Job Summary:
The Coordinator, Council of Microfinance Organization CEOs will provide staffing and coordination to assist the newly formed Council of CEOs of microfinance organizations to launch its activities. S/he will provide oversight and quality control, and will be personally engaged to support Council work when needed. On a day to day basis, the coordinator will be guided by the Co-Chairs of the CEO’s Council, Mary Ellen Iskenderian of Women’s World Banking and Rupert Scofield of FINCA. The coordinator will be able to call on the CFI’s administrative and communications staff for support on specific tasks. Member organizations may also contribute specific support from time to time, for example, on communications.

The Council of CEOs is an informal group consisting of the CEOs of organizations that promote microfinance around the world.  Its purpose is to enable the microfinance industry to evolve in a positive way so that it can achieve its full potential of bringing financial and other services to those who have traditionally been excluded, and thereby to address the global problem of poverty.

The group began in early 2011 and meets monthly. Its agenda is both industry-facing, working with participants in the microfinance industry (especially the Council members’ own organizations and affiliates), and outward-facing, addressing those who support, influence and set the environment for  the  industry.  While the impetus for the formation of the Council was the crisis in microfinance in Andhra Pradesh, India and other related challenges, the Council will take a positive, forward-looking approach to its work.  Organizations participating in the Council to date are: ACCION International, FINCA, Freedom from Hunger, Grameen Foundation, Mercy Corps, Opportunity International, ProMujer, World Vision, and Womens World Banking. The Council was convened by the Deutsche Bank Foundation, which continues to play a leading role.

Key Areas of Responsibility:
Council Operations

• Ensure that the Council operates smoothly;
• This involves coordinating monthly meetings and regular communications;
• Organize the logistics of the meetings and support the Co-Chairs to develop meeting agendas;
• Ensure information flow among members regarding major developments in the industry; and
• Assist the Council to secure funding for its work.

Industry Initiatives
The Council has determined that its first major focus will be to support three leading social performance initiatives in the industry: the Social Performance Task Force, the Smart Campaign and Microfinance Transparency.

The coordinator will work with the Council to:

• Communicate widely throughout the industry the support of the Council and its member organizations for the three initiatives;
• Facilitate the full adoption of the three initiatives within Council organizations;
• Organize feedback from the Council member organizations to the initiatives;
• Promote cooperation and integration among the three initiatives so that they can be seen as different facets of a united effort; and
• Work similarly with other social performance initiatives as directed.

External Communications
Assist the Council in designing and carrying out communications strategies to reach major media. This may include working with a public relations firm to plan and implement a communication strategy.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Bachelor degree and 5-7 years of work experience with 1-3 years in the financial sector, microfinance, or development finance.
• Excellent computer skills: Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook required and Raiser’s Edge experience preferred.
• Strong writing skills, attention to detail and follow-through required.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask.
• High-level of initiative and motivation.
• Solid organizational skills to include the ability to work productively in a fast-paced environment and the ability to manage a multi-faceted workload under strict deadlines.
• Flexible work attitude to include the ability to work productively in a team environment & independently, and the willingness to meet unexpected demands.

Duration:
The CEO’s Council is planning to identify an Executive Director as a permanent staff to the group.  The Coordinator will serve during an interim period of six to nine months, after which it is expected that the Executive Director will have been found.  The role of the coordinator will be re-evaluated at that time.

About The Center for Financial Inclusion at ACCION International:
The Center for Financial Inclusion at ACCION is an industry-building initiative pursuing the proposition that low-income people deserve high-quality financial services, and that these services can best be provided through commercial models incorporating social purpose.  The Center works on behalf of the microfinance industry as a whole, serves as a bridge to leverage private sector interest in microfinance, and seeks to bring the best minds and expertise to bear on industry challenges.  Through the Smart Campaign, the Council of Microfinance Equity Funds and other activities, the Center works collaboratively with key players inside microfinance and in the broader financial inclusion community.

