MasterCard Foundation, a Canadian affiliate of US-based payments firm MasterCard that aims to promote financial inclusion and education in developing countries, is offering an undisclosed number of scholarships for microfinance practitioners to attend the Sustainable Microenterprise and Development Program (SMDP), which will address a “livelihoods approach” to microfinance, enterprise and economic development from June 18 to June 29, 2012. SMDP is offered by the Carsey Institute, a policy research institute at the University of New Hampshire in the United States. The scholarship money can be used to cover airfare or help with the course tuition of USD 4,250.
Preference will be given to candidates who:
-Are women
-Have at least two years of experience in microenterprise development
-Work in Africa
-Work for nongovernmental organizations, development finance institutions pr policy development organizations
-Come from “disadvantaged” backgrounds, specifically rural and resource-poor areas
-Can make a contribution of ten- to 25-percent of travel, tuition and room and board fees
To apply for a scholarship, you may fill out the application found at http://www.carseyinstitute.unh.edu/smdp and email it to SMDP coordinator William Maddocks at smdp.info[at]unh.edu no later than May 4, 2012.
By Charlotte Newman, Research Associate
About MasterCard Foundation
Based in Canada, the MasterCard Foundation is a private foundation with the goal of enabling people living in poverty to improve their lives with increased access to microfinance and education. The foundation was established in 2006 by a gift of shares from US-based payment processor MasterCard Worldwide during the company’s initial public offering. As of 2010, the MasterCard Foundation reported approximately CAD 3 billion (the equivalent of USD 2.9 billion) in assets.
Sources and Additional Resources:
Carsey Institute: “Sustainable Microenterprise and Development Program Course Fees and Registration Application,” http://www.carseyinstitute.unh.edu/smdp
MicroCapital.org story, April 11, 2012, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Women Advancing Microfinance – New York (WAM-NY) Offering Training Scholarships for Female Microfinance Practitioners,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-women-advancing-microfinance-new-york-wam-ny-offering-training-scholarships-for-female-microfinance-practitioners/
MicroCapital.org story, January 17, 2011, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MasterCard Foundation, Women Advancing Microfinance (WAM) Announce Scholarship Opportunities for Sustainable Microenterprise and Development Program (SMDP) in Ghana,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-mastercard-foundation-women-advancing-microfinance-wam-announce-scholarship-opportunities-for-sustainable-microenterprise-and-development-program-smdp-in-ghana/
MicroCapital Universe Profile: MasterCard Foundation
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