Description
Interns and researchers on our community development team will work with Runa Foundation and the farmers’ association to survey the needs of indigenous communities. Summer 2012 interns will continue our survey started in 2011 to reach all 100 communities where we work. This information is gathered for Fair Trade Certification and the development of future community projects.

Project Objectives

• To conduct diagnostic community needs assessment surveys in all of the communities where Runa operates

• To create a database from these surveys
• To conduct a comprehensive analysis of the needs of each community and cross-community trends
• To share the data gathered and analysis with communities via the Producer Executive Body, for future community development projects

Qualifications
This internship is geared towards industry professionals and graduate students majoring in international development, affairs or business or a related field. Proficiency in English and Spanish is essential. Experience in Latin America and/or working in a rural setting is a plus.

Current Status of Research
Summer 2011 Interns spent 10 weeks developing the needs assessment tool with input from Runa field technicians and Kichwa facilitators. Using a trial and error approach, there is a now a Fair Trade approved version of the survey. To date, the Community Development team have completed the needs assessment with 8 out of the 95 communities where Runa works. A database template has been drafted, and the collected data inputted. This is a long term project and we need the help of interns who are fluent in Spanish to conduct this essential research.

Intern Duties

• Conduct community needs assessment surveys

• Enter data into database template
• Aggregate data for entry into cross-community database
• Analyze data and identify trends
• Present data back to Producer Executive Body