Financial and Client Education Research Intern

VisionFund's work seeks to end intergenerational poverty through financial products and services. We're about the long-term change that ensures children can break free of the poverty cycle, for good.

By supporting people and communities living in poverty to develop and grow their livelihoods, VisionFund is catalysing sustainable economic growth to break the cycle of poverty, so that children can reach their potential as communities thrive.

Learn more about us: visionfund.org

Financial and Client Education Research Intern

Remote within the US

World Vision Internships offer a three-month opportunity for talented students and recent graduates eager to dive into the international relief and development field. We’re dedicated to giving you a meaningful learning experience, where you’ll grow, gain valuable skills, and connect with other passionate professionals who share our mission.

Internship Opportunity

VisionFund International (VFI) is the microfinance arm of World Vision, dedicated to providing credit, insurance, and savings services to underserved communities worldwide.  The Business Optimization Unit ( BOU), is a new part of VFI's organizational structure born out of the want to support the innovation, scale, and growth of VFI.

Join us and serve the needs of the Microfinance Institutions Network to leverage the learning, knowledge, and experience of VFI and team to assist MFIs to scale, grow, and achieve strong Return On Equity targets quicker. The BOU can provide more breadth, depth,h and time to activities related to project management, training on technical skills for the field, business and digital optimization credit and savings product development, and institutional development and response activities.

What You'll Do:

Determine current capabilities of VFI and MFIs, staff, and current tools/applications offered by MFIs:

• Review Global Center and Global Center Library education tools, programs, and examples.

• Assess MFI efforts or approaches to financial education.

• Create a centralized library for all gathered resources.

Determine talent and capacity in VFI GC and MFIs based on the materials gathered above:

• Identify individuals who have developed materials, tools, etc., in VFI/MFI.

• Determine if they are full-time or part-time and their areas of experience/skills to build a roster.

• Conduct interviews to gather experiences with development and implementation, and create a best practices/lessons learned list.

• Assess the potential for developing a community of practice based on interviewee interest.

Determine client education industry best practices:

• Review industry best practice materials and education materials to identify:

  • Financial education approaches.

  • Other key education approaches.

  • Climate education approaches.

• Build a roster of technical experts and potential collaborators in the industry.

• Find and add relevant libraries to the VF library.

• Outline the design cycle from development to rollout, including multi-language and measurement approaches.

• Create a best practices/lessons learned list and documentation to guide the creation of materials.

Develop potential funding mapping:

• Identify VFI's competitive advantage.

• Determine potential funders and opportunities to explore.

• Outline requirements for developing proposals.

Why Join Us:

• Develop Knowledge & Methods: Work on creating and refining knowledge and methods that can be shared across Microfinance Institutions (MFIs).

• Explore Business Development Opportunities: Get involved in identifying and exploring business development opportunities that drive growth and innovation.

• Hands-on Experience: Gain practical experience in knowledge management and business development, with a direct impact on organizational strategies.

• Expand Your Horizons: Explore the international relief sector, unleash your leadership skills, and strengthen your Christian faith with Weekly Professional Development Sessions.

• Transform Lives: Take on challenging and meaningful work assignments while developing your technical skills and gaining valuable hands-on experience.

• Join an Inspiring Community: Form connections with a diverse nationwide intern cohort and colleagues who, inspired by their Christian faith, support children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places.

What You’ll Bring:

• Research: Ability to conduct thorough research, analyze data, and provide insights to support decision-making processes.

• Knowledge Management: Contribute to organizing and managing valuable information and resources to ensure easy access and efficient sharing across teams.

• Fund Mapping: Assist in identifying and mapping potential funding opportunities, partners, and resources aligned with organizational goals.

• Communication Across Different Levels of Network: Effectively communicate with various stakeholders, both internal and external, maintaining professionalism and clarity at all levels of interaction.

• Time Management: Effective in managing time, prioritizing tasks, and communicating progress to ensure timely completion of projects.

• Responsibility and Enthusiasm: You are responsible, responsive, and enthusiastic about using your God-given talents to positively impact the world.

• Commitment to our Mission: You have a demonstrated commitment to and alignment with the goals, mission, and vision of World Vision, embodying its values in all aspects of your work.

What You Need to Know:

Details

• Location: Remote within the US. You must be physically located in one of the following states where WVI is registered as an employer: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia (Washington D.C.), Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

• Appropriate Fields of Study/Majors: Research, development studies, communication, or related fields.

• Internship Cohort Dates: 27 May – 22 August. 

• Stipend: this internship is unpaid, but all US-based interns receive a monthly stipend of $800.

• Hours: Full-time and part-time opportunities are available (24-40 hours/week)

Eligibility

All candidates must meet the following requirements:

• At least 18 years of age.

• Eligible to work in the United States (US Citizen/resident or F1-student visa) and have a valid US Social Security Number.

• Able to commit to at least 24 hours per week for the entire internship period: 27 May – 22 August. 

• Current student or recent graduate from an undergraduate/graduate programme (within 2 years).

• Adhere to World Vision International’s Christian Statement of Faith.

• Willingness to use own electronic devices for internship purposes, and disposition to let WVI install endpoint security software in those devices.

Applicant Types Accepted: