Client Research Fellowships (Unpaid)

Founded in 1984, FINCA International is a recognized leader in microfinance and the pioneer of the village banking methodology. FINCA currently operates a network of 21 country programs in Latin America, Eurasia, the Greater Middle East and Africa, serving nearly 900,000 clients. Over the past nine years, FINCA has sent more than 150 Fellows to the field to conduct client assessment research.

CALL FOR FELLOWS:  Each summer, Fellows use FINCA’s Client Assessment Tool (FCAT) to conduct 30-60 minute interviews with clients to gather information on:

• client and family demographics,
• loans and financial services,
• household expenditures,
• assets,
• social metrics (e.g. health, housing and education),
• business metrics,
• client satisfaction, and loyalty.

Fellows spend approximately 10 weeks managing the research in one country. Six to eight weeks will be spent conducting the primary research and the remaining time will be used to analyze the data and produce the briefing and report. Fellows will be responsible to train, supervise and manage a team of local surveyors. Although their primary function is to manage the research process, Fellows will have the opportunity to conduct client interviews themselves.

Prior to their work in the field, Fellows attend one week of training in Washington, D.C. The training covers all aspects of the research initiative including a history of microfinance and FINCA, survey sampling and conduct, data cleaning, management and analysis.

Data is collected and analyzed to determine poverty levels, examine business activities and better understand why clients join, remain with or exit the program. The Fellow will present their findings in a presentation and with a comprehensive report to the country Management Team and also provide the completed data sets and reports to FINCA International. A final briefing is held in the fall at FINCA International Headquarters to debrief Fellows and discuss their experiences.

Fellows may submit research papers based on the data sets to the annual From Field to Function research symposium planned for the following spring. Research topics and plans for publication of results must be pre-approved by FINCA International.

Funding: FINCA International does not provide funding for the Fellowship.  All expenses, including food, lodging and miscellaneous expenses, in-country and international travel, and expenses incurred during the training held in Washington, D.C. must be supplemented by the student’s place of study or through outside sponsorship. FINCA can provide letters of recommendation /statements of purpose as needed to help mobilize these funds. 

Locations: The following countries are scheduled to work with Fellows in 2012: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, El Salvador, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jordan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mexico, Nicaragua, Russia, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. While FINCA attempts to assign Fellows to their preferred countries, operational priorities may require Fellows to work in alternate locations.

Former Client Assessment Research Fellows have gone on to work with high level organizations, non-profits, and corporations both in the United States and abroad.

Ideal profile:

• Field experience, preferably in the country of interest;
• Professional experience or participation with Fulbright or similar scholarships, Peace Corps, EMDAP, or other volunteer activities;
• A graduate degree or at least 1 year of graduate level coursework (exceptions may be made for highly qualified undergraduate seniors and recent college graduates);
• A strong background in quantitative analysis, statistics and statistical software experience;
• Excellent writing and presentation skills;
• A high level of professional proficiency or fluency in the local language(s) is REQUIRED;
• Language capacity will be tested through a phone interview for countries that require a language other than English;
• Study/work experience in the microfinance, finance and/or development fields;
• Flexibility to work in varied environments;
• Teamwork skills and respect for cultural differences. 

Applications:  Please save your cover letter and resume to a single document, ordered respectively, according to the following naming convention: [Last name, First name]_Fellow_2011 (omit brackets). Only applications with a cover letter will be reviewed. Please indicate in the cover letter the countries of greatest interest and your plans for covering travel and living expenses.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis but must be received no later than March 15, 2012. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible to ensure ample time to raise the necessary funding.

FINCA International is an Equal Opportunity Employer.