Rural Microfinance Program Assistant

  Paraguay

• Other Cities in Paraguay: 
Asuncion

Term: Summer 
Dates: June 5-August 31 (may be flexible)

Description: The Rural BID program is a rural microfinance program which provides both agricultural and financial/administrative technical assistance, as well as credit. The Rural Microfinance Program Assistant's main purpose is twofold: 1. to assist groups of small farmers participating in the project in organizing themselves financially and administratively, and 2. to report regularly to the project director on the progress of agricultural technical assistance being provided by partner groups.

Tasks include: assisting training sessions on financial and administrative topics given by FP staff, meeting with and providing support and guidance to participating groups and individuals as they implement these topics, accompanying providers of agricultural technical assistance when they visit participants, supporting providers of health/education/hygiene information, writing weekly reports on the progress of partner groups' work, traveling to Asunción occasionally to meet with project director.

Qualifications: Qualities sought include: strong interest in rural microfinance, desire to experience life in rural Paraguay, adventurousness and enthusiasm for new experiences, open-mindedness, adaptability and creativity, self-motivation and self-direction, university courses in economics, accounting and/or business administration preferred, though not required, good team worker, good communication skills, strong command of Spanish, desire to learn Guarani (indigenous language spoken in much of rural Paraguay)

Interns must be available for a minimum of 8 weeks, but preference may be given to those able to stay longer. Start and end dates may be somewhat flexible.

Cost in US$: $350/month

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Paraguay Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Resume
• Written Application

Fundacion Paraguaya's Mission Statement: Fundacion Paraguaya promotes entrepreneurship, empowering the poor to create new jobs and increase family income. Fundacion Paraguaya runs three main interrelated programs: a microfinance program, an economic education program for children and young people (Junior Achievement) and a self-sufficient agricultural high school.

Year Founded: 1985