INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIPS PROGRAM 2014
About Fundación Paraguaya Fundación Paraguaya is a self-sufficient, not-forprofit social enterprise, which since its foundation in 1985 has spearheaded microfinance and entrepreneurship in Paraguay. With more than 300 staff in 28 offices across the country, we develop and implement practical, innovative, and sustainable solutions to eliminate poverty, in order to create decent conditions for all families, through four interrelated strategies: i) A microcredit program which serves small and emerging micro-entrepreneurs who are largely ignored by other microfinance institutions; ii) A program of entrepreneurial and financial education for children and youth; iii) A program of financially self-sufficient agricultural high-schools which train the daughters of poor farmers to become rural entrepreneurs ; and sons and iv) TeachAManToFish, a separate NGO established in London to disseminate the Fundación s financially self-sufficient school model around the world. The educational model we propose undertakes a different path in the struggle to eradicate poverty. We work with poor rural communities to transform their youth into rural entrepreneurs. In addition to top quality education, self-sufficient productive business units which cover 1005 of the School s operating costs are incorporated. This model uses the Learn by Doing, Selling and Earning methodology, that is, it has a curriculum based on theory classes complemented by handson field practice. With this innovative approach we seek to make a difference and above all ensure that more youth at risk acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to begin their own rural enterprises, access a decent job in the agriculture/livestock sector or continue studying. Moreover, this school model
can be replicated anywhere in the world because it is like a social franchise that is based on entrepreneurship. We are using our microfinance program to eliminate the poverty that affects the families of our more than 57,000 clients, from rural and urban areas. 86% of them are women. To do this, we have developed a practical methodology which allows poor families to self-diagnose their own poverty as a first step in developing personalized strategies to left themselves out of poverty permanently. We call it the Poverty Stoplight approach to eliminate multidimensional poverty. This methodology makes poverty visible by dividing the concept into 6 dimensions and 50 indicators, so that a poor person can visualize the ways in which poverty affects their own family. As the name suggests, our tool uses stoplight colors: Red (for Extremely Poor), Yellow (for Poor), Green (for Not Poor), as well as photographs, maps, tablets, and a visual survey to create innovative maps that enable the poor to see and understand the ways in which they are poor. Working with Hewlett Packard (HP), we have developed a 20-minute visual survey that uses photos which simplifies gathering data on poor families while encouraging them to focus on the gaps they need to close. We compete in the microfinance industry, however, unlike other microfinance entities which only offer financial inclusion, our value proposition is like Aladin- to unleash the genie within each family by giving them the tools and motivation to overcome their poverty. We are not seeking to alleviate, reduce or combat poverty; we plan to eliminate it! This makes us different.
We measure our impact by the number of families which overcome poverty every year. For example, in the last 3 years, we have enabled 16,000 families to overcome poverty with respect to their level of income, but what we really want is microfinance institutions all over the world to adopt the Poverty Stoplight methodology. Only in Latin America there are more than 11 million clients of microfinance institutions. Therefore we are working to create awareness and understanding of this methodology so the microfinance institutions can adopt it and empower millions of families to overcome poverty all over the world. REQUIREMENTS Length of Internship: There is no minimum length to be considered for an internship, though it is desirable that applicants be available for at least a month. However, longer commitments are welcomed and encouraged. Background: Though no academic degree is required, applicants must have some basic knowledge on the topic of the internship selected. Language: Spanish proficiency required. Age: 20+ To Apply: Applicants must send a completed application form, which can be downloaded from our website, together with their resume and a photocopy of their passport or ID to the Internship Coordinator at internships@fundacionparaguaya.org.py. The Fundación will study the applications and individual skype calls with members of the Fundación will be organized with candidates considered for the next stage of the procedure. At the end of this process applicants will be informed whether their applications have been accepted. Insurance: Interns are required to have international health insurance that will cover them in Paraguay. Travel Plans: Interns must arrive in Paraguay on weekdays in order to organize their accommodation in the Intern House and their adequate integration at the Fundación.
Housing: The Fundación has an Intern House two blocks from the main office. The House is fully furnished, with all utilities, wi-fi, cable TV, barbeque and swimming pool. The interns that wish to stay at the House can do so at no additional cost. If the internship is done outside Asunción, housing will be at the house of a member of the Fundación. Interns are responsible for their own personal expenses (including food, personal travel, entertainment, and the cost of travel to and from Paraguay), which is between US$ 300 and US$ 500 per month. Cost: The internships have a cost of US$ 650 per month from March to October, and US$ 500 per month from November to February. Interns are required to pay the full internship fee prior to arrival by wire transfer. No refund will be made if interns leave the internship early. Additional Questions: Feel free to contact the Internship Coordinator at internships@fundacionparaguaya.org.py if you want further information on the program or have doubts about the application process.
