Natural Resources Conservation Service International Programs Division Melvin Westbrook, Director

1. Natural Resources Conservation Service International Programs Division Melvin Westbrook, Director November 5, 2014

2. International Programs Division

3. International Programs Division Who are we? Division responsible for coordinating all international activities for NRCS

4. International Programs Division • Select best qualified person(s) to provide technical assistance to foreign countries What do we do? • Coordinate meetings with foreign visitors both in NHQ and in the states • Work with the Foreign Ag Service and the State Dept. to obtain documents for agency personnel

5. International Programs Division • Access to conservation practices developed in foreign countries How does the United States benefit? • Enhancement of foreign trade • Maintain leadership role in natural resource conservation

6. International Programs Division How do foreign countries benefit? • Receive technical assistance in solving conservation problems • Training • Access to information

7. International Programs Division • International experience How does an NRCS employee benefit? • Exposure to different cultures • Contacts

8. International Assignments Types: • Scientific and Technical Exchange • Technical Assistance • Embassy Science FellowshipProgram • International Meetings • Foreign Visitors

9. International Assignments • Available to all NRCS employees. • Completing the International Travel Request form is the initial step. • Person represents the U.S. Government thus requires an official passport. • Country clearance must be granted by the U. S. Embassy.

10. International Assignments • Security clearance is required for some assignments depending upon length of project and/or type of work. • Requires up to 45 days to obtain all necessary approvals.

11. International Meetings • Main activity that IPD supports • Professional Meetings • Society for Range Management • World Congress of Soil Science • Conferences • UN Convention to Combat Desertification

12. International Meetings Field tours are often offered at international meetings. These events presents one with an opportunity to view different landscapes and cultures.

13. International Visitors NRCS is a world leader in natural resource conservation. Therefore, the agency receives many requests annually from agriculturalists and environmentalists in other nations to meet with our specialists. These requests are often sent to state and field offices as well as NHQ.

14. International Visitors International visitors may offer NRCS personnel the opportunity to visit their country. Last year, two NRCS specialists traveled abroad after meeting with their delegation in the U.S.

15. Scientific and Technical Exchanges • Program to benefit US agriculture and forestry • Mutual benefit to both countries • Short- and long-term projects

16. Scientific and Technical Exchanges John Moore, National Hydrogeologist (now retired), NHQ, worked with officials in El Salvador to evaluate horizontal wells.

17. Scientific and Technical Exchanges

18. Scientific and Technical Exchanges

19. Scientific and Technical Exchanges

20. Embassy Science Fellowship Program • Offers U.S. Embassy posts an opportunity to host a U.S. Government scientist or technical expert for a one to three month period • Allows posts to acquire advisors to address science and technology issues important to their missions

21. Embassy Science Fellowship Program • Provides NRCS staff an opportunity to gain valuable experience, training, and networking • During 2002 – 2007, 17 NRCS employees were selected as Fellows.

22. Embassy Science Fellowship Program Nancy Young, State Resource Conservationist in Arkansas, assisted the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation to streamline their US Debt for Nature grant process.

23. Embassy Science Fellowship Program Jim Newman, District Conservationist in Puerto Rico, worked to improve water quality and quantity in Mozambique.

24. Operation Enduring Freedom • Initiative to help rebuild Afghanistan’s agricultural infrastructure. • Most USDA personnel participating in this effort are from NRCS. • Currently, four employees are on 12-month assignments.

26. As of Jan. 31, 2007, 18 NRCS employees have been assigned to Afghanistan. (One employee returned 3 times) Kandahar - 3 Ghazni - 2 Khost - 1 Bamyan - 2 Kabul - 1 Parwan - 1 Mazar-e-Sharif - 1

27. Operation Enduring Freedom Afghan students learn to use hand levels

28. Operation Enduring Freedom Stacey Crevello, RC&D Coordinator from Louisiana, was the first woman from NRCS to serve in Afghanistan.

29. Operation Enduring Freedom The Defense Dept. provides protection while in-country and also offers an unique way to get to work.

30. Operation Enduring Freedom

31. Operation Iraqi Freedom • Initiative to help rebuild Iraq’s agricultural infrastructure. • Most USDA personnel participating in this effort are from NRCS. • Currently, 7 people are on 12-month assignments.

32. For more information, please visit our Web site: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ international/

33. Thank You The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET CENTER at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington D.C. 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD).USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer.