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Kiva

Kiva

Now hiring

Kiva is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to entrepreneurs around the globe.

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Kiva Fellows Program

Put your skills to work in support of global microfinance and gain incredible international experience

  • worldwide, United States
  • Opportunity has expired
  • Exotic Location
  • Social Impact
  • Mid Level
  • Social Good
ABOUT
Job Description:

Kiva, the “hottest non-profit on the planet” according to FORTUNE magazine, is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website. Kiva's microfinance institution (MFI) field partners are in over 60 countries (including the United States) and post thousands of loans to Kiva.org every month so that individual lenders around the world can help fund microfinance entrepreneurs.

Whether based internationally or in the US, Kiva Fellows have a unique opportunity to witness the realities of microfinance firsthand by working directly with a Kiva field partner for 16 week, extendable placements. Shorter summer placements are available for students in this class cycle. Kiva Fellowships are unpaid, volunteer-based positions designed to increase Kiva's global impact, offer participants a unique insider experience into the microfinance industry, and provide a career opportunity of a lifetime.

Kiva Fellows are integral to the organization, acting as our eyes and ears on the ground and helping to extend limited resources to maximum effect. Kiva Fellows fulfill a core set of deliverables laid out in a workplan that is defined by Kiva along with the host field partner.


Core Responsibilities

Work closely with local staff to maximize the host MFI’s partnership with Kiva

  • Transfer skills to MFI staff on Kiva processes, policies and best practices
  • Observe, learn, and document the MFI's operations and its use of the Kiva platform, making recommendations as appropriate
  • Assist the host MFI to regularly collect and post borrower profiles for funding onto the Kiva website

Facilitate connections between Kiva borrowers and lenders
  • Interview Kiva borrowers to assess loan impact, verify data, and gather information for journal updates
  • Develop innovative ways to connect lenders with borrowers through creative journaling, photographs, video, and other means
  • Write a blog entry every two weeks on the Kiva Fellows Blog (www.fellowsblog.kiva.org)

Support Kiva’s product, marketing and organizational development
  • Provide updates and feedback through field reports and a final End-of-Fellowship report
  • Utilize individual skill sets to complete special projects for Kiva as appropriate


Desired Skills/Experience

Successful Kiva Fellows tend to share certain skills and characteristics:

  • Overseas experience, preferably in developing countries (not required for placements within the United States)
  • High degree of flexibility, self-motivation and problem solving abilities
  • Ability to adapt to new cultures and be flexible in new, challenging environments
  • Backgrounds in economics, finance, consulting and/or international development
  • Familiarity and comfort with various web applications
  • Dedication to working in the field with a microfinance institution
  • Ability and commitment to fund the experience
  • Minimum 4-month commitment (shorter placements available for students in this cycle)
  • Enthusiasm for Kiva!

Fluency or advanced communication ability in Arabic, French, Khmer, Mongolian, Pashto, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog/Cebuano, Turkish and Vietnamese are highly preferred or required for many positions.  English-only speakers are encouraged to apply to our diverse Anglophone portfolio.  


Where Fellows Serve

Kiva currently has active partnerships with over 153 microfinance institutions in over 60 countries, including the United States. Fellowship placements may occur at any of these locations, but availability is dependent upon partner need and the ability of a Fellow to successfully complete assigned tasks.  As such, individuals that express high degrees of geographic flexibility are more likely to be selected for a placement.

Additional Benefits

All individuals who successfully complete their Fellowships are highly valued members of the Kiva family and will join the dynamic network of 450+ Kiva Fellow Alumni. Kiva Fellowships are extremely selective and demonstrative of the highest caliber candidates, who are becoming industry leaders around the world.