Event Details
VV GROW Fellowship Program Overview
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 Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa to set and achieve business growth goals with a unique blend of online learning, in-person training, and tailored support services.
The application for the 2015-2016 VV GROW Fellowship Program will be open until Monday, March 30th.
VV GROW Fellows will gain knowledge and skills in the following topics:
- Planning for Growth
o Focusing on the process of business planning, this module guides Fellows to create well-informed business growth goals along with an action-oriented, detailed plan to achieve them.
- Leadership Training
o 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
o Equips fellows with the skills and knowledge to analyze, manage, and supervise the finances of their business.
- Networking for Business Professionals
o Guides fellows to promote their business and successfully utilize new connections.
- Understanding Your Market
o Guides fellows in identifying key market opportunities such as expanding existing markets and accessing new ones.
The one-year program timeline consists of 4 components:
- Selection: 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 Nicaragua, Uganda, and Jordan 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 it is applicable to women business owners and the business environments in which they operate.
Application Criteria
Confidentiality Statement
Applicants’ 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.
If selected for the program, please note that acceptance is NON-TRANSFERABLE. Successful applicants selected to participate in the program may not transfer their acceptance to another individual.
Who to Contact for Questions?
If the applicant encounters questions or problems with the application, please have them send an email to Samer Altaher at SamerAltaher@vitalvoices.org with the subject line: VV GROW Fellowship Application
How Can Applicants Apply?
Applicants can APPLY online at http://bit.ly/1ffl7UQ. Upon receipt of the application, the applicant will receive a confirmation email from Vital Voices.
Note: This application should take approximately one hour to complete. However, the applicant will be able to save their answers and return to the application at any time.
If you encounter questions or problems with the application, please send an email to Samer Altaher at SamerAltaher@vitalvoices.org with the subject line: VV GROW Fellowship Application
For more information by region, please feel free to contact Vital Voices at:
Africa: VVGROWAfrica@vitalnetwork.org
Latin America and the Caribbean: VVGROWLAC@vitalnetwork.org
Middle East and North Africa: VVGROWMENA@vitalnetwork.org
For VV Grow MENA 2015- Overview pdf Click Here
