Jini Kades holds an MS in Community Development and Applied Economics from the University of Vermont (UVM), along with a Graduate Certificate in Ecological Economics through the Gund Institute for Environment. Her thesis explored stressors and their mental health affects on Latino migrant farmworkers in Vermont’s dairy sector. While at UVM, she collaborated on an agroecology project focused on small family dairy farms in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest that were experimenting with alternatives to conventional farming practices. Jini has since worked as an independent research consultant in the fields of sustainable housing and in educational access for underserved communities. As an undergraduate in Guilford College, she earned a dual major in International Studies and Economics. Jini is primarily interested in agricultural development that both respects natural resource limitations and the challenges of climate change, while also promoting social and economic justice.
Host Organization: ACDI/VOCA
First Year Placement
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jini is currently working for ACDI/VOCA as a market systems specialist, contributing to two USAID Feed the Future activities. For the Livestock Productivity for Improved Nutrition activity, Jini develops communications materials that showcase the impacts of ACDI/VOCA facilitated, private sector partnerships that are intended to create greater access to markets, inputs, and services for rural households. She also contributes to the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning team by providing annual report analysis, market research, and project impact studies. For the Rice and Diversified Crops activity Jini supports the design and implementation of mid-year impact studies, including a crosscutting gender impact analysis. She will also evaluate and create case studies around the potential impact and cost-benefit of new marketing interventions.
Second Year Placement
Washington, D.C.
Publications
