Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC)
2000 M Street NW
Suite 250
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202-589-2600
Email: iesc@iesc.org
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Join a global network of volunteer experts who dedicate their expertise, time, and passion to help our program participants—entrepreneurs, farmers, skills training institutions, financial institutions, private sector associations, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises—achieve their goals.
Our volunteers bring invaluable expertise to their global neighbors, sharing knowledge, building mutual trust, and creating economic opportunity. Today, IESC strategically draws upon volunteer experts on select programs—most often our USAID Farmer-to-Farmer Access to Finance Program—where they strengthen capacity of the program participants and make a lasting difference in the lives of those we serve.
For example, our volunteers may help train young people to become successful entrepreneurs, link women small business owners to banks and buyers, and create pathways to new markets for farmers.
Do what you know and what you love in a dramatically new environment where your impact is real, and the rewards are immeasurable and last a lifetime.
How It Works
We are always recruiting skilled volunteer experts with a passion and commitment to do something good in the world. Here are two ways to get started:
- Apply for a current assignment on our Career Center. Find additional assignments by filtering for Volunteer under Employment Type.
- Train veterinarians working in poultry and swine farms on animal health epidemiology and surveillance
- Train program staff and cooperatives to develop business plans and apply for loans
- Develop and pilot of a social performance assessment tool for a microfinance institution
- Train board members and staff of a farmers’ cooperative to manage its finances, implement good governance practices, and ensure sustainable growth
- Support a cashew nuts processor to develop a financial sustainability strategy and train the owners in implementation
- Train staff of an agro-processing company in fruit puree sterilization and good manufacturing practices
- Support a nonprofit organization that works with smallholder farmers and agri-SMEs to develop a gender, youth, and social inclusion strategy and action plan
- Register as a general volunteer expert to be considered for future opportunities. We search our existing database first, so if an assignment matches your skills, we will contact you.
- Register for the Farmer-to-Farmer Access to Finance Program volunteer pool if you have expertise in financial services, investments, agricultural lending, financial management, accounting, marketing, strategic management, supply chain optimization, business development, agricultural production or agribusiness management. This program aims to create more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural systems while increasing production, profitability, sales, jobs, and income
“All the work I have done in agriculture and agribusiness can now be used to help transform the lives of others.”
— Volunteer Melody Meyer
“Using my skills in new ways gives me new perspectives on how to have a more purpose-driven career.”
— Volunteer Lisa Larson
“I knew I had acquired some useful knowledge and skills that could be put to good use in the right organization. When a friend pointed me toward IESC, I knew I had found the perfect opportunity to serve.”
— Volunteer Tom Davis
“This was a life-changing experience for me.”
— Volunteer Michael Braden