Job Title: Volunteer Opportunity – Fellowship
Organisation: Vittana
International Fellowship
International Fellowship
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
About Vittana:
Vittana combines the massive reach of microfinance with the transformative
power of education by building the world’s first student microloan programs
with MFI partners in developing countries. By demonstrating that student
microloans are the most scalable, sustainable, and impactful tool we have to
fight global poverty, we can change the global conversation about education.
power of education by building the world’s first student microloan programs
with MFI partners in developing countries. By demonstrating that student
microloans are the most scalable, sustainable, and impactful tool we have to
fight global poverty, we can change the global conversation about education.
Job Summary: The Vittana skilled,
highly committed and passionate volunteers will work in the field with our
microfinance institution (MFI) partners abroad. The fellows will be tasked with
helping create, support, and evaluate student lending programs at our MFI
partners. The field is where our real work gets done, and we’re looking for
enthusiastic, hard-working, ambitious individuals to help us.
highly committed and passionate volunteers will work in the field with our
microfinance institution (MFI) partners abroad. The fellows will be tasked with
helping create, support, and evaluate student lending programs at our MFI
partners. The field is where our real work gets done, and we’re looking for
enthusiastic, hard-working, ambitious individuals to help us.
You will walk away from this experience having managed the launch or
scaling of a student lending product at a highly innovative MFI and having
developed a deep understanding for the inner workings, challenges, and
opportunities of working abroad in the field of microfinance. You will have the
opportunity to help change the lives of thousands of young people.
scaling of a student lending product at a highly innovative MFI and having
developed a deep understanding for the inner workings, challenges, and
opportunities of working abroad in the field of microfinance. You will have the
opportunity to help change the lives of thousands of young people.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Market Research:
- Work with MFI staff and/or a third-party
firm to perform an analysis of the potential demand for student loans by
interviewing existing and potential clients, creating and distributing
surveys to local students and MFI staff, and leading focus groups - Assist the MFI in the collection and
analysis of qualitative and quantitative survey and focus group data
2. Product Development & Pilot Launch:
- Support the MFI’s student loan product
development process, culminating in a one-week Vittana-led innovation
workshop with MFI management and staff - Ensure necessary logistics and benchmarks
are met in advance of the launch of a pilot program - Serve as an intermediary between the MFI
and other major stakeholders (i.e. students, vocational and technical
schools, universities, etc.) - Tailor the MFI’s marketing and operational
resources to effectively integrate the student loan product into the MFI’s
day-to-day operations - Design and run training sessions for MFI
staff on Vittana lending policies and procedures
3. Capacity Building & Evaluation:
- Work closely as the liaison between
Vittana and MFI staff to assess the pilot and identify areas for
improvement - Ensure continued focus on and progress
toward goals for the successful launch of the student loan as a core
product offering - Generate multi-media content for the
Vittana website in the form of student stories, photos, and video
interviews - Probably the most exciting, interesting,
and potentially even life-changing thing you’ve ever done.
Qualifications, Skills and
Experience:
Experience:
- The applicant should have at least two to
three years’ work experience or equivalent - A willingness to commit a minimum of 12
weeks in-country (strong preference given to applicants able to commit to
4 months or more). - Some international work, travel or life
experience - Strong critical thinking, problem-solving
skills - Independence and the ability to identify
and address a need with little direction. - Ability to recognize an
problem/opportunity and work towards fixing it/taking advantage of it. - Flexibility, ability to easily adapt to
ever-changing circumstances - Impeccable communication skills in a
professional environment - Proficiency with MS Office Suite and web
tools (Gmail, Skype, WordPress, etc.) - At least 21 years of age preferred
- Project management and/or market research
experience - Demonstrated interest in education,
microfinance, or international development - Demonstrated track record for delivering
results on challenging projects, whether professional, volunteer, or
personal - Positive, optimistic, “can do”
attitude. This is hard work, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. - Fluency in Spanish, Arabic, Hindi and/or
Indian state languages (Kannada, Tamil, Telgu, Oriya, etc.), Filipino
dialects, Vietnamese or Bahasa Indonesian (depending on placement)
Please note: This is an
unpaid volunteer position. We do offer a $1,000 travel reimbursement given in
two stipends for the first 12 weeks and $50 for each week thereafter.
unpaid volunteer position. We do offer a $1,000 travel reimbursement given in
two stipends for the first 12 weeks and $50 for each week thereafter.
How to Apply:
Please prepare a list of three professional references, your resume and
a cover letter telling us why you are drawn to this experience and what you’ll
bring to it.
a cover letter telling us why you are drawn to this experience and what you’ll
bring to it.
Send your three documents to us via our Fellows Application Form:
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