Jobs/Russia/Romania/IPC

IPC IS RECRUITING GRADUATES FOR RUSSIA AND ROMANIA

IPC is a project management firm specialized in small and microenterprise
lending. It has undertaken assignments for major donor agencies in 50
countries. IPC's principal current activities are in Albania, Bolivia,
Bosnia, El Salvador, Russia, Uganda and Ukraine. The firm is based in
Frankfurt, Germany.

IPC's business strategy and lending technology are described in several
publications written by its staff and associated advisors. Examples
include:

Krahnen, P. and Schmidt, R.H. (1994), DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AS INSTITUTION
BUILDING: A NEW APPROACH TO POVERTY-ORIENTED BANKING, Boulder CO: Westview
Press.

Schmidt, R.H. and C.-P. Zeitinger (1996), "The Efficiency of
Credit-Granting NGOs in Latin America," Savings and Development, 20, pp.
353-384.

Schmidt, R.H. and C.-P. Zeitinger (1996), "Prospects, Problems and
Potential of Credit-Granting NGOs," Journal of International Development,
8, 2, pp. 241-258.


IPC is seeking US citizens for three positions in Russia and one for a
potential position in Romania. Each assignment begins with an internship
in an existing project. The internship includes training in systems and
techniques suitable for small and microenterprise lending, and language
instruction, as needed. Assuming satisfactory internship performance, a
two-year extendible posting as a loan officer would be offered in Russia or
potentially in Romania, whichever the case.

Requirements for these assignments are as follows:

1. Russia Small Business Fund: Knowledge of Russian, job experience (not
necessarily in a bank), master's degree.

2. Small loans - Romania: Three years of banking experience, proficiency
in French and willingness to learn Romanian. Graduate degree helpful.

Mail your résumé to IPC/C, Suite 202, 11500 Fairway Dr., Reston VA 20190-4453.



J.D. Von Pischke
2529 Trophy Lane
Reston VA 20191-2126
USA
(703) 860 5654
fax (703) 758 1388
jdvp@erols.com



This post transferred from the cdb-l mailing list

I have a question in regard to the jobs sometimes advertised on this
list, for (say) Americans to work in other countries in microlending
applications. I'm not passing judgement, but I'm curious - I understand
that the Grameen approach is to set up an entirely indigenous
institution, and foreign help in running a microlending enterprise
should be the exception rather than the rule.

The issues here include
* cultural relevance - we often don't perceive our own culture,
and can
impose/encourage culturally inappropriate approaches.
* levels of pay - I don't know, but I would hope that foreign
workers
taking these jobs are paid at local wages. Highly paid foreigners are a
big financial strain.
* dignity - employing a foreigner enforces the perception that
these
people can't help themselves, and that the microlending institution is
not actually theirs, but an external entity.
* empowerment - as a result of this loss of dignity, people have
less
belief in their own ability, and thus will be less motivated to work.

Obviously someone has the alternative view, so are there any responses
to these concerns?

Chris Watkins



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