Soluble Coffee Product Development Volunteer

Engineers Without Borders – USA (EWB-USA) and INGO NCBA CLUSA are partnering on a USAID Farmer-to-Farmer grant. The main objective of the program is to generate sustainable and broad-based economic growth in the agricultural sector worldwide. The program is based on a regional strategy for coffee, horticulture and the strengthening of cooperatives and rural enterprises.

A Coffee Cooperative is interested in making better use of the leftover coffee inventory that does not meet the international markets' standards because of the size and physical damage. The cooperative is looking for an expert to guide them on how to develop a soluble coffee with their leftover coffee inventory production and identify the required machinery and infrastructure to do it.

General Tasks:

• Conduct an initial assessment of the leftover coffee and infrastructure to create soluble coffee onsite
• Guide the cooperative to develop a prototype for soluble coffee.
• Work along the cooperative to define the process flow to produce soluble coffee.
• Identify the type of equipment, machinery, and infrastructure needed to produce soluble coffee.

Qualifications

The candidate must have a minimum of 3 years of experience in an agriculture-related engineering discipline, preferably in Product Development, Food and Science Engineering or Processing Engineering. Other preferred qualifications include:

• Degree in Engineering with emphasis in Industrial Design, and/or Food and Science Engineering
• Experience on developing prototypes of products
• Knowledge and experience in the development of coffee products (soluble coffee if possible)
• Knowledge of the development of a product process flow.
• Experience with group facilitation and adult training.
• English language skills are preferable.

Additional Information

This assignment will require volunteers to travel to the field for 2-3 weeks while reviewing the cooperatives processing and beginning write the report with remote based volunteer. Volunteers will be paired with a US based volunteer that will offer remote support.