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 1. Fundraising strategy via online projects Develop fundraising plans and strategies for online platforms like GlobalGiving, SoSense, and The Resource Foundation, where we have uploaded projects. The internship will involve visiting the Fundación offices, agricultural schools, and other programs in order to gather information about success stories for blogs and online platforms. 2. Financial inclusion for people with disabilities The intern will support the development of a policy and methodology for the financial inclusion of people with disabilities. In order to increase the number of clients with disabilities new materials promoting financial inclusion will be developed. The existing policies for financial inclusion will be reviewed taking into account the materials and recommendations of Handicap International. 3. Business plan for the Microfinance Program Interns will update the existing business plan to include the poverty elimination approach and a strategy, for the next three years, that will enable the Fundación to achieve the estimated growth stipulated in the Strategic Plan. Interns will have to familiarize themselves with all areas and departments of the institution while visiting the various offices outside Asunción, review the Microfinance Program products (individual and group loans, micro franchises, etc.), and methodologies. Research work on the sector s trends, main competitors, the country s growth and growth concentration trends, and government strategies will also be required. 4. To update the Board s Good Government policy As part of the internship, interns will review the current Good Government policy, its function, objectives, and goal definitions. Interns will have to make field trips to the various programs developed and run by the Fundación. 5. Development of an institutional control board Field visits to our offices and programs in and outside Asunción will be required; also our Strategic Plan and computer system will have to be studied in-depth.
6. Research on the main aspects of overdue portfolio Prepare a chart with the overdue portfolio highlighting the main aspects that lead to its payment; compare coincidences and differences against last year s. Review the overdue portfolio recovery per year of the last three years. Submit and end of internship report on conclusions and recommendations. 7. Fundación Paraguaya s clients satisfaction survey Prepare a survey to enable the Fundación to measure the level of client satisfaction for the three programs. Implement the survey using our computer system for which interns will have to work closely with our offices outside Asuncion (regular visits, phone calls). Prepare a consolidated report and a PowerPoint presentation to share with General Management. 8. Market research Identify the main competitors of the Microfinance industry in order to identify strengths and weaknesses of the program. Also identify opportunities for improvement in order to achieve the growth rate established in the Strategic Plan. Visits to our offices outside Asunción will be required as well as online research work. 9. Best Practices for managers, loan officers, and field trainers The main objective is to prepare a report summarizing best practices of our successful managers, loan officers and field trainers, have them systematized and replicated in other offices. Therefore, interns, as a first step, will have to identify successful staff using financial and non financial criteria; this will entail shadowing managers, loan officers, and field trainers, in order to register their practices. 10. Complains and suggestions mailbox Establish a dynamic complains and suggestions system which enables the Fundación to have a direct contact with its clients, process the information, and take advantage/incorporate what may be important. Weaknesses of the current system will be reviewed and a new system using cell phones will be proposed. At the end of the internships a PowerPoint presentation will be shared with the managers. 11. Development of a Communications Strategy Plan Field trips to the various programs and offices will be required, as well as an in-depth study of the current strategy plan in order to define communications goals and objectives, and design a new format for the Fundación Newsletter. Planning tools like the OPPM (One Page Project Manager) will be used. 12. Assistant coordinator for youth programs Interaction with students of public Secondary School will be essential in order to teach economic and financial education based on the Junior Achievement model The Company. Interns will have to
assist at all times the Fundación staff either with teaching and monitoring the programs. Travelling to distant rural and urban areas of the country will also be required. 13. Assistant to video project Audio/Video recording of activities within the Entrepreneurial Education Program. Extensive travelling within Paraguay will be required. 14. Assistant to Basic Education program Assist local staff to coordinate and monitor basic education programs in public schools of the Central Department. Interns will visit the schools and will interact with Principals and Faculty. 15. Program Impact measurement Familiarise with the impact measurement tools currently in use and design and propose alternative tools if necessary. Train staff in the impact measurement tool. 16. Youth Business International (YBI) program mentors Interns must be able to train and advice micro entrepreneurs who are clients of the Microfinance Program, on how to start up and improve their businesses. 17. Social Networks We need experts in social networks to help us measure the success of our work and the impact it has on target groups. 18. Design new microfranchises according to regional context As part of the internship, interns will prepare surveys, gather information, visit our offices outside of Asunción and make a market research of the area of influence for each office visited. 19. Work on the e-learning course How to create a self-sufficient school for entrepreneurs In order to improve the e-learning course and make it more dynamic, interns will have to evaluate the course and the mentorship program Scaling up the self-sufficient school. Therefore regular visits to the San Francisco Agricultural School will be required in order to make suggestions and prepare a plan of action.
20. Design audio/visual materials for the Agricultural School Program The internship entails the design of audio/visual material in Spanish and English, and the follow up of the editing and printing processes. Regular visits to the three Agricultural Schools will be required in order to take photographs and gather relevant information. Fundación Paraguaya International Internship Program E-mail: internships@fundacionparaguaya.org.py Telephone: +595 (0)21 609 277 www.fundacionparaguaya.org.py Credits Photographs: Sarah Stern and Adrienne White