Volunteer with VSA

Kia ora, Nisa Bula Vinaka and warm Pacific greetings,
  
Te Whāinga | Our Purpose is

Te Hono Tangata - Te Huringa Ora.  

Ka hono a Te Tūao Tāwāhi i ngā tūao pūkenga ki ngā whakahaere me ngā hapori i te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa me tua atu, hei tautoko i ngā wawata kua tautuhia ā-rohe, ā, kia tutuki ai te panoni toitū. 

Connecting People – Transforming Lives. 

Volunteer Service Abroad connects skilled volunteers with organisations and communities in the Pacific and beyond to support locally identified aspirations and achieve sustainable change.  

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About the role

This is your opportunity to become a VSA Volunteer to share your experience, skills and knowledge to serve and build capacity in Fiji. Work alongside our local partner organisation to plan and create a brighter future for all.
  
We are looking for an experienced Horticulture Research & Extension Specialist or someone with the right level of transferrable skills, who understands and shares the spirit of volunteering, with a keen interest in building capability in the Pacific (while embracing a new cultural experience).

The length of this assignment in Fiji will be 12 months.

VSA will support you by funding and organizing your flights, visas, insurances, accommodation, living allowance and utilities while you are on assignment.
  
Ngā tino Pūkenga/Wheako – Essential skills/experiences for the role
If you are interested in this opportunity, below are some of the key skills and experiences that we’re looking for.

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in horticulture or agricultural extension
• Strong knowledge of crop production systems
• Experience in farmer training, extension, or applied agricultural research
• Background in agricultural led research

Important note: Due to our VSA funding requirements, our volunteers must be a NZ citizen or NZ Permanent Resident to progress further in our recruitment process.
  
Our Partner Organisation –Nature’s Way Cooperative
Nature’s Way Cooperative (NWC) is a farmer-owned cooperative established in 1995 to support smallholder growers in Fiji through the production, processing, and export of fresh horticultural products. The cooperative represents over 300 member farmers and works with registered exporters to supply horticultural produce to international markets. NWC is governed by a Board of Directors elected from its membership, providing strategic oversight and accountability, with day to-day operations managed by an executive management team.

NWC supports the export of crops by working closely with farmers and exporters to provide technical advice, quality assurance, post-harvest handling, and packhouse services that meet international market requirements. The cooperative also assists with compliance with export and biosecurity standards and facilitates access to overseas markets. Through these services, Nature’s
Way Cooperative plays an important role in strengthening rural livelihoods and supporting the growth of Fiji’s horticulture export sector.

The Assignment 
As Crop Research & Extension Specialis you will support the organisation to address ongoing challenges across its key Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BQA) commodity groups — eggplant, papaya, mango, and breadfruit. The BQA framework sets standards for the production, handling, and export of
horticultural crops to ensure quality, safety, and compliance with domestic and international regulations. NWC is currently experiencing inconsistent crop quality, pest and disease management issues, limited capacity in crop research and data collection, and a need to strengthen farmer extension services to better support both growers and exporters. You will strengthen
NWC’s research and extension capability by supporting improved on-farm practices, enhancing data collection and analysis, promoting best agricultural practices, and improving the consistency and quality of BQA commodity supply. 

The Country – Fiji
Fiji includes the other 3 cultural groups called Fijians -Rotuma, Rabi, and Kioa (Rabian and Kioans) were resettled in Fiji after being evacuated from Ocean islands, Tuvalu and Kiribati).

It is a destination attraction for its coral reefs, clear lagoons, and tropical landscapes. Fijian indigenous society is very communal, with great importance attached to the family unit, the village, and the vanua (land). With the introduction of traditions such as Indian and Chinese and significant influences from Europe and Fiji's Pacific neighbours, particularly Tonga and Samoa, these various cultures have come together to create a multicultural national identity for Fiji.
  
Fiji has several development goals they are focusing on as a country such as lowering youth unemployment rates, reducing poverty, reducing child mortality and gender inequality, increasing environmental sustainability, and improving the health and education status of its citizens. 
 
Me pēhea te tuku tono| How to apply:
Apply for this opportunity through our website.
For more information or if you have any questions on this assignment, email volunteer@vsa.org.nz.


For a copy of the Assignment Description, please click the apply button which will direct you to the VSA website.  You will be able to download a copy from the advertisement.
  
  
 

We are looking for a volunteer with:

• 12-months fulltime volunteering opportunity in Nadi, Fiji.
• Flights, accommodation and other expenses covered by VSA.
• Make a lasting difference across the Pacific.