Fellowship overview

The applications are now open for Grow Fellowship 2021. Vital Voices GROW Fellowship (VV GROW) is a prominent global accelerator program for women owners of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and entrepreneurs. Hence, through customized business skills training, leadership development, technical assistance, and access to networks, the program aims to empower economically women lacking business skills and strength.

Fellowship details

Application deadline: 15 December 2020 (on a rolling basis)

Awarding institution: Vital Voices Global Partnership 

Location: Online

Duration: 12 months

Why this fellowship?

Research suggests that the real drivers of the global economy are women. As contributors to the various sectors of the economy, women are leading the way to economic growth and improving conditions in their communities while at the same time facing disproportionate obstacles in empowering their businesses: they face problems accessing business networks, technology, training, funding, markets, and equal protection under the law. So, the VV Grow Fellowship is designed to provide women with empowerment opportunities.

Benefits

The fellowship offers these benefits:

• Participants acquire knowledge and skills in strategic planning, financial management, marketing, sales, strategic networking, leadership, human resources, and communications worth $20K per fellow.
• Fellows find access to valued technical assistance and become a part of a supportive global network of women entrepreneurs, as well as the Vital Voices network.
• Virtual Learning: With a series of webinars, assignments, one-on-one, and small group calls, fellows explore core topics and evaluate their businesses in order to develop and execute a strategic plan for growth.
• Virtual Convening: Fellows attend a 3-day online conference centered on leadership and networking.
• In dynamic communicative sessions, fellows come together virtually with each other, program partners, Vital Voices trainers, and staff, strengthening their Vital Voices global network.
• Growth Services and Support: During the year, fellows learn about various topics and resources that are critical to achieving their business growth goals.
• Develop valuable relationships with a collection of women business leaders from around the world (VV GROW Cohort 8).
• Get referral(s) to business support services and other growth opportunities.
• Obtain the program’s certificate of participation.
• Become a member of the Vital Voices Global Leadership Network upon graduation.

Format of the fellowship program

The program will provide online and in-person training to fellows enabling them to focus on strategy and long-term business value and put those concepts in practice with action-oriented strategic plans to grow their businesses.

ELIGIBILITY criteria

Women entrepreneurs or social entrepreneurs who own an eligible business that:

• The business has been operative for at least three years
• Provides job to at least three full-time staff including the applicant (or the equivalent of 3 full-time staff in part-time staff)
• Makes at least US $40,000 in annual sales
• Enjoy proficiency in spoken and written English
• Have proven leadership, key decision-making authority within their business and manage the business on an ongoing basis
• Have a commitment toward impacting positive social change and an interest in expanding their social impact
• And, should the applicant be involved in more than one business, the above criteria must correspond to the business that h/she wishes to focus on during the fellowship

How to apply?

Applicants can prepare for, fill in, and submit an online application for this fellowship.

Apply HERE.

Please take the below points into consideration in applying for VV Grow Fellowship:

• The application must be submitted by the person applying for the fellowship.
• Your application must be in English.
• The invitation you receive from the fellowship provider is non-transferable and cannot be transferred to any other employee or owner of the business.
• Early applications are strongly recommended d as this is a rolling basis acceptance.

If you face questions or problems with the application, please email dalinnhean@vitalvoices.org with the subject line: 2021 VV GROW Fellowship Application.