Internship Opportunities in Ngara , Tanzania

WomenCraft is a community-driven social enterprise operating from Ngara, Tanzania.

WomenCraft’s mission is to increase economic opportunity in the post-conflict tri-border area of Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi by bringing rural women together, facilitating their growth and connecting their artistry to the global marketplace. Through WomenCraft, over 300 artisans advance themselves, raise stronger, families, stimulate their communities and inspire the world around them.

Communications and Market Development 

Position Description: An opportunity for a young professional to gain experience in Sales, Marketing and Communications fields with WomenCraft, a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO). The intern will raise awareness about WomenCraft products and the talents of and issues facing rural East African women. S/he will assist with customer communications and assist to build regional markets for the introduction of WomenCraft products. S/he will build the capacity of local staff and artisans in market development. S/he will also provide administrative support in other functional areas with WomenCraft, thereby gaining exposure to the wider operation and the field of international social enterprise development. **

Expected Projects and Skills Learned:

Facilitate Communication. Assist with customer communication. Develop internal and external communication tools, including newsletters and catalogs. Compile and maintain a database containing names and contact information of potential customers.

Build Markets. Assist to identify potential sales outlets for WomenCraft’s handcrafted products. Research and communicate with potential customers; develop relations with current customers and identify new business opportunities. Explore fair trade linkages.

Develop New Social Media & Online Marketing Strategies. Research, develop and execute new ways to leverage social media activities to the benefit of WomenCraft.

Share your Skills with Local Staff and Artisans. As part of the WomenCraft team, you will impart your knowledge of relevant life skills subjects with artisan groups through life skills training sessions. You will work with local staff members to develop their capacity and skills.

Qualifications:

Knowledge/demonstrated interest in Marketing and Communications.

Demonstrated initiative and ability to multitask with minimal supervision.

Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication skills.

Ability to be flexible and make contributions as a member of a team.

Previous international travel, especially in the developing world, a plus.

Interest in fair trade, refugees and/or international development

How to apply:

Please send a CV and cover letter through email to info@womencraft.org and indicate dates of availability. Please specify “Communications and Market Development Intern” in the subject field.  Please note this is a volunteer posting.  

Social Enterprise Operations

Position Description: This is an ideal opportunity for you gain experience in Social Enterprise operations, including Accounting, Bookkeeping and Logistics for a not-for-profit social enterprise while gaining hands-on, real-world, international experience that will make a difference in the lives of women in East Africa.

WomenCraft creates sustainable livelihoods for women by promoting their traditional skills in the production of fair trade products. As women develop their income, they need assistance to develop or improve their accounting skills to manage this growing income. WomenCraft also needs assistance to implement new ways of improving the financial management of the organization.

Expected Projects and Skills Learned:

Work one-on-one with women to help them understand and create budgets and financial plans to achieve their goals;

Help WomenCraft with various accounting projects that improve the financial management of the organization and that help the organization better tracks its product sales;

Research and propose solutions to help WomenCraft work out solutions to logistical challenges, including raw material procurement and storage;

Carry out basic accounting processes including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, grant accounting, internal auditing and bank reconciliations;

Work closely with Operations Manager to create monthly financial reports and financial workflows;

Build the capacity of local staff members by providing training to help staff effectively manage their projects.

Qualifications:

Proficiency in Quickbooks preferred

Undergraduate degree or concentration in Accounting or Finance preferred

Experience with capacity building and training

Detail oriented

Excellent time management skills

Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication skills

Ability to be flexible and make contributions as a member of a team

Previous international travel, especially in the developing world, a plus

Ability to live and work in a remote environment

Interest in fair trade, refugees and/or international development

How to apply:

Please send a CV and cover letter through email to info@womencraft.org and specify “SOCIAL ENTERPRISE OPERATIONS INTERN” in the subject line. Please indicate dates of availability.  Please note this is a volunteer position.  

Women's Economic Development

Position Description: This is an ideal opportunity for you gain hands-on, international experience in women’s economic development for a not-for-profit social enterprise that will make a difference in the lives of rural women in East Africa. WomenCraft creates sustainable livelihoods for women by promoting their traditional skills in the production of fair trade products. As women develop their businesses, they need to assistance to learn how to manage their work while relying on the strengths of all group members. WomenCraft also needs assistance to manage the Revolving Loan Fund, which makes new business development possible for women.

Expected Projects and Skills Learned:

Financial training. Work directly training artisans in financial management so that they have strengthened business skills, a greater ability to earn an income and are better able to manage a business.

Set up Revolving Loan Fund systems. Assist WomenCraft to further establish a Revolving Loan fund that gives artisan groups access to funding to open a micro-enterprise. WomenCraft’s goal is for each of the 22 artisan groups to have access to the Revolving Loan Fund so that they have a secondary source of income.

Help groups manage their revolving loans. Train artisan groups who are receiving loans through WomenCraft’s revolving loan fund on business practices. Work closely with members and leaders to ensure their new income generating projects are well-planned and that groups will be able to repay the loans and make a profit. Conduct training in such a way that future trainings can be easily replicated.

Assist with Staff Development. Work closely with and train WomenCraft’s staff on areas under this job description. Be prepared to share your skills and abilities with staff, such as conducting trainings on computers, entrepreneurship, and other relevant areas.

Qualifications: 

• Knowledge and/or experience with Revolving Loan Funds and/or micro-enterprise; • Excellent research, communication, interpersonal, computer and organizational skills; • Ability to take initiative and work independently; • Demonstrated interest in international/cross-cultural experiences; • Ability to be flexible and make contributions as a member of a team; • Interest in fair trade, refugees and/or international development

How to apply:

Please send a CV and cover letter through email to info@womencraft.org and specify “Women’s Economic Development Intern” in the subject line. Please indicate dates of availability.