About ACCION:
ACCION International is a private, nonprofit organization with the mission of giving people the financial tools they need—microenterprise loans, business training and other financial services—to help work their way out of poverty. A world pioneer in microfinance, ACCION was founded in 1961 and issued its first microloan in 1973 in Brazil. Over time, ACCION has helped build 62 microfinance institutions in 31 countries on four continents. Those institutions are currently reaching millions of clients. In the United States, the U.S. ACCION Network is the largest microfinance lending network in the country and has served tens of thousands of clients with over $275 million in loans since the inception of its pilot program in 1991.

Source: Devex

Here’s a good article by Forbes that interviews Mary Ellen Iskenderian , the CEO of Women’s World Banking, about the future of microfinance:

The microfinance industry has been through a lot in recent times. From the suicides of over-indebted clients in Andhra Pradesh, India, to in-fighting over the future direction of the industry, microfinance as an idea and a practice is at a turning point, suggesting an end of one era and the beginning of something new. Here to make sense of it all and set the record straight is Mary Ellen Iskenderian, president and CEO of Women’s World Banking (WWB), the world’s largest network of microfinance institutions.

Under her guidance, more than 39 institutions worldwide are working to develop credit, savings and insurance products to support the needs of women. The WWB network works with 26 million clients, 80% of which are women. They’ve disbursed over $7 billion in loans and currently hold $3.5 billion in savings. WWB has also helped establish training programs to ensure the success of the next generation of industry leaders. As WWB’s president, Iskenderian advocates for women’s representation in the microfinance industry – from boardroom and leadership positions to their stake as clients.

We sat down recently to discuss the state of microfinance and the future direction of the industry.

Why did you decide to get involved in microfinance?

I made the transition from a Wall Street career to a development career many years ago. I first went to the International Finance Corporation, which is the private-sector arm of the World Bank. I started there just as the Berlin Wall came down, and having Wall Street skills was important to those countries in Eastern Europe. I worked for about 10 years setting up stock exchanges, securities and exchange commissions and microfinance institutions (MFIs). That was the first time I saw MFIs being established, and it really gave people a sense of hope and an opportunity to put food on the table. Read More

Events Coordinator
Opportunity Type: Job
MicroFinance Transparency
Kenya, United States

About the Organization:
MicroFinance Transparency (MFT) is a young non-profit organization (501c3) that promotes fair and transparent pricing in the microfinance industry. Its desire is to be the venue for the microfinance industry to publicly demonstrate its commitment to pricing transparency, integrity and poverty alleviation. MFT’s vision is to have an industry operating with healthy free market conditions where consumers and other stakeholders can make informed decisions.

About the Job:
MFTransparency is seeking a full-time Event Coordinator to organize an important event in Kenya. The Coordinator will report to the Vice President for Global Programs and will be responsible for logistics, event management and other related duties. The individual will be expected to work independently from a home office, and to interact with team members in both the US and in other countries. The location of the position is flexible.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for organizing event venue, vendor contracts, participant accommodation and transportation, and other logistical components of main event;
• Liaises with MFTransparency team, event Steering Committee, and other partners on the development of media, marketing materials, announcements, photo opportunities and speech writing;
• Responds to enquiries from the public about events, including assisting with media requests;
• Monitors event registration and manages guest participation in database tracking system Manages event sponsorship and sponsor relationships;
• Supports the development of event materials and resources, in collaboration with the MFTransparency team and event Steering Committee;
• Point-person during event for all logistics and event management issues: coordinates guest lists, food service arrangements, menu planning, decorative and table set up, nametags and staffing;
• Coordinates the development of event follow-up materials and communications;
• Creates, prepares, and distributes meeting minutes and supporting documents.

Qualifications:

• At least 3–5 years relevant experience in event planning, logistics management and organizational administration;
• Experience working in Kenya is a bonus;
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to work well independently on several projects concurrently;
• Project Management, organizational and prioritizing skills; problem solving and organizational skills; attention to detail is imperative;
• Proven track record in developing and implementing promotion plans;
• Experience in planning and implementing events including expertise in attracting sponsorships;
• Ability to take the initiative to get tasks done on deadline;
• Excellent written and oral interpersonal communication with marketing and communications skills; media relations experience is an asset;
• Able to communicate effectively with remotely-based staff;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (especially Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and Word). Experience with iGoogle applications (especially Google Calendar) and Skype preferred. Experience with virtual filing systems, such as Dropbox, preferred.

