SKS Foundation’s Ultra Poor Program Overview– Working Beyond Microfinance

Since its inception, Microfinance has successfully addressed millions of poor women’s needs by providing financial services to help maintain or enhance their financial capital, and SKS is a proven leader in microfinance, having served more than a million clients across India. However, unfortunately, many women who are unable to generate income or attain enterprises are left behind, missing the opportunity for change and success through microfinance. The ultra poor lack a stable income and often do not have the means to feed their families more than once a day. They have been excluded from the traditional microfinance sphere because of these challenges. They often self-select themselves out of programs due to a lack of confidence or concern for indebtedness.

The SKS Ultra Poor Program, modeled after the highly successful BRAC program in Bangladesh, attacks the challenge of extreme poverty on three levels: economic, social and health, and aims to graduate clients into being able to run a sustainable income-generating enterprise—and potentially into mainstream microfinance. In Bangladesh, since 2002, the program has successfully graduated 75% members of its 50,000 members. These graduated members then have the opportunity to become lifetime recipients of the opportunities afforded to traditional microfinance members.

SKS Foundation currently seeks a summer intern to assist in its fundraising efforts:

• Website content for the SKS Ultra Poor Program
• GO promotional materials, including NGO newsletter and brochures
• Case-study log for Ultra Poor Program (for website and fundraising)
• Identification of potential funders and strategic partners

  Individuals
  Corporations (CSR)
  Multilaterals and foundations
  

• Database with information about prospective funders
  

• Graduate Student Preferred, undergraduate possible depending on experience and interests
• Must have web-designing skills, good research ability
• Interests in Microfinance and development

•  Executive/Manager: To drive Communications within SKS and externally. This person would be responsible for bringing out a monthly e newsletter for external audience and a monthly newsletter for internal stakeholders. The person would also need to be able to manage and update the web site regularly. The person should have excellent verbal and written communication skills clubbed with information gathering skills. Should be well versed in web design and MS Office skills. A positive attitude and the ability to mingle with people at various levels is required. Knowledge of regional languages in addition to English is desirable.
   
•  Executive/Manager: To drive communications at the field level across the 12 states SKS currently operates in. This person would be responsible for supporting the communications needs of the Member Services team at SKS across geographies. The person would need to explore, ideate and implement programmes to help the field staff in a sustained manner. This person would also need to engage himself with the state-level advisory council. Should have excellent verbal and written communication skills. The person should have excellent verbal and written communication skills clubbed with information gathering skills. Should be well versed in web design and MS Office skills. A positive attitude and the ability to mingle with people at various levels is required. Knowledge of regional languages in addition to English is desirable.
   
•  Executive/Manager: To drive corporate communications for SKS. Should handle media and non-media queries for the organization. Should put together communication tools required by the company. Should have excellent verbal and written communication skills. The person should have excellent verbal and written communication skills clubbed with information gathering skills. Should be well versed in printing, designing and MS Office skills. A positive attitude and the ability to mingle with people at various levels is required. Knowledge of regional languages in addition to English is desirable.
   
•  Executive/Manager: To drive internal team building initiatives for SKS. Will work closely with the HR Team to ensure company wide initiatives aimed at rewarding merit and recognizing talent. Candidate should have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Should have exposure to event management and be able to conceive innovative concepts and initiatives that are able to drive up enthusiasm levels and bonding within the organisation. An aptitude to mingle well and drive enthusiasm across teams is essential. Knowledge of regional languages in addition to English is desirable.