Based on its experience with women business owners around the world, Vital Voices has launched the VV GROW Fellowship Program, a one-year competitive program to support growth-oriented women business owners to take their businesses and leadership to the next level. 

The program supports women-owned enterprises in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa to set and achieve business growth goals with a unique blend of online learning, in-person training, and tailored support services.

VV GROW Fellows will gain knowledge and skills in the following topics: 

• Planning for Growth: create well-informed business growth goals along with a detailed plan to achieve them.

• Leadership Training: build leadership skills to have a positive impact on the business, employees and wider community.

• Executive Financial Management: equip with the skills and knowledge to analyze, manage, and supervise the finances of the business. 

• Networking for Business Professionals: guides on how to promote the business and successfully utilize new connections.

• Understanding the Market: guides on how to identify key market opportunities such as expanding existing markets and accessing new ones.

The one-year program timeline consists of 4 components:

1. Selection: A competitive participant selection process and business needs assessment.

2. Virtual Training: 4-6 months including a mix of online learning, network building and updates of key business tools.

3. In-Person Training: 4-day in-person trainings in Nicaragua, Uganda, and Jordan featuring group sessions, one-on-one advising, and networking opportunities.

4. Growth Services and Support: 5-6 months of tailored services such as small grants (potential), one-on-one advising, technical assistance, among others.

Click here to be directed to the VV GROW 2015 Fellowship Application. The application for the program will be open until March 30th , 2015.