mid by the end of Pre-Service Training (PST). Midway through PST they are given a mock language proficiency oral interview using the guidelines of American Council for Testing Foreign Languages to prepare for the final language proficiency interview towards the end of PST
•Continuing language support is provided at site through tutors and language skills are assessed at Mid- Service and Close of Service.
•All volunteers are required to learn a local language and attain fluency level of Intermediate-Mid by the end of Pre-Service Training (PST). Midway through PST they are given a mock language proficiency oral interview using the guidelines of American Council for Testing Foreign Languages to prepare for the final language proficiency interview towards the end of PST
•Continuing language support is provided at site through tutors and language skills are assessed at Mid- Service and Close of Service.
Living Conditions
According to our country agreement with the Malawi government, the host country is required to provide housing for volunteers in line with prevailing local conditions. If this is not possible, Post will provide alternative housing. Most Volunteer sites are in rural areas and travel in country can be very strenuous (even more so during the rainy season) involving very long bus/mini bus rides on dirt road with uneven terrain. Volunteers should be ready to walk long distances on a regular basis or to cycle between villages for their work assignment.
Each volunteer's site is different in terms of religion, culture, gender norms and prosperity. Peace Corps provides a bike to assist with these daily routines.
Housing is provided at your site and might be mud, thatch, brick or tin. This largely depends on the affluence of the village you are serving in. Environment volunteers do not routinely have running water or electricity. Water can be sourced from a protected borehole within a few meters of your house. Since most houses do not having running water, you will use an outside squat toilet and bathe using a bucket. Your house will not be shared with other people and you will have your own toilet, bathroom and kitchen facility.
Many parts of Malawi enjoy mild weather due to its high elevation, although lower regions around the lake are usually 10-15 degrees hotter. The main roads connecting the larger cities and towns are very good. Volunteers should be willing and able to live in rural and low resourced conditions. Cell phone coverage is improving throughout the country but remains inconsistent in some remote volunteers' sites. For charging phones, most villages have charging booths for a modest fee and solar chargers are becoming more common. If you are lucky, you can also get 3G internet connectivity at your site or your nearest trading center or town.
Peace Corps Malawi strives to create an inclusive environment for all. We support individuals from many different backgrounds and staff have been trained in diversity, inclusion and LGBT issues. LGBT applicants should be advised that the current Malawi cultural and legal norms do not support an open and transparent LGBT community.
Each volunteer's site is different in terms of religion, culture, gender norms and prosperity. Peace Corps provides a bike to assist with these daily routines.
Housing is provided at your site and might be mud, thatch, brick or tin. This largely depends on the affluence of the village you are serving in. Environment volunteers do not routinely have running water or electricity. Water can be sourced from a protected borehole within a few meters of your house. Since most houses do not having running water, you will use an outside squat toilet and bathe using a bucket. Your house will not be shared with other people and you will have your own toilet, bathroom and kitchen facility.
Many parts of Malawi enjoy mild weather due to its high elevation, although lower regions around the lake are usually 10-15 degrees hotter. The main roads connecting the larger cities and towns are very good. Volunteers should be willing and able to live in rural and low resourced conditions. Cell phone coverage is improving throughout the country but remains inconsistent in some remote volunteers' sites. For charging phones, most villages have charging booths for a modest fee and solar chargers are becoming more common. If you are lucky, you can also get 3G internet connectivity at your site or your nearest trading center or town.
Peace Corps Malawi strives to create an inclusive environment for all. We support individuals from many different backgrounds and staff have been trained in diversity, inclusion and LGBT issues. LGBT applicants should be advised that the current Malawi cultural and legal norms do not support an open and transparent LGBT community.
Medical Considerations in Malawi
- Malawi may not be able to support Volunteers with the following medical conditions: asthma, including mild or childhood; cardiology; dermatology; gastroenterology; some types of gynecologic support; insulin-dependent diabetes; mammography; ongoing behavioral health support; seizure disorder; urology.
- The following medication(s) are not permitted for legal, cultural or religious reasons: none identified.
- Volunteers who should avoid the following food(s) may not be able to serve: eggs and peanuts.
- After arrival in Malawi, Peace Corps provides and applicants are required to have an annual flu shot, to take daily or weekly medication to prevent malaria, and to receive mandatory immunizations.
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