Apply to be a Kiva Fellow before May 13

April 26, 2012

By: Brigitte Bradford

Recent Kiva Fellows class, currently in the field.

Since 2007, Kiva has offered over 400 individuals the rare opportunity to witness the power of microfinance firsthand through the Kiva Fellows Program. Applicants chosen for the program serve as Kiva’s global eyes and ears, working directly with our microfinance institution (MFI) Field Partners in over 60 countries worldwide.

There's still time to apply to be part of our 19th class of Kiva Fellows! Applications must be submitted by May 13, and we encourage you to get started today. Selected fellows will train at Kiva HQ in San Francisco September 10-14 before heading into the field for four months.

Fellows play several vital roles for Kiva. They expand our impact by building key relationships and sharing knowledge with our Field Partners. They help us develop sustainable practices by improving current partner processes. And they connect Kiva lenders even closer to borrowers by sharing their experiences, insights, pictures and stories from the field on the Fellows Blog. In short, they fuel Kiva's mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty.

If you take a few minutes to look over the bios of past Kiva Fellows, you’ll notice something -- there’s no such thing as a typical Kiva Fellow. Over the years, MBAs, filmmakers, professionals transitioning careers, lawyers, public policy researchers, consultants, financial planners, firefighters, engineers, and former U.S. soldiers have all succeeded in the role and contributed in their own way. Fellows range in age from the minimum of 21 to over 60 years old.

While these individuals represent a broad array of perspectives and skill sets, the most successful fellows do share some attributes. They are all humble, talented and adaptable. They all strive to make the most of every situation, and they are all prepared to work through challenges to help our Field Partners deliver even better loan products and services.

If you believe that you or someone you know has the personality, skills and drive to succeed in this dynamic role, we hope to receive an application.

If you’d like more information about the experience and application process, you can:

- Read a program overview and watch our brief introductory video about a former Kiva Fellow.
- Learn about the realities of life in the field on the Kiva Fellows Blog.
- Check out our extensive Frequently Asked Questions page.
- See the countries where fellows serve on the interactive map of Kiva Field Partners and current fellows around the globe
- Email kivafellows@kiva.org with any additional questions.

We look forward to meeting a new round of talented applicants!