VV Grow Fellowship Programme
Dear Scholar,
I hope this finds you well.
Vital Voices(VV) Global Partnership is thrilled to invite you and/or businesswomen leaders you
know to apply for the 2014-15 VV GROW Fellowship Programme! 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 Programme, a one-year competitive programme to
support growth-oriented women business owners to take their businesses and leadership
to the next level. The programme 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.
Vital Voices is seeking applications from women business owners from Sub-Saharan Africa,
Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa, who:
 Own a businesses that has been in operation for at least 3 years,
 Employ at least 3 staff (including temporary and/or seasonal workers), and
 Generate at least USD $40,000 in annual sales
Vital Voices GROW Fellows will gain knowledge and skills in the following topics:
Business Planning: Guides fellows in validating their business growth goals
and developing a plan to achieve those goals. By the end of the workshop,
participants will have an actionable 3-5 year plan for business growth.
o
Leadership Training: Utilizes the Vital Voices Leadership Model to instill
methods of building leadership skills to positively impact their business,
employees and wider community.
o
Executive Financial Management: Equips fellows with the skills and
knowledge to analyze, manage, and supervise the finances of their business.
o
Networking for Business Professionals: Guides fellows to create their
personal brand and “elevator pitch” to promote their business and successfully
utilize new connections.
o
Understanding Your Market: Guides fellows in identifying key market
opportunities such as expanding existing markets and accessing new ones.
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The one-year programme timeline consists of 4 components:
1. A business needs assessment
2. Online preparatory sessions with Harvard Manage Mentor and Vital Voices
advisors before the training, that guide fellows in drafting a business plan that
they will refine throughout the training
3. An in-person regional training
4. An opportunity to access follow-on services such as technical advising, webinars
featuring technical experts, business to business opportunities, mentors, and
small grants
Implemented at the regional level, the programme is localized to ensure that it is applicable to
women business owners and the business environments in which they operate.
Applicants can APPLY online at http://bit.ly/1ffl7UQ. Upon receipt of the application, the
applicant will receive a confirmation email from Vital Voices. Applications are due by Sunday,
March 2, 2014. Late applications will be NOT be considered.
For more information, by region, please email: VVGROWAfrica@vitalnetwork.org