Source: Microfinance Gateway

The Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) invites you to join them in East Africa, South Asia, or Latin America this fall to experience a different kind of travel—one that will bring you lifelong friendships, connect you with a powerful international network, and forever challenge the way you see the world and what’s possible.

Each program is highly immersive, bringing participants on-site to collaborate with local stakeholders. Rather than work on aid-based, short-term projects, FSD’s training programs promote collaboration with communities to enhance the capacity of individuals and organizations to address local health, social, environmental, and economic issues. With ongoing support from FSD’s in-country staff, all programs include: orientation, family homestay, language and grassroots development trainings, hands-on project development experience, debriefing sessions, cultural activities, and access to FSD’s Alumni Connect program, which introduces you to future job and academic opportunities.

Watch the story of Justin Loiseau, a student who spent his time off with FSD in Uganda to help start a bicycle business

I’m in Saint Thomas in the US Virgin Islands for the next month or so – and of course you know I’m a microfinance fan. Wherever I travel, I’m always on the lookout for fellow microfinance advocates; this trip is certainly no different.

If you know anyone with an interest in microfinance I should speak with in Saint Thomas, please do let me know. I’d love to volunteer a bit for a microfinance organization if one exists here (I haven’t found one online yet).

The MicroLoan Foundation
Chief Operating Officer – Africa
West London
A real chance to change lives

The MicroLoan Foundation, a UK microfinance charity, offers training, mentoring, support and small loans to poor women in rural Africa, to start and develop businesses. They use their profits to feed, clothe, educate and pay for medical bills for their dependents and children. 99% of loans are repaid in full.

Starting in 2002, we now have a country wide operation in Malawi which we are replicating in Zambia and elsewhere in sub Saharan Africa, with a total  head-count of 170 +. The charity is driven by delivering real social impact, whilst respecting the basic principles of running a sound business.

The role of the COO will be to’ mastermind’ and control the delivery of the operational plan and ‘social mission’ in line with the agreed strategy.
Key components are strategic development, developing and implementing the operational budgets, improving the performance of the African operations (sales force management, training, IT, HR, social impact etc), local fundraising and attending local board meetings.

The COO reports to the UK CEO, is a key member of the UK Management team, will be present at Board meetings and also manages a small HQ team. The CEO’s of the Africa are direct reports. The ideal candidate could come from a FMCG, Finance, or NGO background, and with an operational focus but must be able to combine an entrepreneurial spirit, financial numeracy and an ability to drive and manage change. An understanding of and commitment to our social mission is essential.

The charity is poised for significant growth and this position offers significant potential for career and personal development. Salary will not be an issue for exceptional candidates.

To apply for this role please submit your CV and tailored supporting statement to rebecca.green@prospect-us.co.uk. You can download the full application pack via the ‘job specification’ link below.

Close date:  Thursday 30th June

Source: Third Sector Jobs

The CGAP 2010 Microfinance Photography Contest has announced the winners.  The CGAP contest is a greatly yearly event that inspires artists, volunteers, lenders, etc to capture Microfinance through the lens of a camera.  This years winners include:

Read more details over at CGAP

ACCION International (“ACCION”) is a well-known, nonprofit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, whose mission is to provide the financial tools to help people work their way out of poverty. Those tools include microenterprise loans, business training and other financial services. Founded in 1961, ACCION is considered one of the world leaders in microfinance, and has partner institutions in the United States and 23 countries in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Since 1973, ACCION has helped to start or improve operations of 62 institutions in 31 countries on 4 continents, disbursing more than 36 million loans totaling $31.8 billion, which together serve millions of poor clients.

