Community Building in the Washington, DC area!!

SFP Editor: How did you get involved in international development work? Jay Kaufman: Quite by accident! My father was a wholesale distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables in Massachusetts and I worked for him while growing up and through college. He wanted me to come work for him after college. However, I hated the business an wanted nothing to do with agriculture. After college, I came to DC to pursue a Master in International Affairs. During grad school, I worked part-time at Chemonics, a consulting firm that manages projects for USAID. After temping there for a couple months, I applied for a permanent job supporting a Philippines export development project, which sounded great since trade was my area of interest. During my interview, I learned the project was supporting trade in...agriculture! Needless to say my background was a strong fit, including, ironically, the experience working for my dad's company. I still manage agribusiness projects 12 years later so you could say I've accepted my fate! My father still gets a kick out that.

SFP Editor: How did you get involved in international development work?

Jay Kaufman: Quite by accident! My father was a wholesale distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables in Massachusetts and I worked for him while growing up and through college. He wanted me to come work for him after college. However, I hated the business an wanted nothing to do with agriculture. After college, I came to DC to pursue a Master in International Affairs. During grad school, I worked part-time at Chemonics, a consulting firm that manages projects for USAID. After temping there for a couple months, I applied for a permanent job supporting a Philippines export development project, which sounded great since trade was my area of interest. During my interview, I learned the project was supporting trade in...agriculture! Needless to say my background was a strong fit, including, ironically, the experience working for my dad's company. I still manage agribusiness projects 12 years later so you could say I've accepted my fate! My father still gets a kick out that. SFP Editor: What do you do at Fintrac?

Jay Kaufman: We focus exclusively on agricultural development. I supervise our project in El Salvador which is helping farmers earn a better living. El Salvador has an import deficit of $120 million/year in agriculture, despite so many farmers living in the country. This deficit is a result of farmers growing traditional crops like maize, beans, etc. instead of higher value commodities which are imported from Guatemala, Miami and other areas. On our project, agronomists make weekly visits to hundreds of client farms throughout the country, teaching them improved farming techniques like low-cost drip irrigation and Integrated Pest Management. Using these technologies, the farmers can grow higher priced crops like peppers and tomatoes. SFP Editor: Describe your latest project in Jamaica?

Jay Kaufman: This project is very similar to the El Salvador program, although that was actually a farmer-relief effort in the wake of Hurricane Ivan. The Jamaica program focused both on the economic growth/poverty reduction aspect as in El Salvador, as well as provided farmers with training in disaster recovery and prevention practices. It was a lot of work and stress, despite the fact that it was Jamaica! SFP Editor: What do you find to be the most challenging about international development work?

Jay Kaufman: There are too many cooks in the kitchen. Honestly, it can get very political, and there are so many bureaucratic / institutional barriers to international development, as well as ineffective program designs, competing agendas of the various NGOs and government agencies involved. Sometimes there is just too much money being thrown at problems that may require a different approach. It may sound strange, since it's a common perception that there's not enough money around to develop the poor countries of the world, and that's why we still have poverty - that's really not the problem. It's more an issue of how well or poorly funds are utilized. And, this is to say nothing of the regular technical challenges we face. SFP Editor: what do you find to be the most rewarding about your job?

Jay Kaufman: After a couple years with our program, we see farmers earning more money, sending their children to school, buying better homes, and generally living better. That's really what it's all about. The motivation comes from seeing the results of the hard work. SFP Editor: What advice do you have for folks interested in a career in international development?

Jay Kaufman: Learn a profession - engineering, nursing, agriculture, biology, etc. - and get some practical experience in the U.S. or overseas to become a technical expert. That's where the real need is. There are too many good-hearted people working in development who, unfortunately, don't possess the technical skills that are needed to help countries develop. Second, master fluency in a foreign language. Save some money and go abroad for a few months and do an immersion course. I did that in 1997, quit my job at Chemonics and went to live in Madrid for 6 months. I was fluent in Spanish when I returned and that helped me get a job with Fintrac. SFP Editor: What brought you to DC and what about the city do you enjoy the most?

Jay Kaufman: See my answer above as to why I came here...I love the fact that this city has so much to offer,. I have amazing friends in DC and there is always something fun and interesting to keep us busy! SFP Editor: Where would you like to travel that you have not been before and why?

Jay Kaufman: China - I have a big trip being mapped out in my mind that I will take some day...possibly next summer! SFP Editor: What is your favorite DC moment?

Jay Kaufman: I just got back to DC a few months ago and I've missed the good times. I volunteered as an ESL (English as a Second Language) instructor in Arlington after work, and teaching and spending time with the class was always a lot of fun. Another was having friends over for the "summer pool party series", that was always great. Any time we get together, for parties, dinner, salsa or swing, anything...is always a great time.