Food Security Extension Officer - Volunteer Position - Onsite in Guatemala • North America - 2 years, plus 3 months training
Peace Corps
United States
Posted on Apr 3, 2026
About The Project
Guatemala is looking to strengthen its rural extension program with sustainable, agricultural practices, and you can lend a hand!
Guatemala faces one of the highest rates of chronic malnutrition in the northern hemisphere, with nearly half of children under five affected. Combined with rapid population growth and environmental pressures, the country’s malnutrition has created an urgent demand for agricultural systems to produce more food. Beginning in the 1980s, the country saw a 20-year gap in rural extension services as a result of the armed internal conflict. This led to a loss of best practices, leaving current food security service providers—such as extension agents and community promoters—without the training and skills needed to effectively support farmers. With the return of these extension services, it is critical to strengthen the country’s agricultural system for improved production and nutritional outcomes for rural households.
As a Food Security Extension Officer, you will collaborate with local food security service providers to strengthen local knowledge of participatory teaching methods, organizational skills, and participatory community development strategies. Together, you will foster sustainable practices that increase crop yields, diversify diets, and strengthen household resilience. These efforts not only reduce food insecurity but also promote community integration, youth engagement, and economic opportunities helping to unlock Guatemala’s potential for growth and prosperity.
Activities
How you and the community will make an impact together:
Identify community strengths, needs, and resources using collaborative tools and approaches.
Facilitate group training and field-based instruction for food security service providers and community members on adult learning methods, participatory community development, and community engagement strategies.
Develop or update educational training resources in areas such as agriculture, nutrition, the environment, community leadership, and engagement strategies.
Form farmer groups to encourage active participation from all community members.
Connect community groups, local institutions, and government programs to strengthen collaboration and resource sharing.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as nutritional cooking demonstrations and school gardens.
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have an expressed interest in working in agriculture and one or more of the following criteria:
APPLY BY : August 15, 2026
KNOW BY : October 1, 2026
DEPART ON : March 1, 2027
DURATION : 2 years, plus 3 months training
Guatemala is looking to strengthen its rural extension program with sustainable, agricultural practices, and you can lend a hand!
Guatemala faces one of the highest rates of chronic malnutrition in the northern hemisphere, with nearly half of children under five affected. Combined with rapid population growth and environmental pressures, the country’s malnutrition has created an urgent demand for agricultural systems to produce more food. Beginning in the 1980s, the country saw a 20-year gap in rural extension services as a result of the armed internal conflict. This led to a loss of best practices, leaving current food security service providers—such as extension agents and community promoters—without the training and skills needed to effectively support farmers. With the return of these extension services, it is critical to strengthen the country’s agricultural system for improved production and nutritional outcomes for rural households.
As a Food Security Extension Officer, you will collaborate with local food security service providers to strengthen local knowledge of participatory teaching methods, organizational skills, and participatory community development strategies. Together, you will foster sustainable practices that increase crop yields, diversify diets, and strengthen household resilience. These efforts not only reduce food insecurity but also promote community integration, youth engagement, and economic opportunities helping to unlock Guatemala’s potential for growth and prosperity.
Activities
How you and the community will make an impact together:
Identify community strengths, needs, and resources using collaborative tools and approaches.
Facilitate group training and field-based instruction for food security service providers and community members on adult learning methods, participatory community development, and community engagement strategies.
Develop or update educational training resources in areas such as agriculture, nutrition, the environment, community leadership, and engagement strategies.
Form farmer groups to encourage active participation from all community members.
Connect community groups, local institutions, and government programs to strengthen collaboration and resource sharing.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as nutritional cooking demonstrations and school gardens.
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
- 5 years' professional work experience
- Completed 4 years of high school Spanish coursework in the past 8 years
- Completed college-level Elementary II Spanish semester (Elementary III in quarter system) within the past 6 years
- Score between 50-62 on the Spanish College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam in the past 6 years
- Score Novice-High or Intermediate-Low on official American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in Spanish within the past 6 years
APPLY BY : August 15, 2026
KNOW BY : October 1, 2026
DEPART ON : March 1, 2027
DURATION : 2 years, plus 3 months training