Tuesday, September 30, 2008

CFA- Volunteer Internship Opportunities with Kiva (Microfinance Program)

Distrib. by: Central-Eurasia-L - Announcement List for Central Eurasian Studies


CFA- Volunteer Internship Opportunities with Kiva (Microfinance Program)

Posted by: Ian Chesley <ian.chesley@gmail.com>

Kiva supports microfinance programs in Tajikistan, Azerbaijan,
Afghanistan and other countries in the region.

The Kiva Fellows Program offers individuals a rare opportunity to
travel abroad and witness firsthand the impact and realities of
microfinance, by working directly with a host microfinance institution
(MFI). The Kiva Fellow is an unpaid, volunteer based position designed
to increase Kiva's impact and to offer participants a unique insider
experience. Past participants have found the fellowship to be a great
first step in a career in microfinance or international development.

The timeline for our next Kiva Fellows class, K7, will be:
- Application deadline: Nov 1, 2008
- Training in San Fran: Jan 26-30, 2009
- Departure to the Field: Feb 1, 2009

The timeline for the following Kiva Fellows class, K8, will be:
- Application deadline: Mar 1, 2009
- Training in San Fran: May 18-20, 2009
- Departure to the Field: June 1-15, 2009

We are now accepting applications online on a rolling basis
(http://www.kiva.org/about/fellowsapply). Please pay close attention
to the application deadlines above, as well as the expected departure
dates. In order to better serve our field partners, we now expect all
new Kiva Fellows to depart within the timeframes specified. If you are
having trouble with the online application, please contact us at
kivafellows@kiva.org

Successful Kiva Fellows tend to share certain skills and characteristics:
* Overseas experience (preferably in developing countries)
* High degree of flexibility, self-motivation and problem solving
* Excellent writing skills
* Enthusiasm for Kiva!
* Familiarity and comfort with various web applications
* Dedication to working in the field with a microfinance institution
* Ability and commitment to fundraise for their trip
* Sincere interest in microfinance
* Longer stays (4 months +) are preferred

Furthermore, past Kiva Fellows with the following skills have found
great success in the program:
* Fluency or advanced communication ability in French, Spanish,
Russian, or other language in a country where Kiva has a presence
(e.g., Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan)
* Background in economics/finance/consulting will greatly enhance
your ability to provide support to the host MFI

Kiva Fellows Program Mission Statement:

The Kiva Fellows Program ignites passion in our Fellows to engage in
microfinance and empowers them be a voice for Kiva and our field
partners. Fellows gain in-field microfinance experience, and an
appreciation of the innovative and purposeful grassroots efforts that
our network of MFIs implement through their work on Kiva. Kiva
motivates our Fellows to seek ways that they can add value to our
partnerships and to Kiva. We challenge them to view microfinance both
in its successes and struggles from the ground up.

Kiva Fellow Core Responsibilities:

The Kiva Fellow is an integral part of the Kiva Team, acting as Kiva's
eyes and ears in the field and helping to extend limited resources to
maximum effect. Kiva Fellows fulfill tasks set out in a Work Plan,
defined by Kiva along with the host microfinance institution (MFI).

1. Facilitate Connections between Kiva's Borrowers and Lenders

2. Your journal entries, business postings and blog entries will help
build the rich content that bridges our borrowers and lenders and
makes Kiva's model work!
* Interview no less than 15 businesses per week to assess loan
impact, verify data, and gather information for journal updates
* Develop innovative ways to facilitate connections via creative
journaling, YouTube video and other means
* Write a blog entry every two weeks on the Kiva Fellows Blog
http://fellowsblog.kiva.org
* Promote awareness of the host MFI and its programs to the Kiva
lender community
* Promote an understanding of the Kiva lending community to borrowers

3. Assist Communications and Maximize the host MFI's Partnership with Kiva

4. Tasks may include some or all of the following:
* Assist the host MFI to regularly collect and post borrower profiles
for funding onto the Kiva website
* Observe, learn and document the MFI's operations and its use of the
Kiva platform, including recommendations as appropriate
* Transfer skills to MFI staff on Kiva processes, policies and best practices
* Create working documents and templates for the MFI to use during
and post-fellowship
* Complete additional projects for the MFI as time allows and skills
match needs

5. Support Kiva's Mission, Product and Procedures

6. As a Kiva Fellow, your work will help support Kiva's product,
marketing and organizational development. Your consistent feedback is
invaluable to Kiva's growth.
* Communicate regularly with Kiva
* Understand and promote Kiva Policies
* Provide updates and feedback through weekly progress reports and a
final end-of-fellowship report within one month of returning
* Create Entrepreneur Press Profiles, as frequently as possible
* Complete other tasks for Kiva as needed

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