In order to continue to build and expand their programs, ACCION is looking to increase their funding levels from private and corporate donors. Currently, ACCION’s $37 million budget is supported by government funding, foundations and corporations, special events and major donors, with approximately 50% of this amount raised by the Resource Development team. ACCION has restructured its resource development department with a view to maximizing business development opportunities, and has created a new senior level position, reporting to the Chief Development Officer. This new leader will oversee program management, staff performance and budget, and will also participate in the creation of a fundraising strategy and setting priorities to secure revenue for the organization.

The Position:
ACCION is seeking a creative and accomplished fundraising professional to become the Director of Development, Resource Development Division (“DoD”). Based in Boston, the DoD will provide leadership and management to the 17 person (with 6 direct reports) fundraising team, overseeing a broad array of development initiatives including, but not limited to: donor management; cultivation and major gift solicitation; creating and implementing fundraising goals and strategies; overseeing all development-related events; cultivation of corporate and foundation gifts; and expanding web-based individual giving.

The DoD must be highly intelligent, a leader and a self-starter who shares the Board’s vision of the opportunity and commitment to ACCION’s core mission. He or she will be a proven manager who can demonstrate significant accomplishments and past successes in fundraising. Strong organizational skills are imperative to keep the Resource Development team running smoothly. The DoD must be highly energetic, strategic, hardworking, and a ‘roll up your sleeves’ kind of person who will carry out and expand ACCION’s fundraising strategy. In addition, he or she must be able to respond to matters quickly and effectively. Excellent negotiation and communication skills are critical. He or she must be able to work closely with senior management and staff to promote an open, inclusive environment that emphasizes cooperation and teamwork with minimum ego. The DoD will also be polished, diplomatic, of the highest integrity, and possess sound judgment as well as a sense of humor.

Specific Responsibilities:
Fundraising

• Develop fundraising strategies in collaboration with the Chief Development Officer setting priorities, goals and budgets.
• Work creatively and collaboratively with program staff and others to develop targeted appeals and proposals to potential funders.
• Ensure that all fundraising events and initiatives are in alignment with the organizations strategic objectives.

Financial Planning and Budget Management

• Recommend, prepare and implement the budget, including revenue and expenses.
• Oversee internal control systems used to monitor expenses and develop statistical information for budget projections and revisions.

Staff Leadership

• Lead and manage the Resource Development team of 17 on day to day operational issues.
• Collaborate with Departmental Directors and key staff in analyzing and recommending appropriate plans for recruitment.
• Mentor and motivate staff

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; a relevant Master’s degree strongly preferred.
• At least 12 years of management experience including the ability to motivate, lead, set objectives and manage performance of senior fundraisers.
• Experience in financial and administrative operations for a complex organization.
• Extensive knowledge in non-profit fundraising, preferably in a highly complex environment within a nonprofit or financial institution.
• Superior relationship building skills and ability to work directly with senior management, high wealth donors and corporate executives.
• Knowledge of current trends in charitable giving, particularly in capital campaigns, major gifts and planned giving.
• Ability to negotiate and build consensus. Create and monitor development systems as well as analyze data and create reports to communicate trends and performance.
• Excellent verbal communication skills with impeccable writing skills to work effectively in a dynamic organizational environment.
• Strong diplomatic skills and high comfort level needed to work effectively with the President, Chairman and board to bring the organization to its next level of fundraising excellence.

To Apply:
ACCION has retained the services of Harris Rand Lusk to conduct this search and is an equal opportunity employer. Inquiries, nominations, and applications may be directed in confidence to:
Jack Lusk, Managing Partner /
Sue Waterbury, Senior Director
Harris Rand Lusk
261 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10016
swaterbury@harrisrand.

Source: SimplyHired

In this multimedia event, panelists will discuss how technology is revolutionizing the microfinance industry and the field of economic development. The panel will be composed of academics and representatives from three microfinance organizations: Wokai, a web-based platform for funding Chineses entrepreneurs; ACCION, a network of microfinance institutions (MFIs); and Rekan Usaha Mikro Anda (RUMA), an Indonesian organization that supports microentrepreneurs. There will also be a video presentation on Mifos, a financial institution software initiative of the US-based Grameen Foundation.

