Vital
Voices identifies high potential yet underserved women-owned small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are on the cusp of growth as the “missing
middle” in the global economy. Based on its experience with women business
owners around the world, Vital Voices has launched the VV GROW Fellowship
Program, a one-year competitive program to support growth-oriented women
business owners to take their businesses and leadership to the next level. The
program supports women-owned enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Latin
America and the Caribbean (LAC), and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA),
to set and achieve business growth goals with a unique blend of online
learning, in-person training, and tailored support services.
VV GROW Fellows will gain knowledge and skills in the following topics:
Guides
participants in validating their business growth goals and developing a plan to
achieve those goals. By the end of the workshop, participants will have an
actionable 1-year plan to achieve their medium-to-long term business growth
goals.
Utilizes
the Vital Voices Leadership Model to instill methods of building leadership
skills to positively impact their business, employees and wider community.
- Executive Financial Management
Equips
participants with the skills and knowledge to analyze, manage, and supervise
the finances of their business.
- Networking for Business Professionals
Guides
participants to promote their business and successfully utilize new
connections.
- Understanding Your Market
Guides
participants in identifying key market opportunities such as expanding existing
markets and accessing new ones.
The one-year program timeline consists
of 4 components:
- A competitive participant selection process and
business needs assessment
- Virtual Training: 4-6 months including a mix of online
learning via webinars and Harvard Manage Mentor; network building via
webinars and peer/small group calls; updates of key business tools such as
the SWOT, the Business Model Canvas, and key financial statements
- In-Person Training: 4-day in-person trainings in each
region, LAC, MENA, and SSA featuring group sessions, one-on-one advising,
and networking opportunities
- Growth Services and Support: 5-6 months of tailored
services such as small grants (potential), one-on-one advising, technical
assistance, and Harvard Manage Mentor
Implemented
at the regional level, the program is localized to ensure that the program is
applicable to women business owners and the business environments in which they
operate.
Who
can apply?
Vital
Voices is seeking applications from women business owners from Sub-Saharan
Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa, who:
- Own a businesses that has been in operation for at
least 3 years,
- Employ at least 3 staff (including temporary and/or
seasonal workers), and
- Generate at least USD $40,000 in annual sales
As an interested applicant, you:
- Are motivated to build the skills and make the changes
needed to grow your business,
- Are excited to participate in a one year program
including on-line and in-person training and access to business growth
opportunities, and
- Recognize the value of and participate in the tracking
of the growth of your business for up to 2 years through methods such as
surveys, calls, or additional opportunities.
Application
Instructions
This application should take approximately one hour to complete;
however, you will be able to save your answers and return to the application at
any time. To do this just click the "Save and continue survey later"
message that appears at the top of the application and provide your email
address. You will then receive an email with a personal link which you should
use to return to your application.
Your personal and
business information will remain confidential. Individual responses are only seen by Vital Voices staff
and VV GROW Trainers. Individual responses will be used solely for program
participant selection, program tailoring and monitoring and evaluation.
APPLICATIONS
ARE NOW OPEN
Applications for all regions are due: February
28, 2015
Questions?
If
you encounter questions or problems with the survey, please send an email to
Samer Altaher at SamerAltaher@vitalvoices.org with the
subject line: VV GROW Fellowship Application
More information by region:
