​Eligible participants:

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Representatives of NGOs/CBOs/farmers’ organisations/radio stations or small international NGOs with an annual turnover of under £250k, who work with coffee, tea and cocoa farmers in the Global South, You must have a mission of empowering rural smallholder communities and have an idea for a Farmers’ Voice Radio project. Individual development practitioners with a relevant focus may also apply. The course is free of charge, but applicants must:

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• Be able and willing to commit to around 8 hours of online training plus homework over a two-month period, abide by LYF’s Code of Conduct and respond to feedback requests.

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• Have access to an internet enabled device and stable internet connection.

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• Be able to participate fully in English. A Spanish course may be available, depending on demand.

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What you and your organisation will gain from joining the Farmers’ Voice Radio Academy:

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• The skills, knowledge and tools to design and implement a Farmers’ Voice Radio programme series in YOUR context.

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• Support to develop a Farmers’ Voice Radio proposal that can be pitched to partners and donors. 

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• Optional membership of a Farmers’ Voice Radio Practitioners’ Peer Support Group.

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• Your profile featured on the Farmers’ Voice Radio website and social media, which could increase networking opportunities and connect you to new partners.

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• For successful graduates, the opportunity to apply for a limited number of start-up grants (max £3,000) from The Lorna Young Foundation. This will be a competitive process and will involve the submission of a full project proposal and budget and some basic due diligence. 

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• A Farmers’ Voice Radio Academy Certificate and social media badge.

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To apply for a place on the 2023 Farmers’ Voice Radio Academy for coffee, tea and cocoa organisations, please complete the application form by 23rd December 2022. We aim to contact all successful applicants by 14th January 2023. 

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Farmers' Voice Radio Academy graduate, Stephen Tolo, from Kajulu Hills Ecovillages in Kenya talks about how participation in the Academy has helped his organistion to engage more effectively with smallholder farmers on regenerative agriculture and why others should consider signing up for this training opportunity.

 

“After going through the Farmers’ Voice Radio Academy, as a journalist I feel capacitated and the need to have the programme run at our radio station to foster change in the way our community does its farming activities. Better practices will in turn lead to better yields and market access...”

Fatma Mzee, Operations Director of Vox Radio and Farmers' Voice Radio Academy graduate and start-up grant recipient.  

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“One of the greatest advantages of LYF’s [Farmers' Voice Radio] programme is the ease with which it can be adapted to a variety of contexts, scales and budgets and still have a substantial impact. Once the smallholder group, extension officers and radio presenters have received training, they take ownership of the radio programmes.”

Linda Lisser, Responsible Sourcing Manager, Ringtons

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If you would like to sponsor a place on a future Academy programme, making Farmers' Voice Radio skills and knowledge available to even more organisations, please visit the 'Support Us' page to donate now. 

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