05 May 2008

Maputo, Mozambique: UNV volunteers are helping ensure stable food supplies in Mozambique in the face of a global food crisis.

Working with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), volunteers such as Annette Jaitner, a Food and Nutrition Security Officer, are teaching and facilitating at projects such as Farmer Field Schools (FFSs) and implementing other educational programmes.

Ms. Jaitner works in the Manica and Sofala provinces to develop the capacity of local partners, such as the Government, communities and NGOs, via capacity-building and projects such as the FFSs.

The schools enhance understanding of the ecological principles behind sustainable agricultural practices, giving groups of farmers the opportunity to undertake trials in agricultural and horticultural production. Participants test new techniques and practices, trying out different crops and varieties, and decide what works best for them.

People learn and experience together and their 'teacher' is one of them: a previously trained volunteer. Each group can produce new volunteer facilitators who can themselves open new Farmer Field Schools.

"I'm also involved in micro-projects on horticulture and small-livestock production for families affected by HIV/AIDS," Ms. Jaitner explains. These require less labour from depleted households, but provide extra nutrients (proteins, fibre, vitamins) and a more balanced and healthy diet. "That's especially important for children, women, and sick people," she notes.

The beneficiaries receive seeds, tools, small livestock, training and support in building associations. More than just handouts, such projects add to household incomes, since surplus produce can be marketed and sold to boost incomes.

A German national who has been involved in food security issues throughout her working life, Ms. Jaitner's role provides training to the local partners on food and nutrition security, participation, gender issues, micro-business development and management. She helps develop training materials on the above for illiterate young people and assists with the implementation of FAO-funded projects, planning, developing good practices and analyzing lessons learnt.

The UNV volunteer also helps out with the Junior Farmer Field and Life Schools (JFFLS) project, which teaches agricultural skills in a "learning and experimental garden" as well as life and gender awareness through performing arts. Half the students taking part in JFFLS are girls.

Local volunteers trained by the FAO are also working as facilitators and implementing other educational programmes. As community members, they are promoting gender sensitization, participation, nutrition education and helping people who have lost family food providers to HIV/AIDS to supply themselves again.