Application Deadline: Ongoing
The VV GROW Fellowship is a highly competitive one-year accelerator program for women owners of small and medium businesses in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
The program includes customized business skills training, technical assistance, leadership development, and access to networks to grow their businesses and increase their leadership impact. Through global and regional online and in-person trainings, fellows focus on strategy and long-term business value paired with action-oriented plans. They amplify their role as leaders in their businesses and their communities to create jobs, stimulate long-term economic growth and produce wider social benefits.
Program Participant Profile
Women business owners from Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa that:
- Own a business that has been in operation for at least 3 years
- Employ at least 3 full time staff
- Generate at least USD $40,000 in annual sales
- Are motivated to build the skills and make the changes needed to grow their business
- Have demonstrated leadership within their community
- Have the authority to make critical decisions within their business
- Are excited to participate in a one year business accelerator program
Training Content
VV GROW fellowship participants will gain in-depth knowledge and skills in the following topics:
- Planning for Growth: The goal of this module is to strengthen fellows’ grasp of the current state of their businesses and to further develop a strategic mindset to effectively plan for and lead the growth of their businesses.
- Visionary Leadership: The goal of this module is for fellows to acquire critical self-awareness, confidence, and leadership skills crucial for the growth of their businesses and social impact.
- Financial Management for Executives: The goal of this module is to strengthen fellows’ understanding of their current financial status and key financial management principles to help inform decision making and to strategically manage resources to achieve business growth.
- Mobilizing Markets: The goal of this module is to deepen fellows’ understanding of their current and potential new markets, identify their customers and competitors, and to utilize essential marketing strategies and tactics to grow their businesses.
- Strategic Networking: The goal of this module is for fellows to utilize the knowledge they have gained about themselves and their businesses through the planning for growth and visionary leadership modules, their communication skills, and effective networking strategies for their business growth. This module guides participants to communicate effectively about their business and successfully utilize new connections.
Trainer Roles
Vital Voices seeks trainers in LAC, MENA, and SSA regions for the 2016 – 2017 VV GROW Fellowship in the following areas:
- Planning for Growth
- Visionary Leadership
- Financial Management for Executives
- Mobilizing Markets
- Strategic Networking
Trainer(s) will tailor and implement a training curriculum provided by Vital Voices, based on one of the modules listed above.
Facilitator Role
Vital Voices seeks 1 facilitator per region, who will coordinate the in-person training content and facilitate the in-person training in October.
Specific Responsibilities for Trainers
- Review the VV GROW Fellowship curriculum for the specific module including goals, objectives, and key messages along with a draft lesson plan that will be provided by Vital Voices
- Participate in trainer calls with Vital Voices staff including in-person training planning sessions Participate in virtual training webinars
- Understand and familiarize yourself with the needs of program participants, based on materials provided by Vital Voices, and adjust module content accordingly
- Coordinate with facilitator and other trainers to ensure that specific module content is integrated with the others and to ensure program participants are receiving cohesive and coordinated program content
- Review participant’s assignments for selected module; conduct coaching calls with program participants
- Supplement the provided draft lesson plans with participatory activities, regionally relevant examples, and additional resources as to successfully conduct and meet the objectives of in person training sessions
- Travel to the in-person training to deliver selected module and provide on the ground support to fellows. The tentative dates for the in-person training including travel days are provided below. Locations will be announced later within each region
- Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC) Tentative Training Dates: October 1-7, 2016
- Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Tentative Training Dates: October 8-14, 2016
- Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Tentative Training Dates: October 15-21,2016
Specific Responsibilities for Facilitators
- Review and update the provided facilitation plan for In-person training and develop understanding on other content areas to ensure cohesive and coordinated program messaging is delivered during the In-person training sessions
- Travel to the in-person training to deliver selected module and provide on the ground support to fellows. The tentative dates for the in-person training including travel days are provided below. Locations will be announced later within each region
- Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC) Tentative Training Dates: October 1-7, 2016
- Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Tentative Training Dates: October 8-14, 2016
- Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Tentative Training Dates: October 15-21,2016
- Attend and facilitate overall in-person training program and conduct daily opening and closing review exercises during training sessions, make announcements, and ensure training sessions are on-track and end on-time.
Desired Experience
- Experience in adult-learning and training at the post-secondary level or higher, and/or training certification
- Expertise in a relevant technical subject or training topics
- Experience as a coach or mentor for small businesses
- Familiarity with the socio-cultural dynamics, regulatory environment, and the business dynamics of the region for which you are applying
- Experience starting up and/or running a business, especially one that experienced significant growth under your stewardship in a 3-5 year period
- Experience working with teams using a collaborative, participant-focused working methodology
- Experience working with women in a gender-sensitive environment
- Fluency in Spanish and/or Portuguese and/or French (LAC); Arabic and/or French (MENA); Kiswahili and/or French (SSA) desired but not required
Application Instructions
Please send the following:
- CV or resume detailing related experience (required)
- 3 references including 1 from a past participant/trainee (required)
- 1 publication on a related topic (optional)
- Examples of your trainings (e.g. video recordings or lesson plans – optional)
Please submit your complete application to vitalvoices.economicempowerment@vitalnetwork.org with “VVGROW Trainer: Region, Content Area, and Name” in the subject line. If you are applying for more than one region and/or content areas such as marketing and networking content in SSA and LAC region, please indicate it in email body.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until trainers roles are filled for all regions. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Vital Voices GROW Fellowship 2016