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About ACDI/VOCA

ACDI/VOCA is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes broad-based economic growth and the development of civil society in emerging democracies and developing countries. ACDI/VOCA addresses the most pressing and intractable development problems.

Driven by the goal of adding value to local enterprise, which underlies prosperous free markets and stable democracies, ACDI/VOCA works in the following areas:

• Community Development
• Enterprise Development
• Financial Services
• Agribusiness Systems

The ACDI/VOCA Difference
ACDI/VOCA has a proven record of development successes dating back more than 40 years. This experience coupled with strong technical expertise means that clients and partners can always expect high standards of quality from ACDI/VOCA.

ACDI/VOCA is also distinguished by its:
worldwide experience in grassroots organizing for economic efficiency and participatory decision-making
private-sector orientation
dedication to beneficiary gains in income, jobs and savings
legacy of lasting institutions and organizations
vast talent bank
experience working on a regional/global scale
network of U.S. and international partners
systems approach to solving development problems
experience with indefinite quantity contracts (IQCs)
grant-management capacity
reliable knowledge management and monitoring and evaluation systems

International Voluntary Service Activities

Since 1971, ACDI/VOCA has completed more than 9,500 short-term volunteer assignments in more than 130 countries. We identify and mobilize significant numbers of volunteers.

ACDI/VOCA has over 30 years of experience recruiting long- and short-term volunteer technical experts that provide assistance worldwide in the business, agriculture, government and nongovernmental sectors. Our database contains more than 12,000 available volunteer experts who have worked with private enterprises, business support organizations, financial institutions, smallholder farmers, indigenous NGOs, and member-owned cooperative associations. Both recruitment and headquarters staff make a constant effort to bring new candidates into the system by making institutional and personal contacts, exhibiting at conferences and trade shows, publishing newsletters, and encouraging returned volunteers to share their experiences. ACDI/VOCA has three recruitment offices, out of which 8 staff members identify and field approximately 400 volunteer specialists per year.

Volunteer for Prosperity Opportunities
Number of Opportunities	375
Geographic Regions	Former Soviet Union
Health & Prosperity Sectors	Economic Growth; Capacity Building; Education; HIV/AIDS; Water; Competitiveness; Information & Communication Technology; Natural Resources Management; Women & Youth Empowerment; Tsunami Relief
Types of Opportunities	Technical
Average Duration of Projects	21 days
Volunteer Profile Summary
ACDI/VOCA volunteer experts typically have more than 15 years of technical experience in their fields of specialization, ranging from business and cooperative and development to financial services, marketing, agricultural production and processing and post harvest handling. They are from professions as varied as entrepreneurs, business executives, bankers, farmers, cooperative specialists, natural resource managers, food processors, and legal specialists, and they bring their time, vast knowledge and years of practical experience to meet critical development needs abroad. Our volunteers’ dedication is reflected in the high level of personal follow-up support, whether material or technical, that many volunteers continue to provide to host organizations long after the assignment has been officially completed. Such follow-up is often crucial to success, and ACDI/VOCA actively supports these activities by providing communication and logistical support when necessary. Also, due to the long-term commitment of many of our volunteers our recruiters are often able to call on a particular outstanding specialist for several repeat assignments.