Winrock | Innovations Newsletter

April 2016

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Boosted through the hard work of Winrock and the USAID Value Chains for Rural Development project, Burma's coffee made its world premier at the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) Expo in Atlanta, April 15. Read more.

In March, the Cambodian government proposed establishing nearly one million hectares of designated protected forests, including the Prey Lang forest. The USAID Supporting Forests and Biodiversity Project, implemented by Winrock, has vigorously promoted the conversion of Prey Lang to a protected forest, so the land may be safeguarded against deforestation, illegal encroachment and wildlife poaching. This proposal is a big win for the Cambodian people and the entire world.

Big Public-Private Partnership news: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Surdna Foundation and The Wallace Center at Winrock announced March 31 a new initiative to boost local food systems. Read more.

Read more from The Himalayan Times about how a market system and value chain approach can help lift people out of poverty in Nepal.

Are you interested in working at Winrock? Search current openings and post your resume. Would you like to volunteer with Winrock? Learn more about new opportunities for volunteers.

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Volunteering to Change the World
Announcing the 2016 Volunteer Awards

Most volunteers, almost by definition, are selfless individuals who sacrifice their time and, quite often, their resources to make the world a better place.

Winrock volunteers certainly fall into that category, taking on assignments to work with people half a world away. That's why it's so gratifying each year to congratulate — and illuminate — their efforts to improve lives around the globe.

This year, 125 volunteers qualified for the President’s Volunteer Service Award, based on extraordinary commitment and service in 2015. In all, 98 volunteers earned the bronze award for completing more than 100 service hours; 26 individuals earned the silver award for 250 or more hours; and one volunteer earned the gold award, with more than 500 service hours. All told, Winrock volunteers donated more than 23,000 hours in 2015.

The gold-award winner, Dr. Daniel Miller, completed three volunteer trips with Winrock’s USAID-funded Farmer-to-Farmer program in Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar) and Nepal in 2015 — after 15 prior assignments in Asia from 2012 to 2014. Miller’s recent effort has the potential to impact thousands of smallholder goat and sheep farmers in Burma, where he helped improve farming practices and developed training on small ruminant production.

“His practical information was excellent and easily adaptable for rural farmers,” noted Winrock’s Farmer-to-Farmer Country Director Dr. Ai Thanda Kyaw. “More and more farmer groups request his training.”

Winrock is also honoring Dr. Anil Shrestha (pictured), who is the recipient of Winrock’s annual Volunteer Spirit Award, for his dedication and contributions after the massive earthquake in Nepal in 2015. Shrestha worked with the Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), Uttarpani Technical School and Central Campus of Technology Dharan. As a result of his assistance to Asia Farmer-to-Farmer, AFU is now offering its first agronomy weed science courses for graduate students. You can read more about Shrestha’s volunteer work in the Winrock Volunteer Blog.

Winrock is grateful to Miller, Shrestha and the many other volunteers who dedicated their time and expertise to make a difference in the world.

Food Tank: Eight Questions with Winrock President Rodney Ferguson

On April 20-21, Food Tank, in partnership with American University, hosted the second annual Food Tank Summit in Washington, D.C., where Winrock International President and CEO Rodney Ferguson joined other food and agricultural experts to discuss "Investing in the Food Movement."

Ferguson had the opportunity to speak with Food Tank ahead of the summit to talk about what inspires him to address food challenges, how to better U.S. and global food systems, and the small changes everyone can make in their lives right now to make a difference.

Read more at Food Tank.

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