Agriculture and Nutrition Coordinator

Are you a passionate gardener or beekeeper? Communities in Nepal are seeking support to promote agricultural diversification for improved nutrition.

More than 65% of Nepal’s population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods, yet the country faces a severe food deficit, with more than half of its districts facing food insecurity. Stagnant agricultural production and population growth have contributed to an increase in widespread hunger and malnutrition. In fact, nearly one-third of Nepali children under the age of 5 are experiencing forms of malnutrition. While Nepal’s diverse agroecological landscape offers promising opportunities, unpredictable but frequent environmental shocks and stresses, labor outmigration, soil degradation, and pollution challenges persist. Moreover, limited commercialization and agricultural extension support have led to low productivity and profitability from farming. The government is committed to doubling the number of fruit trees across the country over the next five years, engaging rural farmers in the organic farming business, and implementing a “food for healthy life” campaign at the grassroots level.

As an Agriculture and Nutrition Coordinator, you will collaborate with the local community to apply efficient technologies that enhance production of diverse, nutrient-dense crops.

Your contribution will increase the number of rural, smallholder farmers to achieve sustainable food, nutrition, and livelihood. You will also increase the youth’s knowledge of sound agriculture and nutrition practices.

Bachelor's degree in any field.

Volunteers will live in Bagmati, Lumbini, Gandaki and Kashi provinces with a host family but can expect a private room. Volunteers usually walk several miles every day on hilly terrain to work in both hot and cold weather, as well as during the monsoon season from June through September.

Gain Nepali language skills and agricultural experience with the country’s sustainable, integrated practices.
Learn to live with pollinating bees, grow more food, and diversify your diet.
Discover the diverse traditions of over 80 ethnic groups who call Nepal home.

Train smallholder farming families in fruit and nut tree cultivation, supporting them to establish small-scale, diversified fruit tree orchards.
Coach farming families to cultivate high-value/low-volume crops, such as ginger, turmeric, and mushrooms.
Provide training on beekeeping and support families to establish improved beehives.
Conducting one-on-one training for women of reproductive age and/or key household decision-makers on cooking nutrient-rich recipes.
Support school-based programming to enhance student knowledge and skills in gardening and nutrition.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as constructing potato storage structures or supporting a menstrual health and menopause awareness campaign in the community.

As an Agriculture and Nutrition Coordinator, you will be trained on cultivation practices and the basics of beekeeping. Peace Corps/Nepal will teach you Nepali to help you comfortably live in and connect with the community. You will also receive language resources to learn key phrases of a local language used in your assigned community.

After 10 weeks of training, you will move to a small rural community where you will collaborate with smallholder farmers and the local school. You will work with the community to assess the local needs and develop solutions based on improved agricultural management practices, technologies, and dietary guidelines.