Message-ID: <MAC.980128135818@Maine.edu> Date: Wed, 28 Jan 1998 13:58:18 EST From: "Dennis McConnell, Maine Business School" <mailto:mac@MAINE.MAINE.EDU> Subject: FMDAP MicroFinance Assignments for Graduate Students To: mailto:INTDEV-L@URIACC.URI.EDU
***************************************************************** The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Microenterprise Development (MD) is sponsoring an expansion of the Free Market Development Advisers Program. List members may want to bring this program to the attention of their U.S. gradu- ate students. Please note that foreign nationals enrolled in U.S. graduate programs are also eligible.The original FMDAP announcement was posted to the list recently. For those who have not seen that announcement, which provides more complete details about the FMDAP, I am attaching portions of that original announcement to this note.
It is my understanding that the February deadline applies to the opportunities outlined in the initial announcement, and the March deadline applies to the Microenterprise opportunities. Please direct inquiries to the contact noted in the announcement.
***************************************************************** MicroFinance Assignments Free Market Development Advisers Program ***************************************************************** The Institute of International Education (IIE) is pleased to announce an expansion of the Free Market Development Advisers Program (FMDA) by offering a unique opportunity for students interested in pursuing Microenterprise Development as a career or short-term job assignment. The USAID Office of Microenterprise Development will sponsor seven Microfinance assignments in devel- oping countries in the 1998-1999 FMDAP program cycle. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Eligible Candidates: ----------------------------------------------------------------- The positions will be filled by Advisers with strong financial analysis skills which can be applied to operating microfinance institutions in USAID-supported countries. Candidates will be selected from, but not limited to, first year MBA or Internation- al Management/Finance candidates (a limited number of second year students may also be selected).
In addition, graduate students in International Affairs, Interna- tional Studies and International Development programs will also be considered.
A limited number of assignments for developing-country foreign nationals will also be available. The applicants must be enrolled in U.S. accredited graduate schools. Foreign national applicants must have TOEFL score of 600 or equivalent. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Qualifications: ----------------------------------------------------------------- The program seeks applicants who want to work in emerging markets and broaden their professional perspective. Advisers should have background experience and familiarity in the following areas:
* Banking * Rural finance * Accounting
Applicants should have two to three years of management/finance experience, and have exceptional academic standing.
Additional skills include: previous work in a small- or microen- terprise; French and/or Spanish language; prior international work experience; good communication, leadership and training abilities. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Application Deadline: MARCH 13, 1998
FMDAP Program information and the application form can be found on our Web site at:
http://www.iie.org/pgms/fmdap ----------------------------------------------------------------- For more information, or to request application materials, please contact:
Susanna Calingaert, Program Officer Free Market Development Advisers Program Institute of International Education 1400 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20005-2403 Tel: (202) 326-7710 Fax: (202) 326-7698 E-mail: mailto:fmdap@iie.org Web: http://www.iie.org/pgms/fmdap ***************************************************************** ***************************************************************** ORIGINAL FMDAP ANNOUNCEMENT Free Market Development Advisers Program for MBA Students ***************************************************************** PROGRAM: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Institute of International Education (IIE) announce the 1998-99 competition for the Free Market Development Advisers Program (FMDAP)
The FMDAP is an opportunity for U.S. graduate business students to provide management assistance to small- and medium-sized enterprises and business-serving organizations in emerging market countries. The ten-month assignments enable graduate business students to gain invaluable international work experience as they contribute to USAID mission objectives abroad.
USAID funds the program and provides first-year graduate business students positions within host organizations at middle and upper managerial levels in such areas as:
* Financial Control * Information Systems * Personnel Management * Quality Control * Marketing
On completion of assignments, Advisers will return to their home universities and, under the guidance of their university mentors, write a case study. Case studies from all Advisers are then published in a case book that is used for teaching and curriculum development. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ELIGIBILITY: Applicants must be U.S. citizens currently enrolled in an accredited U.S. graduate business program. Each Adviser must return to complete business degree course work after the period abroad.
The applicant's U.S. academic institution must approve the ten- month leave between the first and second year of the business program, and endorse the candidacy of the applicant. ----------------------------------------------------------------- TO APPLY: Applicants are required to submit an application and an essay indicating their reasons for applying to the program and the contribution they would make in their work assignments. Applicants must also address the issue of cross-cultural situa- tions while working in a host country company and how the experi- ence will benefit their future professional plans. ----------------------------------------------------------------- SELECTION CRITERIA: Preference is given to applicants with:
* at least two to three years of previous management experience before entering a graduate business school program * academic achievement in coursework * foreign language competency (where applicable) * a commitment to the developing world * the maturity to work in a new, unsupervised situation ----------------------------------------------------------------- BENEFITS: Positions are for a ten-month period, including a mandatory two-week orientation in the U.S. prior to departing for the host country.
Allowances cover expenses for the Adviser only, including:
* travel and expenses for orientation in Washington, DC * cost of international travel * living expenses * health insurance * appropriate housing ----------------------------------------------------------------- FMDAP APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 16, 1998. ----------------------------------------------------------------- A national panel of graduate business school and private sector specialists will select candidates. Finalists will be notified of their acceptance by late April. *****************************************************************