Name: Technology and Microfinance Colloquium
Date: June 23, 2011
Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Location: The Microsoft NERD Center, Horace Mann Room, One Memorial Drive, Suite 100, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Website: http://www.bostonmfclub.com/calendar
Cost: The fee to attend is USD 10 with a USD 5 discount for individuals donating used cell phones to Chiapas International’s Recycle to Eradicate Poverty program. No prior registration is required.

Background on Organizer: Founded in 2011 in the US state of Massachusetts, the Boston Microfinance Club (BMC) provides a forum for microfinance professionals and enthusiasts to connect with one another, share experiences and debate issues in the global microfinance industry.

Source: MicroCapital.org

Organization Description:
The MIX is a nonprofit organization providing data products and information services to actors in the microfinance space, including fund managers, NGOs, networks, researchers, and retail MFIs (microfinance institutions). To maximize the scope and range of MIX’s feature set, MIX is complementing its free information products with premium services for institutional clients that provide value-added analytical capabilities, data sets, and intelligence on microfinance markets. As we undertake this process of transforming our business model, we seek a Customer Success Agent to join our rapidly growing team.

Job Description:
As a Customer Success Agent, you will be responsible for rapid and efficient onboarding of new customer accounts around the world, driving broad and deep user adoption of Premium features by users at institutional clients, articulating the value of the features, and inspiring users about the future of microfinance analytical tools. You’ll have the opportunity to work with executives at some of the leading global microfinance brands. And because customer renewals are achieved by driving high adoption your ability to fulfill a trusted advisor role with customers, display knowledge of multiple product capabilities, and draw on strong account management expertise will be critical.

Responsibilities include:

• Support onboarding of new enterprise clients, including
• Basic account set-up and management
• Driving adoption and service utilization across their customer base
• Partnering with technology team and others to ensure seamless access to all MIX features
• Build and maintain strong relationships with multiple contacts within assigned customers, in partnership with the product and sales leads
• Serve as an escalation point for any issues that impact a customer’s success in capturing the full value of the MIX premium feature set
• Serve as a customer advocate in driving best practices and the evolution of MIX product and platform functionality integral to the customer’s success
• Prepare MIX to systematically maximize customer use of the product, whether through FAQ and product demos or other means
• Build strong cross-functional relationships inside of MIX to ensure strong customer service levels across the organization
• Develop and evolve customer support systems and processes to support MIX in its customer engagement goals

Desired Qualifications:

• The selected candidate will show the following skills/attributes:
• Stellar at both client service and complex analysis. You balance soft skills like grace and empathy with strong analytical chops and a passion for data-driven solutions. You will help produce account summaries for our clients, explaining new products and suggesting campaign improvements.
• Hyper-organized and take great pleasure in inventing repeatable processes that don’t break (and improve) over time. You will create updates, developing great relationships with our early clients and helping to enhance MIX’ reputation as a top-tier service organization. You will take pride in improving customer satisfaction rates over your first few months.
• Analytically minded and scrappy. You take pleasure in designing tests to prove out your hypotheses. You will be fluent in our users’ data and will have trouble sleeping if something seems awry. Your nose for teasing out causality will help you get to the bottom of tricky issues.
• Empathic and proactive about soliciting product goals from our clients. You excel at organizing and communicating their needs to our technical product development team.
• Naturally talented at customer service. You will help us recruit and train superior customer success managers over time to amplify our reputation as a great service-oriented vendor. You are relentless in your pursuit of solutions to users’ technical problems and needs.
• Exemplary communication skills. Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Native level multi-lingual capabilities and international work/education experience are a real plus.
• Experience with a consultative SaaS/DaaS model – You understand the ways customers use information services and particualry Saas/DaaS models. BA/BS required.

How to Apply:
Qualified candidates should e-mail a cover letter and résumé to hr@themix.org and mention “Customer Success” in the subject line. The position is located in Washington, DC. MIX is looking for the Lead to start by early July 2011.

Application Deadline:
07/10/2011

Source: Global Impact Investing Network